Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Gives Pistons a Tune-Up

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

YEAR TEN

SUNDAY

Pistons  91

NETS    117

FINAL

Sometimes Teams Gotta Do What They Gotta Do

Call it reinforcement training.  The Nets are still ironing out some wrinkles, but this matchup required a convincing victory. 

On Sunday, Flatbush did what needed to be done ...

Jerami Grant led Detroit starters with eleven points in 27 minutes.  Corey Josepg led the Pistons with a team-high 13 points in 21 minutes off the bench, and Josh Jackson was the third and last Piston in double-digits with twelve points in 25 minutes.  In other words, the Pistons were begging to be routed.

James Harden saw to it, notching his 59th triple-double of his career with 18 points, and game-highs with ten rebounds and twelve assists in a floor-high 29 minutes.  Kevin Durant was 10/13 from the field and 2/3 from the line for a team-high 23 points in 27 minutes that is before being ejected in the third quarter for what was deemed overly physical play.

Insofar as someone filling in to form a big three, Joe Harris contributed twelve points on 5/9 from the field.  Meanwhile, the combo of Blake Griffin and Bruce Brown got another start together but only combined for ten points.

LaMarcus Aldridge led the second unit with 16 points on a stellar 7/8 from the field and 2/2 from the line.  But in this game I have to #3 credit to DeAndre' Bembry who finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and two steals in 24 minutes off the bench. 

I'm not going to wrangle this time over the Nets getting (consistently) outshot again by a margin of minus-seven, or that the Pistons secured seven offensive rebound against just two by the Nets.  When you nail 65.3% of field goal attempts and shoot 52% from behind the arc, what is there really to complain about ...

Steve Nashh was obviously managing minutes, as well he should have against the Pistons.  Although Durant was on course for another 34-mintute game until his ejection, no player exceeded 29 minutes, and nine different players clocked no less than 20 minutes.

Jevon Carter was 3/5 and 2/4 from three-point range for eight points in 17 minutes.

Brooklyn was +17 in rebounds and +9 in assists, and did everything else to make this a decisive win.

Lest we forget, this team has high expectations.