Brooklyn Nets: Nothing Short of a Team Effort Will Do

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

GAME THREE

Boston Celtics

vs.

Brooklyn Nets

FROM

FLATBUSH AVENUE

Extract the Positives from Games One and Two and Mold Them Together Into a Victory in Game Three

The Nets could not answer when Boston's defense stepped it up in the fourth quarter.

Or, they failed to finish; meltdown; pick your poison.  

This much is true: Boston fought back and won in each game.

Flatbush took a ten-point lead into the half and, entering the fourth quarter, was still ahead by five.  But they scored just four points in the opening five minutes of the final session.  Kyrie Irving scored just two points in the fourth quarter, and Kevin Durant scored six points, all from the line.  

Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown poured in ten fourth-quarter points in three minutes, starting at the nine-minute mark.  Brooklyn got outscored by 17 points in the second half.  In the fourth quarter, they were outscored by twelve.  

Boston made Durant earn his 27 points the hard way.  Kevin was just 4/17 from the field and 18/20 from the line.  

The Nets got the requisite contributions from Seth Curry and Bruce Brown, and Goran Dragic posted a second consecutive solid effort, but it all went for naught as Kyrie Irving was 4/13 from the field and 2/2 from the line for a mere ten points.

The Celtics scored 115 points in game one and 114 points in game two, whereas the Nets' scoring outside of Dragic has been erratic.

They return to Flatbush Avenue on Saturday down two games in the series.  More importantly, it's time they finally come together as one at Barclays Center.  The Nets need the Nic Claxton of game one and the Bruce Brown and Seth Curry of game two working with Goran Dragic, who has performed with required consistency.

Defend this house!

Does Steve Nash try and negotiate that, or does he let them figure it out on their own?

What a terrible question to be asking this time of year.

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Fails to Protect Their House

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

YEAR TEN

OPENING DAY

SUNDAY

Hornets   111

NETS        95

FINAL

After Three Games, We Can Speak of Trends

The tenth opening day in Brooklyn Nets history will be a difficult one to forget.  

After splitting games at Milwaukee and Philadelphia, Flatbush fans were left stung by a listless fourth-quarter effort en route to a ponderous loss against the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center.  It's a game poised to remain swollen in our memory all season long.

After a recurring slow start, the Nets took a 58-50 lead into halftime.  The meltdown ensued post haste.  Charlotte outscored the Nets 29-20 in the third to seize a one-point lead, then in the fourth quarter, blew them out by a 32-17 margin.  All told, Brooklyn was outscored 61-37 in the second half, a margin of 24 points.  Thus, there were issues on both sides of the court and everywhere in between.

Kevin Durant led the floor with 38 points in a game-high 36 minutes, being asked to do everything.  James Harden was the only other Net in double-digits with 15 points and a game-high eight assists.  However, Harden likewise turned the ball over eight times.

Otherwise, Flatbush Avenue reeked of lethargy.  They totaled just 12 shots from the free-throw line, four by Nicolas Claxton.  The Hornets had eight more assists, four more rebounds, four more blocks, seven more fastbreak points, and most glaring, 14 more points in the paint.

Wait ...

Charlotte marks Brooklyn's third straight opponent to lead the game in total shots.  The Nets have so far been outshot by a 290-259 overall margin.  All three opponents have exceeded 90-plus attempts.  Whereas the Nets have been limited to 86.3 shots per game, Kevin Durant averages 26.6% of those.

Speaking of which, six Brooklyn players took more shots than Joe Harris, who finished with seven points in 28 minutes.

Brooklyn's bench got outscored by a 39-27 margin.  Patty Mills was ice cold, shooting 2/10 from the field and 1/6 from three in 32 minutes.  LaMarcus Aldridge led the bench with nine points in 22 minutes, and Bruce Brown added eight points in 27 minutes.

This was Coach Nash's first lineup change in three games.  Jevon Carter started replacing Blake Griffin with back-to-back games, who is due to start Monday against Washington.  Carter was 1/7 from the field for three points in 26 minutes.   

When Blake Griffin returns on Monday, I'm curious to see if, after three straight games, Nicolas Claxton continues in a starting role.

