Brooklyn Nets: Taking Their Deficiencies to South Beach

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

SUNDAY

Nets 107

Heat 109

FINAL

Miami's Bam Adebayo Redecorates Brooklyn's Interior

There are several reasons, in my opinion, why Brooklyn wilted against the Heat Sunday afternoon at Miami.  However, I have one particular reason in mind.

First, a summation of all the other variables I believe factored into this meltdown in the Florida sun:

• Kevin Durant obviously leads the list due to incurring a thigh contusion after just four minutes of play.

• Kyrie Irving at least facilitated a game-high nine assists but didn't necessarily generate the kind of team involvement needed to compensate for the absence of Durant and Harden.  Nor is it the first time.  He finished just 6/19 from the field, including 2/7 from behind the arc en route to 20 points in 38 minutes.

• Although Joe Harris hustles around without the ball, he too struggled from long-range shooting 2/7 and 5/12 overall for another pedestrian twelve-point game.  Thus, he did not follow up his previous effort against Charlotte with consistent results and failed to join again with Landry Shamet in taking charge of a fluid situation.

• Coming off a 20 point night in just 21 minutes against Charlotte, Landry Shamet again stepped up his game in the absence of Durant to score a season and career-high 30 points in 38 minutes off the bench.  With 4:34 left in the fourth, his three-pointer gives Flatbush a four-point lead.  But that would be his last attempt of the game.  Coach Nash fails to draw up plays for the team's hottest shooter through the game's final minutes and closing moments.  Now consider the Nets missed on their last five shot attempts down the stretch.

Alas, my main issue was Coach Nash's refusal to switch up defenders guarding Bam Adebayo.  Lest we forget, DeAndre Jordan did not play; coach's decision.  The Heat finished the game on an 8-0 run.  Adebayo trashed the Nets inside, scoring nine of his 21 points during the game's final ten minutes.  Jeff Green and others were helpless against him.  As such, Adebayo, on Miami's final possession, squared up with the time clock expiring and drained the game-winning shot.