Brooklyn Nets: A Rivalry Breaks Out in Flatbush

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

THAT EMPTY FEELING

Sixers lead series 3-1

I - BKN 111; PHI 102

II - PHI 145; BKN 123

III - PHI 131; BKN 115

IV- PHI 112; BKN 108

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Takes One On The Chin After Jared Dudley Confronts Schoolyard Bully.

Nothing Kenny Atkinson tried in game two seemed to work.  Coach said that's why no Nets player exceeded 26 minutes.  That left some scratching their heads.

I left off wondering what adjustments Atkinson would make heading into game four.

Sadly, the results are in.

It took two games but Kenny finally relented.  Four starters exceeded thirty minutes each.  He also broke up the trio of Joe Harris/DeMarre Carroll/Rodions Kurucs whom all started games one through three.  In place of Carroll and Kurucs, Coach (finally) started Caris Levert, and inserted Jared Dudley.

Levert logged 42 minutes as the starting two, scoring 25 points, and tying for team high with six assists, versus 21 ppg in less than 24-minutes per game off the bench.

In game one, Jared Dudley was 0/2 from the field, and 4/4 from the line in 28 minutes off the bench.  He did not see action in game two, then played 17 rather inconsequential minutes - if you ask Philly - in game three, recording no points and one rebound.

Then came the game four fracas on Flatbush Avenue.

Say what you will about Dudley - the Sixers do - but there's something to be said for Atkinson's decision to start him.  Dudley brings defense and acumen to the floor.  And there he was leading the Nets with a plus/12 and a team high five assists (and eight points) until the moment of his ejection at 7:42 of the third quarter.  I absolutely respect Jared for confronting Joel Embiid.  And that's exactly what Dudley did: confront him.  He didn't punch, slap, kick, scratch, thumb him in the eye, or do anything of the kind.  But Jared most certainly grabbed Embiid's arm, and his attention, and added an extra shove for good luck.  Someone needed to do it, and a veteran stepped up.  It was a questionable play on Embiid's part that perhaps appeared to Dudley harder than it was.  Jared, like every fan in the building, clearly grew tired of watching Jarrett Allen get pushed around in the presence of increasing ref approval.  However, Joel's previous transgressions both on and off the court are what really ignited the moment.  The game and series had already been building up pressure and was primed to blow, and so I feel the eruption was rather unavoidable.  I agree with Dudley insofar that no player should have been ejected, but I do not begrudge the officials final determination.

The Sixers are guilty of playing nothing more - and certainly nothing less - than aggressive playoff basketball.  For instance, the Sixers have been kicking the Nets ass on the glass.

REBOUNDS

• GM1 - BKN 45; PHI 50
• GM2 - BKN 32; PHI 49
• GM3 - BKN 43; PHI 54
• GM4 - BKN 42; PHI 55
• Total - BKN 162; PHI 208

This has been quite a telling series.  I believe it's safe to assume Sean Marks has watched every second.  In fact, the more I think about it the more I believe the Sixers were the best possible match-up for this Nets team.  Philly demonstrates on both sides of the ball the importance of size and physical presence in the paint.  But I'm not about to gauge Marks' level of concern over what has transpired over the last four games where it concerns his future organizational considerations.  Truth is he and Kenny should be commended for getting the team this far this fast.  This is still a rebuilding year after all, and with both money and draft picks at his disposal Sean Marks is on the precipice of constructing something very special; something we hope above and beyond that which fans can presently imagine.

In the meantime, Marks is also staying busy bursting into refs locker rooms in search of those who put forth piss poor performances in playoff games.  I say this in jest, so you're better off reading the link for a clearer detail of events.

I say we all chip in to pay the fine levied by the NBA upon Sean Marks for entering ref locker room after game four. #WeGoHard

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) April 21, 2019

I digress ...

Back to Saturday's game ... we pick up this story with the Nets leading by six at the time of Dudley's ejection.

Enter Joe Harris, who despite continued struggles started game four.  After the game Kenny Atkinson said he played a great game on Saturday.  Technically speaking ... I guess.  The bottom line is the Nets need him burying three's at an all-star rate, which he is clearly not.  The numbers speak for themselves:

• GM1 - 13 points; 3/4 from three; 30 minutes.
• GM2 - 4 points; 0/2 from three; 26 minutes.
• GM3 - 8 points; 0/4 from three; 29 minutes.
• GM4 - 10 points; 0/6 from three; 35 minutes.

On the eve of game one, I said this:

Through the Nets first three regular season games versus Philly, Joe Harris averaged just 11.3 ppg., but was a hawk-eye 6 for 12 (50%) from three point land.  The Nets fourth game against Philly is perhaps the first time Joe Harris exerts himself, posting a team high 22 points and shooting 4/6 from beyond the arc.  The problem is the Nets will require from him more than just four attempts (3-pointers) per game.  In fact "his here today gone tomorrow" act must end post haste if the Nets are to hang around through an extended series against the Sixers.  What I ask for is a little more consistency; playing up to his averages on a nightly basis.  Granted, he only averaged 13.7 ppg for the season.  Make no mistake; I'm not picking on Joe.  But we all know the impact a sharpshooting Harris can have on any given game.  In fact, when Joe Harris glows hot the rest of the Nets radiate brilliance.

On the eve of game four, I said this:

Joe Harris must impact these next several games.  So far he's done quite the opposite.  He played up to his career average with 13 points and shooting 3/4 form behind the arc in game one's opening win.  But he's been missing ever since.  Harris scored just four points and was 0/2 from three range in game two, and scored eight but was 0/4 from the arc in game three.  That's 0/6 from three range with just twelve points over his last two games.

Then game four happened - there goes that phrase again - and another 0/6 performance from three range.  Joe Harris is coming off easily his best season since joining the Nets three years ago.  In his first playoff series, he is now OH! for his last 12 from three range, and averaging a shade under eight ppg.  It pains me to see him go through this, because when Joe is on he draws defense away from Coach's high pick-and-roll and trilateral guard commission.

For one Nets guard in particular, this season and these playoffs are providing an invaluable education.  D'Angelo Russell is clearly a marvelous talent - that bounce pass to Joe Harris was just stupid!  But the 23-year old is still learning.  To a certain extent the Sixers have him bottled up.  Moving forward, this gained experience will teach him how to better fight through the trees.  If this season is indeed the genesis of a star, these last four games were difficult but necessary steps towards that future.

• GM1 - 26 points; 4 assists.
• GM2 - 16 points; 2 assists.
• GM3 - 26 points; 4 assists.
• GM4 - 21 points; 6 assists.

Russell averaged 21.1 ppg in the regular season.  But if you watched him over the second half of the season, you know what he really did.  He also averaged seven assists per game.  Through four playoff games, he's averaging 22.2 points but just four assists.  Looming in the near future a dilemma awaits Sean Marks: securing Russell to a max contract or spending his Nets money off campus.

Good problems ahead.

In the meantime, welcome to the birth of a legitimate rivalry manufactured here in Brooklyn, by Brooklyn, for Brooklyn.

Game Five is Tuesday at Philadelphia.