Brooklyn Nets: Celts Get Boot In This Episode of Home Improvement

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

TAKING BETTER CARE OF HOME COURT

Season series tied 1-1

I - BOS 116; BKN 95

II - BKN 109; BOS 102

III - January 28 @ BOS

IV - March 30 @ BKN

FINAL

Celtics   102

NETS    109

Brooklyn Nets: After 0-10 Stretch Versus Celtics, Brooks Finally Get Damn Leprechaun Off Their Backs.

After suffering a 21-point defeat just over a week ago at Boston, Flatbush gains a measure of payback with a 109-102 victory over the visiting Celts Monday night at Barclays Center.

With Boston playing minus the services of Kyrie Irving, D'Angelo Russell opens the scoring on Brooklyn's first possession with a three.  By night's end, Russell finishes with a game-high with 34-points during a floor leading 37-minute effort.  Opening the second half staked to a one-point lead, Russell explodes for 18-points in the third quarter.  However, the Nets would allow Boston to close a 24-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to within six points with just 31.8 seconds left to play.  But that's as close as the Celts would get, as the Nets learn another lesson in the art of closing out games with a seven point victory over their division rival.

This latest victory gives the Nets a 14-5 (.736) record since snapping a near ruinous eight-game slide.  Despite their season record (22-23) still being one game under par, their mid-season surge has earned them contention within the conference's top eight.  Their season point differential is an improved -0.6 as the Nets have been outscoring opponents (113.4 vs. 111.5 ppg) over this latest stretch to the tune of a +1.9 point differential.

The Nets also own a winning 6-4 record against the division, and a 16-12 record in Eastern Conference play.  More importantly, they finally sport a winning record (12-11) at home.  After starting just 3-10 at Barclays, Kenny's Kids are now 9-1 in their last ten at the Flatbush Avenue gym.

... all despite numerous injuries to the starting lineup.

Lastly, Monday's victory snaps a ten game losing streak against the Boston Celtics.

D'Angelo Russell also leads all players with seven assists.  Jarrett Allan posts a double-double with 19-points and 12-assists.  DeMarre Carroll adds another double-double, with 10-points and a game high 14 boars off the bench.

WWE Summerslam 2018: Battling a Hostile Brooklyn Crowd

From the desk of:  VINCE SR.'s WORST NIGHTMARE

I first became passionate about wrestling as a single-digit midget back in the mid 1970s when all territories were still under the umbrella of the NWA and kayfabe ruled the day.  Our local territory was then known as the WWWF, and was owned by Vince McMahon Sr.  At the time, his son Vince Jr. was doing little more than cutting promos and ring announcing.  When Daddy Mac decided he'd had enough, he made Vince Jr. promise to not break up the territory system.  So what did Sonny Mac do?  He swallowed up the competition with haste thus ending the territory system.  Vince Jr. would argue in the same spirit that Brett Hart screwed Brett Hart, the various territory owners killed the various territories.  My son and I constantly debate the evolution of wrestling from when I was a kid through today's era of Sports Entertainment.  It is therefore my honor and privilege to introduce to you the newest contributor of the Brooklyn Trolley Blogger, my son, Michael III.

WWE’s biggest party of the summer is right around the corner.  Summerslam will hail from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY and is sure to have a raucous crowd.  Being from Brooklyn myself, I know that we by our very nature are A-holes and if we don’t like something, trust me you will know.  As if they have proved in the past, the WWE Universe loves to crap all over the product if the WWE Creative team does not give them what they want.  That, coupled with the extended times of WWE’s pay per views usually leads to the crowd tuning out of matches, chanting things that make no sense and throwing beach balls at each other.  While this is sometimes hysterical, it is also pretty annoying. The Brooklyn audience is always relentless so the WWE has to ensure that Summerslam is a stacked show that will ensure the WWE Universe, both the live and home audience, enjoys the show.  There are several ways to do this, whether or not WWE follows through or just does whatever they feel like again is up to them.

