Brooklyn Nets: Look What The Wizards Did To Flatbush, Again

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Nets Fall Flat Against Washington

FINAL

Flatbush   94

Wizards  101

BROOKLYN NETS: Wizards Complete Three Game Sweep Of Jason's Kids.  Flatbush Gets Bumped Down To 6th In Eastern Conference Standings.

Atlantic Division:
1) - Toronto......37-27
2) - Brooklyn....33-31  4GB
3) - New York...27-40  11.5

Look what John Wall and the Wizards did to the Nets..., again.  This was only Brooklyn's second loss of the month, but to a team they have failed to defeat this season.  John Wall scored 33 points, as the Wizards completed a series sweep.  Their victory also snapped a tie with the Nets for 5th place in the Eastern Conference standings.

At no time throughout the three games, did Brooklyn ever find an answer for Washington's point guard.  In the first meeting, with 17 points, John Wall outscored every Nets player, save Brook Lopez.  In game two, he led Washington with 21 points, on a night 7 Wizards scored in double digits.

Saturday's result - the Wizards overcame a 9 point halftime deficit, and a 10 point deficit inside the 4th, to defeat the Nets by a 101-94 final.

With Kevin Garnett missing his 8th straight game, the Nets continue to get out-rebounded.  But, despite missing Garnett's defense, what the Nets allowed Drew Gooden to do was a bit inexcusable. Playing on a 10-day contract, Gooden was 2nd on the Wizards with 21 points, and pulled down a game high 9 rebounds.  He scored 11 of those points in the 4th quarter.

Brooklyn's free throw shooting was also inefficient.  The Nets missed 7 of 22 attempts, for a 68.2% mark.

For the game, the Nets shot 47.9% from the field.  But, as John Wall and Drew Gooden were taking over in the 4th, the Nets all went cold midway through, at the same damn time.  Once the Wizards captured the lead (for the first time all game) they never looked back.

Although Deron Williams tied for team high with 7 rebounds, and distributed a game high 7 assists, he was the chilliest of them all.  He played a team high 35 minutes, and led the team with 21 shots from the field, but struggled mightily, shooting 2/7 from beyond the arch, and 4/14 from the rest of the floor.

Marcus Thornton had another big game, scoring 19 points to lead the team off the bench.  Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Paul Pierce were the only starters in double digits.  Mason Plumlee got the start, and added 8 points.  In 31 minutes, Shaun Livingston was very inconsequential, attempting just 5 shots from the field, and 4 free throws.

Andray Blatche has played with mixed results against his former team this season.  In 25 minutes off the bench, he contributed 9 points and 4 rebounds Saturday night.  In game one of the series, he scored 10 and pulled down 13 rebounds.  In game two, he scored 12 points, but managed just 1 board.

Where do the Nets go from here?  The answer is home, for three games at Barclays Center, where they will host Phoenix, Charlotte and Boston.  For the moment, the Suns are on the outside looking in, currently 9th in the Western standings.  Charlotte is biting at the Nets heels, only 2 games behind in the 7th spot of the Eastern standings.  Boston has no doubt struggled this season, but the Nets better be prepared nonetheless.

Back in the Atlantic Division race, after closing to within three games, the Toronto Raptors lead Brooklyn by four again.  The Nets have 18 games left on their schedule.



Mike.BTB