Brooklyn Nets: Final Rehearsal Before the Big Dance

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

REGULAR SEASON FINALE

May 16, 2021

SUNDAY

Cleveland Cavaliers

vs.

Brooklyn Nets

FROM

Flatbush Avenue

A nice team effort against the Chicago Bulls.  Despite the big three returning to the floor, the Nets are now without Joe Harris.  As such, Steve Nash provided steady employment for five players off the bench, then in the last few minutes tasked Alize Johnson, Reggie Perry, and Timothe Luwawau-Cabarrot with closing out the game.

The bench accounted for 48 points or 45.7% of Brooklyn's scoring.  Durant, Harden, and Kyrie account for 37.1% of the scoring.  Blake Griffin's only two points (in 20 minutes) came from the line.  Otherwise, he was 0/6 from the floor.  However, Bruce Brown was +8, with 16 points off the team's third-most attempts, and secured a team-high 12 rebounds.

THE BIG THREE  REUNITED

First off, they are now 6-2 when playing together.  When the triumvirate is on the floor, the Nets average about 124 points per game.  But when two of the three are missing, the Nets average, what did YES-TV say ... 107 points per game?  Don't quote me; that's somewhere in the ballpark, but we all understand the gist.

Saturday vs. Chicago:

• The returning James Harden only posts 5 points, 5 rebounds but distributed a game-high seven assists, with a +5, in 25 minutes.  He was only 2/4 from the field and 0/2 from the line, but make no mistake, the facilitator is back.  If nothing else, it's worth reiterating he led the floor in assists.  He's clearly and carefully being worked back into the fold.

• Kevin Durant's line reads 12 points, 9 rebounds, six assists, +10, in 30 minutes.  He put up the most attempts but finished shooting just 4/17 from the field, including 1/6 from behind the arc and 3/4 from the line.

• Kyrie Irving, like Durant, played a team-high 30 minutes.  He put up the second-most attempts, shooting 9/16 from the field, including 3/7 from behind the arc and 1/1 from the line for a team-high 22 points.  In fact, he was the only Net to exceed 20 points.  However, he registered not a single assist, and at some point, I fret that may become a detriment to the team.  In the absence of Harden or KD, or even both, how many times have we watched Kyrie pile up points, and the Nets still lose?

They have one more regular-season tune-up before the playoffs.  Or should I say this upcoming game will serve as their most important practice session of the entire season?