The Liberation of the WWE Universal Championship

Amelia Earhart, Osama Bin Laden, Brock Lesnar, hide and seek champs.  Brock Lesnar and the Universal Championship have been seen so infrequently that people have started to forget Raw has a top world title.  With Lesnar’s imminent return to the UFC, there is finally hope that he will drop the title at Summerslam and give Raw a much needed shot of adrenaline.  Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley are set to battle it out tonight on Raw to see who will face Lesnar at Summerslam. Neither of those matches sound particularly appealing so there will be some sort of shenanigans that take place that will allow both men to challenge Lesnar in a Triple Threat Match.  

No one wants to see Lesnar keep the title hostage, the crowd will hate every second Reigns is in the ring and Lashley hasn’t really earned a main event spot.  So all three men winning the title is a lose lose situation. The only way to make sure the Brooklyn crowd goes home happy is have Braun Strowman cash in his briefcase.  It will be the biggest pop of the night when Strowman lays waste to whoever the winner is and finally claims his spot at the top of the mountain. A Lashley or Reigns heel turn post Summerslam will provide Strowman with a strong feud to carry his title into.  A Strowman win at Summerslam is the perfect ending to the show that will leave everyone happy.

AJ Styles Vs. Samoa Joe

Despite WWE’s insistence that the real top champion is whoever holds the title on Raw, AJ Styles has proved time and time again he is the top world champion in the company.  Styles has seemingly silenced every challenger available to him since he became WWE Championship last year. One of the last few big money feuds Styles has left available to him on Smackdown is a battle against Samoa Joe.  Joe proved he belonged in the main event throughout his tenure in NXT and his battles against Lesnar and Reigns on Raw. Anyone that has seen their battles in TNA know that Styles and Joe have amazing chemistry and can tear the house down.  Their match at Summerslam has the potential to steal the show and can truly make a star out of Samoa Joe. A Joe win can offer some new and fresh matchups in the Smackdown main event scene with Joe taking on top faces like Daniel Bryan, Jeff Hardy or even a potential dream match with a returning John Cena.  

New Women’s Champs

At Summerslam, Ronda Rousey will challenge Alexa Bliss for the Raw Women’s Championship and Becky Lynch will most likely challenge Carmella for the Smackdown Women’s Championship.  Bliss and Carmella are two hated heels that play their roles well but both of them have had their time to shine. Becky Lynch, one of the most natural babyfaces on the roster, should finally get her moment and capture the title that has eluded her since she won the inaugural Smackdown Women’s Championship two years ago.  Ronda Rousey has taken the WWE by storm and has gotten over fairly well despite being new to the wrestling scene. Beating such a natural heel in Bliss will allow Rousey to capture the strap and electrify the Brooklyn crowd.

Indie Darlings Get Their Due

WWE loves pushing people that the WWE Universe doesn’t really want to see.  Guys like Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan and Finn Balor have often been overlooked in favor of guys like Roman Reigns and whatever other big guy with long hair Vince McMahon has a chubby for at that moment.  The so called “Indie Darlings” have done fine on their own but most are not allowed to grab the brass ring organically.

Daniel Bryan got over on his own without help from the WWE machine and they refused to push him until they had no other choice.  At Summerslam he appears finally set to battle the Miz who he has had issues with for years. Fans have been waiting for this match ever since D-Bry came back from injury.  There is nothing more that the Barclays Center would love than for Daniel Bryan to give the Miz the absolute beating of a lifetime.

Likewise, guys like Finn Balor and Seth Rollins need to be highlighted and given quality matchups at the big event.  Balor has yet to receive his rematch for the Universal Title and the journey to that match should start with a big showing at Summerslam.  Rollins has been the workhorse of Raw and he should have a big showing at Summerslam, probably against Dolph Ziggler again after they killed it in their IronMan Match last month.  Both Rollins and Balor deserve the spotlight on Raw and with Brock Lesnar most likely heading back to the UFC, opportunities for the Universal Championship will actually begin to come more frequently.

WWE: Flatbush is RAW

WWE

MONDAY NIGHT

RAW

25th Anniversary

BROOKLYN is RAW

The trucks arrived this morning at Barclays Center.

Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn

LIU/Brooklyn Blackbirds: Derek Kellogg Era Begins Now

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

FRIDAY

LIU Blackbirds

vs.

