Brooklyn Nets: Ejected, Rejected, and Dejected

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

OUT SICK WITH SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

Lakers  126

Nets      101

FINAL

MISSING: Small Forward, 29-years old, 6'6", 220 lbs, Answers to Name of Joe Harris; Has Tendency to Disappear When Team Needs Him Most.

With visiting Los Angeles missing both LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Nets still manage to trip, stumble, and fall to the Lakers at Barclays Center.

The Lakers were leading 66-62 when Kyrie Irving and Dennis Schroder took exception with one another and were ordered off the court at 9:41 of the third quarter.  Afterwhich, the Lakers outscored the Nets by a 60-32 margin for a commanding 25-point pull-away victory.

Playing in only his second game since returning to action, Kevin Durant led the Nets in all categories with 22 points, five assists, and seven rebounds.  That right there should otherwise clue fans into the general lack of performance put forth by his fellow Nets.  

With James Harden out of action, Kyrie Irving, despite playing only 21 minutes, was second to Durant with 18 points.  But as the team's primary point guard, he ponderously recorded no assists.

If you follow THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH, you know, all season long, I've been pressing Joe Harris like bricks on a stack of newspapers at the corner stand over performances, or lack thereof, just like Saturday's against the Lakers.  Fans and pundits love raving about his career three-point scoring and percentages.  But when it comes to any of the Nets' big three missing games requiring the next man to step up his game, Joe Harris has been no Fred Astaire.  With Harden out and Kyrie Irving missing the entire second half essentially, Harris tied with LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Chiozza for third-most shot attempts and finished sixth on the team in scoring.  LaMarcus Aldridge was the only other Net to score in double-digits, with 12 points and three rebounds in 23 minutes.  Joe Harris was a mere 2/8 from the field, including 0/4 from behind the arc and 2/2 from the line for a mere six points in a team-high 29 minutes!

Meanwhile, eight different Lakers scored in double-digits.  Coach Nash summoned eight players from his bench.  They collectively accounted for 37 points, seven assists, and 21 rebounds in 117 total minutes.  Three Lakers bench players scored that many with 18 rebounds and six assists in just 73 minutes.

Otherwise, Brooklyn was minus-five in rebounds, minus-eleven in assists, minus-six in steals, and a plus-five in turnovers. 

Philly's victory over OKC coupled with Brooklyn's loss knots the teams again in a tie for first place in the East.