Brooklyn Nets: Tough Pill To Swallow

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH 

Joe Harris Taps Into Inner Houdini and Goes Poof Against Milwaukee Bucks

This series should have been over in five.  If this, that, or the other would have happened, the Nets win and advance to the Eastern Conference finals.  But the Fates just weren't having it.  And so the old Brooklyn refrain is back in effect: Wait Till Next Year.

Truth be told, I was thoroughly unimpressed with the Milwaukee Bucks.  It took a collectively supreme effort on their part to overcome Kevin Durant and his multiple record-setting performances.  No one in their right mind can begrudge KD for Brooklyn's elimination.  He hit the deck more times in game seven than during the whole season.  This series boiled down to a five on one, and the Bucks barely survive

That's just fact.

I admire James Harden's return and effort.  However, his ploy to escape Houston, although successful, cost him in the long run.  He was never known to miss games, ever.  Unfortunately, his lack of early-season conditioning came back to haunt him and Flatbush.  One of basketball's proven knowns is that your shot is the first to go when you have compromised legs.  Playing on one good leg, his shot from any range was clearly ineffective.  His turnovers most certainly played in role in Brooklyn's demise as well.  The same can be said of Durant.  An increase in turnovers and a last-second shot that fell well short of the mark were clear indications of fatigue.  But, again, I do not begrudge either of them for any of it.

However, I do question why Steve Nash never once considered playing DeAndre Jordan against Giannis Antetokounmpo.  There are methods and strategies in fouling, which Jordan could have served well; only Nash apparently didn't care for it.

At the beginning of this series, I said very matter-of-factly that Joe Harris is the X-Factor.

Sadly, I was right.

Joe is no novice.  Harris is a day-in and day-out starter; he is 29-years old and a veteran member of this team.  He's had the benefit of years of stability and familiarity with his surroundings.  But, my goodness, what an inconsequential performance.  I've railed against him all season long, and this is precisely why.

After game one, Joe essentially went missing.  Starting with game two, he shot just 18/61 (29.5%) from the field, including 11/49 (22.4%) from behind the arc for an average of eight points per game in 37.5 minutes.  He had numerous open opportunities to impact game seven and didn't.  The same goes for any of Brooklyn's other three losses.   

He's great when the big guys are on the floor.  But when the lineup is compromised and missing one or two of the big three, that's when the Nets need big contributions from Joe, and for the most part, he doesn't answer the bell.  He didn't step up against Philly three years ago and failed again despite being surrounded by a different and superior cast.