Tulane Green Wave

FROM

The Big Easy

LIU/Brooklyn Blackbirds: Meet the New Boss ...

After spending nearly a decade in the Atlantic 10 Conference piloting the University of Massachusetts, Derek Kellogg will begin his first season in the Northeast Conference as head coach of the Blackbirds when LIU/Brooklyn tips off in New Orleans against the Tulane Green Wave Friday evening.

LIU notified former head coach Jack Perri back in March his contract which was due to expire in August would not be renewed.

Perri served the program for five seasons after taking over for long-time coach Jim Ferry, whom accepted the position of head coach with Duquesne University in 2012 after leading LIU to back-to-back NEC titles.  Then assistant coach Jack Perri was promoted, and guided the Blackbirds to a record third straight NEC title in 2012-2013, earning the program yet another trip to the NCAA tournament.

Not unexpectedly, the program suffered a precipitous falloff in each of their next two seasons.  Coming off a 20-14 season, the Blackbirds stumbled to 9-20 overall, and just 4-12 in the conference. They were only marginally better in 2014-2015, posting a 12-18 record, with an 8-10 conference record.

The Blackbirds continued making incremental progress through 2015-2016, climbing back over .500 with a 16-15 overall record, and a par 9-9 record against the conference.

LIU had seemingly come full circle last season under Jack Perri with a 20-12 overall record, and a 13-5 conference record.  However, they would unfortunately suffer a gut wrenching first round elimination in the NEC tournament, losing by a point (68-69) to seventh-seeded Robert Morris University.

It was a rather unceremonious end to Perri's tenure considering how he reset the program.  He leaves with a 77-79 record as head coach.  To keep that in context, Jim Ferry was 150-149 during his ten seasons coaching the Blackbirds.

Derek Kellogg is now charged with elevating the LIU Blackbirds to higher ground, and there's evidence which suggests he can.

Coming off a 27-11 record in 2007-2008 under outgoing coach Travis Ford (who accepted the head coaching position Oklahoma State), the Minutemen's winning percentage dwindled to .406 during Kellogg's first two seasons as coach.  The program climbed back over .500 in 2010-2011 with a 16-15 overall record.

By 2011-2012, however, the Minutemen were enjoying their best season under Derek Kellogg, finishing with a 25-12 record.  They topped 20 victories again in 2012-2013, and in 2013-2014, the Minutemen went 24-9, qualifying them for their first NCAA tournament appearance in 16 years.

They've been down trending since then, averaging just 15 victories over their last three seasons precipitating the University of Massachusetts to move in a different direction.

Within a month of his dismissal, LIU was announcing Derek Kellogg as the Blackbirds new head coach.

LIU's conference schedule begins Dec. 29 against Fairleigh Dickinson University.

They will play two mid-December games at Barclays Center against Fairfield University, and Saint Peter's University, and get their first crack at the defending NEC champions on Dec. 31, when they host Mount St. Mary's at the Steinberg Wellness Center.

LIU/Brooklyn Blackbirds Schedule

N.Y. Islanders: Prime Time For John Tavares

From the desk of:  FIVE FOR FLATBUSH

4-0-1 At Home To Start Season

New York Islanders: Each John Tavares Goal Nudges New Ownership Another Two Minutes Closer To Midnight.

Don't take your eyes off John Tavares.

I say that for a few reasons.

As a 27-year old, he's only now entering his athletic prime.  I admit it's a little early for this, but something special may be unfolding before our eyes.

The first overall pick of the 2009 entry draft, Tavares is already well on his way towards a career season.  The only question is, how far can he take this?

His slash presently reads 11 goals, 4 assists, 15 points, in just 12 games.

Entering this season, Tavares has topped 30 goals three times in eight campaigns.  To date, his 38 goals in 2014-15 are his career best.  He finished just one point shy of equaling his total games played in each of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.  His points then exceeded games played by seven in 2014-15, and by four the following season.

Tavares scored his first two goals of this season against the Buffalo Sabres in the Islanders second game of the season, but then went pointless in his next five games.  He finally netted his third goal of the season on Oct. 21, against San Jose.  Then unleashed fury with a pair of hat tricks against Arizona and Nashville, followed by another pair of goals against the expansion Vegas Golden Knights Monday night at Barclays Center, giving him nine goals in his last five games.

