Brooklyn Nets: Into the Bubble

From the desk of: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

SEASON RESTART

WELCOME BACK

FRIDAY

Magic   128

Nets      118

FINAL

With just eight games left in order to bring this wacky 2019-2020 regular season to its long overdue conclusion, Brooklyn enters Friday's reopening game sporting a sub par 30-34 record, good enough for seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.  Playing in their first official game since March 10th, the Nets lose by ten against the Orlando Magic.  Thus, they fall to 30-35 and essentially trade places with Orlando, whom now occupy seventh place, and the Nets eighth, six full games ahead of the Washington Wizards.  This now leaves Brooklyn with just seven games with which to defend their standing, and achieve back-to-back playoff appearances.

THE GAME:

I, like many others, am starting anew my familiarization with new head coach Jacque Vaughn.  I still wonder why the front office parted with Kenny Atkinson.  But the difference in floor style is measurably noticeable.  Friday evening, at least, the Nets seize on more mid-range opportunities as they present themselves rather than insisting on three's or bulling through jam packed paint.  Although, their interior size is still a problem.  It's not like Orlando kills them on boards - because they do not - just a mild 39-42 discrepancy.  However, of the Magic's 42 boards, 36 come on the defensive end, i.e., limited second shot opportunities for Brooklyn.  If anyone wrecked Brooklyn on the boards it was Aaron Gordon with a game high eleven.  Otherwise, ball distribution is relatively even.  But despite four more possessions, Brooklyn is 48.4% from the field, versus 52.9% for Orlando.  Thirteen Nets players clock at least ten minutes which is to be expected.  The unexpected comes in the form of Brooklyn's Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who with 24-points ties Orlando's Evan Fournier for game high.  Caris LeVert scores 17-points in 28-minutes with a game high seven assists.  Jarrett Allen and Joe Harris chip in 14-points apiece.

Everyone understands this team is still very far away from the one we still anticipate to come.  But they restart this season compromised as all hell.  Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are understood.  But the Nets are forced to press forward minus Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince, DeAndre Jordan, Wilson Chandler, and on Friday Jamal Crawford was likewise unavailable.

The million dollar question is: how far can/will Caris Levert and Jarrett Allen carry the Nets?  Caris LeVert is a burgeoning star, which I believe he's about to confirm to all.  Otherwise, into the bubble they go.

#WeGoHard