Brooklyn Nets: Jarrett Allen Doesn't Let Flatbush Lose Their Composure

From the desk of: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Jarrett Allen's Neighborhood

WEDNESDAY

Hornets   91

Nets       101

FINAL

CENTER OF ATTENTION: THE DAMAGE DUO JOIN FORCES FOR 36 POINTS AND 24 REBOUNDS

Neither team shoots particularly well.  The Nets with 91 possessions are 39% from the floor and 25% (10/39) from beyond the arc.  Charlotte with ten less possessions shoot 37% from the floor.  Brooklyn leads by five at the half, and by nine points through the third.  But the Hornets close to within three until 6:54 of the fourth when Spencer Dinwiddie converts two from the stripe for a five point Nets lead.  

Enter Jarrett Allen who essentially prevents Flatbush from losing their composure.  In just over five minutes down the stretch he secures eight rebounds, including consecutive rebounds on Charlotte's final three attempts of the game.  His offensive rebound and put back at 4:59 gives the Nets a 91-83 lead.  Another offensive board at the 4:21 mark and two conversions from the stripe extend the Nets lead to seven.  Allen leads the floor with 22 points and a game high 17 rebounds in just 28 minutes.  DeAndre Jordan adds a bench leading 14 points and seven more defensive rebounds in 20 minutes.  The duo put up a grand total of 36 points and 24 rebounds, and 8/10 from the line.

Taurean Prince scores 20 points with eight rebounds and four assists, with a +17 in 33 minutes.  Joe Harris scores a quiet eight points.  However, his three-pointer at 1:33 of the fourth proves a major blow to Charlotte's aspirations.

With Caris LeVert and Kyrie Irving out of action, the ball has been in Spencer Dinwiddie's hands.  He scores 20 points with a game high eight assists, but is just 7/18 (38%) from the floor and a mere 2/7 from beyond the arc.  That part I'm cool with.  It's just that he put forth another one of the more erratic fourth quarter performances I can recall.  Both he and to a lesser degree Caris LeVert still lack polish when attacking the rack.  And that's where Kyrie Irving comes in ...

The Nets win the battle of the boards by a 53-41 margin, and hold their opponent under 100 points for the first time all season - a job well done.  You can't a clinch playoff berth in November but you sure can sabotage your chances.  Thus opportunity is presenting itself.  By defeating the Hornets, Flatbush leapfrogs into seventh place of the conference standings.  It would now behoove them to seize the moment against some lesser competition on their upcoming schedule: Sacramento at home, the Knicks at the Garden, and the Cavs at Cleveland.  Injuries be damned, there's enough available talent to get through these next few games.  Take advantage now before their showdown versus Boston, then come March there will be less ruing games lost in November.