It just so happens John Tavares is also in his contract year.

Therefore, the Islanders are facing two choices: Pay him his worth and lock him up long term.  Or, try and maximize a trade by the deadline.

With regards to the latter, trading John Tavares would be a complete disaster.  So would letting him walk away as a free agent, for that matter.  The Islanders can not allow, nor afford, letting either scenario playing out.  Not after what the fans have been made to endure over the last two decades.

John Tavares is the franchise.  There's no way of overstating that fact.  He has been the Captain since 2013, and is clearly among the NHL's elite centers.  Between 1992 and 2001, the Islanders retired six jerseys belonging to members of the dynasty teams of the early 1980s.  None have gone up since.  There are some arguments to be made for other players.  Retiring Tavares' number, however, is becoming more of a certainty with each passing year.

If you're John Tavares, of course you want to get paid fair market value.  And even if the Islanders meet his price, will new ownership continue elevating the talent around him?  Make no mistake, parting ways with Kyle Okposo did not sit well with Tavares.  These may be new owners, but things like that remain in players' minds.  This is, after all, a business.

That being said, I'm sure missing the playoffs last season certainly didn't help the situation.  This is his ninth season with the organization, and the Islanders have only qualified for the post-season just three times since his arrival, with only one series victory to show.

One must also consider how Barclays Center fails as a viable NHL arena, and the continuing uncertainty regarding a potential arena next to Belmont Park.  Ownership has already stated the Islanders will be playing in Brooklyn through next season regardless.

All things considered, one has to wonder whether John Tavares will even want to continue playing with the Islanders.

It will be interesting, to say the least, watching Scott Malkin and Jonathan Ledecky negotiate a new home for the Islanders in Belmont (because I do not believe there is a Plan-B in place), and a new deal for one of the league's premier players at the same time.

One has absolutely everything to do with the other.  Tavares sells tickets.  Without him, the dominoes begin to fall.  Fans become disinterested.  That translates into empty seats in a potential new arena.  And before you know it, another decade of bad hockey has gone by.

Unfortunately, the Islanders do not have the luxury of wooing a new market starved for NHL hockey.  This is the same market, and the same increasingly disaffected fans who for long have been numbed by organizational inefficiencies and inadequacies.

*

The Islanders have won five of their last six games, and with their 6-3 victory over Vegas, improved to 4-0-1 at home.  They end the month of October 7-4-1, and just one point behind the first place New Jersey Devils in the Metropolitan Division standings.

Next on the docket: Thursday night against the Capitals in Washington.

Knicks vs. Nets: Battle of the Boroughs - I

From the desks of:

DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP  and  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

AFTERMATH

The opening sequence in New York City's fledgling Battle of the Boroughs is done.

With the trading of Carmelo Anthony, both the Knicks and Nets are back to zero - thus ending one chapter in this turf war, and beginning another.

The Nets may have been first to order a tactical retreat.  And it was the correct decision.  But make no mistake, only the Knickerbockers own stupefying dysfunction prevented them from raising the white flag first.

To borrow a phrase from the Ken Burns documentary, Baseball, the Nets invasion into Knicks territory, and their occupation of Brooklyn, has indeed been  -  "...something like a war." 

You might say the original Brooklyn Tea Party moment came when Bruce Ratner purchased the New Jersey Nets back in 2003 from the failed Yankees/Devils/Nets consortium, then announced his intentions for shipping the team across New York Harbor, and into a new arena being planned for construction along fabled Flatbush Avenue in downtown Brooklyn.

This obviously garnered attention from the Knicks, whose monopoly on the city was potentially coming under threat for the first time in their history.

Although Ratner's announcement came at a time when the New Jersey Nets were in the midst of making back-to-back NBA Finals appearances, groundbreaking in Brooklyn wouldn't take place for another seven years.  His plan was naturally met with fierce opposition; local, civic, political, and otherwise; putting him on the defensive, and besieging the Barclays Center/Atlantic Yards project with lengthy court battles and setbacks.

Bruce Ratner (a former city commissioner under Mayor Ed Koch) very obviously benefited from a more friendly, obliging city/state government almost 60 years after former Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley similarly petitioned the city/state for eminent domain at the location of Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue, with a desire to rebuild a replacement stadium for aging Ebbets Field, but was denied straightaway by Robert Moses.  Ratner ultimately gained court approval in Nov. 2009, and by March 2010, was finally conducting groundbreaking ceremonies.

By this time, however, Bruce Ratner ran out of cash.  Years of litigation and a downturn in the economy left him light in the pocket, and scrambling for new investors.  

Enter Mikhail Prokhorov, present majority owner of the Nets and Barclays Center.

• UPDATE: Prokhorov Sells 49% Stake of Nets 

 
If anyone fired the first shot heard 'round the city, it was him.  Prokhorov audaciously launched the Billboard Wars in 2010 by commissioning a Nets mural a mere two blocks away from Madison Square Garden.

Jim Dolan strikes back with a billboard affixed on a building inside the construction site of Atlantic Yards (since renamed Pacific Park), facing westbound traffic along Atlantic Avenue, featuring Amare Stoudemire pictured in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn,

The Billboard Wars of 2010

Initial invasion campaign featuring Jay-Z

Placed by Knicks on 7th Avenue at Flatbush Avenue, Park Slope; 

within blocks of Barclays Center construction site.

Then came the Battle for Melo.

Remember how the Denver Nuggets came "this close" from trading Carmelo Anthony to the Nets?  

Remember how that threw Jim Dolan's guitar completely out of tune?  Remember how he trampled all over Mike D'Antoni and Donnie Walsh in order to seal a quick deal with Denver, but not before Mikhail Prokhorov took a parting shot at the Knicks upon announcing the Nets were pulling out of the Melo sweepstakes?

Remember how the Nets then stole the headlines the very next morning soon after completing an overnight deal with the Utah Jazz for Deron Williams, who at the time was a highly regarded point guard entering his prime?  Remember how the tabloids/radio talkies were in general agreement in so far as the Nets swinging a better trade?

Isn't it funny what else competition can do?  As Barclays Center nears completion, Jim Dolan orders Madison Square Garden undergo a one billion dollar renovation in an effort to remain on par with a brand new arena across the river.  Do you think he would have been rushing to get that done were it not for the Nets?

Fast forward - Barclays Center opens for business.  In an effort to fulfill Mikhail Prokhorov's short term goal of winning a championship, (then) general manager Billy King mortgages away the Nets future in a trade with the Boston Celtics.  King essentially transacts the Nets 2014 #1 draft pick; 2016 #1 pick; 2017 #1 pick/first overall; and next year's 2018 #1 pick; for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

An act of folly equal to, and even surpassing, anything occurring across the river.  

In any event, each organization was now forcing the other into making hasty, and at times nonsensical decisions.  Each was pushing the other to its financial limits, exhausting resources with wanton abandon, but getting nowhere.  Coaching casualties piled high on both sides as well.

Any and all efforts ... both sides ... complete fail.

The fallout from this trench-like brawl is only now settling, but at least the Knicks followed the Nets lead and have finally withdrawn back to their camp.

The front along the East River will be there for another day.  Because truth be told, the on-court Knicks/Nets rivalry is yet to materialize, as the opening confrontation in the Battle of the Boroughs was waged between owners.

Mikhail Prokhorov is arguably still dictating terms.  Think about it ... he initially escalated hostilities, then was the first to cease fire.  He smartly owned-up to his mistakes, then proactively reset the organization's future course early last year with haste and conviction  As a result, the Nets are moving towards recovery well ahead of their East River rivals.  Then again, after posting an historically bad 20-62 record last season, Prokhorov recognized there was no other choice (especially when looking to sell a minority stake in the team).

The Knicks, meanwhile, remain helplessly mired in reactive mode.  In that respect, some things never change.  The Dolan enterprise has been hoping to reset their direction towards the positive for 17 years now.  But where as the Nets are already one year into their reconstruction, the Knicks are still clearing out from under the rubble of yet another mass organizational implosion.

All that being said, the initial clash of clubs was interesting to say the least.  What remains now for these respective teams is to readdress the on-court business of basketball for a change.

Deron Williams is gone; Carmelo Anthony is gone; Phil Jackson is gone; even Brook Lopez is gone.

The 2017-2018 season truly begins changing the narrative.

N.Y. Islanders: John Tavares Plants His Flag on Flatbush Avenue

From the desk of:  FIVE FOR FLATBUSH

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
ROUND ONE

Islanders defeat Panthers 4-2

I - NYI 5; FLA 4

II - FLA 3; NYI 1

III - NYI 4; FLA 3*

IV - FLA 2; NYI 1

V - NYI 2; FLA 1*

VI - NYI 2; FLA 1*

*OVERTIME

NEW YORK ISLANDERS: It took four years, but Barclays Center finally enjoyed its first transcendental moment.

The Brooklyn Nets' lone post-season series victory 

was clinched in Toronto.

Let the record show that on April 24, 2016, a hockey team from Brooklyn won its first ever Stanley Cup Playoff series.

The folks out in Uniondale, Nassau County, and greater Long Island, however, waited 23 long years for their favorite team to finally win a playoff series again.  The waiting period for Flatbush Avenue's first modern transcendental moment, on the other hand, wasn't nearly as long.  After all, it has only been seven months since the Islanders hosted the Borough's inaugural season opener.

There was nevertheless plenty for all to celebrate this past Sunday throughout this stretch of land separated from mainland New York proper.

After splitting games One and Two against the Panthers in Sunrise, Florida, Barclays Center's first ever NHL playoff game ended with Thomas Hickey's overtime goal, giving the Islanders a 2-1 series edge.

In Game Six, Barclays rumbled and shook like the walls of Jericho upon witnessing John Tavares' game tying goal with just 0:54 left in regulation, then damn nearly crumbled after his series clinching goal in double-overtime.

With the Knicks, Nets, Devils, and the recently eliminated New York Rangers all idle, the limelight turned its focus squarely on Islanders' captain John Tavares, whom demonstrated why he's quietly been the metropolitan area's premier hockey player throughout his seven year career.

Simply stating Tavares registered nine points (5 goals, 4 assists) in six games against the Florida Panthers would be a major injustice.  The Islanders team captain led his team into the second round of playoffs with uncommon actions and supreme deeds.

• Game One: His goal with 0:22 left in the 2nd period tied the game at two.
• Game Two: He scored the Islanders only goal during a 3-1 loss.
• Game Three: His first assist of the 2nd period helped bring the Islanders within 2-1 of the Panthers.  His second assist of the 2nd period helped the Islanders tie the game at three.
• Game Four: He scored the lone Islanders goal (PP) in a 2-1 loss.
• Game Six: He scored the game tying goal with 0:54 left in regulation, then stuffed in his own rebound with a wrap-around goal in double overtime.

Behind the Mask

All John Tavares' heroics would have been mere afterthoughts, however, were it not for the net minding of Thomas Greiss.  It took cartwheels and back flips, but the Isles' back-up goalie played like a season long starter against the Panthers, and for good reason.  He appeared in exactly half the Islanders games this season, and made 38 starts.  

Starting goalie Jaroslav Halak last played on March 8 against the Penguins.  Greiss then started 11 of the Islanders final 18 regular season games, before being thrust into Round One against the Florida Panthers.  Greiss posted a .944 Sv%, and a stellar 1.79 GAA in six games.  After surrendering four goals in Game One, Greiss limited the Panthers to 10 goals over the next five games, and held them to a lone goal in both games Five and Six.

*image: nydn/getty

N.Y. Islanders: Boisterous Barclays Crowd Celebrates Historic O.T. Victory

From the desk of:  FIVE FOR FLATBUSH

The First Ever NHL Playoff Game in Brooklyn

was an O.T. Thriller!

Islanders lead series 2-1

I - NYI 5; FLA 4

II - FLA 3; NYI 1

III - NYI 4; FLA 3*

IV- WEDNESDAY

*O.T.

GAME FOUR

Florida Panthers

vs.

New York Islanders

FROM

Flatbush Avenue

BROOKLYN

New York Islanders: Smells Like Team Spirit...

Chalk one up for Garth Snow ... whom was slighted last off-season for not having more prospects at the team's disposal.  His detractors argued Brock Nelson alone does not a youth injection make.

The Isles then proceeded to post their second straight 100 point season.

Just saying...

Now all of a sudden his 2013 draft choices are the latest rage.  That's when he selected defenseman Ryan Pulock with the 15th overall pick of the 1st round, and center Alan Quine in the 15th round.   This season he additionally brought in Ottawa's former 2011 2nd round selection, 23-year old center, and native New Yorker, Shane Prince.  None hadn't even appeared on the Islanders radar until late February.

But just like that, the Islanders had youth running wild in Barclays Center - but not before the Panthers took a crowd demoralizing 2-0 lead, scoring goals within the opening minutes of both the 1st and 2nd periods.

The three novices nevertheless helped keep the Islanders within striking distance of the Panthers until late in the 2nd period when the top line of Tavares-Nielsen-Okposo finally took over.

At 5:21, Ryan Pulock converted a power play to make it a 2-1 game.  However, the Isles sustained another punch in the gut when Florida scored just two short minutes later.  They regrouped, and just beyond the midway point Shane Prince cashed in a Pulock feed making it a 3-2 game.

Then at 16:12 of the 2nd, Florida got whistled for a rarely called clipping penalty.  Within a minute of the infraction Frans Nielsen netted the game tying goal off feeds from John Tavares and Kyle Okposo,

... and making the Flatbush Avenue Ice House rock like a Teen Spirit video.

However, the best for Barclays was yet to come, as they were additionally treated to their first ever playoff overtime.  The outcome officially became a thriller at the 12:31 mark when Thomas Hickey scored on assists from Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey, capping off a youth inspired comeback, and an important Game Three victory.

In the meantime, Flatbush Avenue roared.  Shortly thereafter they were having their performance commended by the players.  Both continue venturing into uncharted territory together Wednesday night in Game Four at Barclays Center.

• Suffice it to say, Brooklyn's historic first ever NHL Stanley Cup playoff game was a hit.  The place was packed to 99% capacity - obstructed seats and all.

• The Isles have solid efforts on the penalty kill to thank for their 2-1 series edge, after fending off 6 of 7 power plays through three games.  Their own power play was clicking, scoring two goals in Game Three, and going 3 for 9 to date.

• The Panthers and Islanders have now scored 10 goals apiece.  Through three games, Thomas Greiss, 30 years old, has so far faced 115 shots, made 106 saves, with 9 goals allowed for a .922 Sv% and a 2.83 GAA.

• The Islanders were correct to wear their traditional uniforms for Game Three.  The question is will they don their alternate Brooklyn black uniform for Game Four?

N.Y. Islanders: Flatbush Ave Braces for Brooklyn's First Ever Stanley Cup Playoff

From the desk of:  FIVE FOR FLATBUSH

Series tied 1-1

I - NYI 5; FLA 4

II - FLA 3; NYI 1

III - SUNDAY

GAME THREE

Florida Panthers

vs.

New York Islanders

FROM

Barclays Center

BROOKLYN

NEW YORK ISLANDERS: A bit of thanks for the team which brought NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs to Brooklyn...

For one season (1941-1942) the old New York Americans moved to Brooklyn.  World War II canceled their second season and essentially caused them to suspended team operations, but not without a promise from the league they'd be allowed reinstatement.  When ownership reapplied in 1946 after the war, the New York Rangers blocked them, thus ending NHL hockey in Brooklyn.

After a 73 year adjournment, the Islanders bring the first ever NHL Stanley Cup playoff game and series to Kings County.

A quest that started back in 1985 after winning four consecutive championships in Uniondale, the Islanders' Drive for Five resumes tonight, only this time along Flatbush Avenue.

The Other Ghosts of Flatbush: Brooklyn Americans Hockey Club

ICYMI

N.Y. Islanders: Five For Flatbush

If the Islanders want to get by the Panthers, 

they must slow them down!

This is a team that posted back-to-back 100 point seasons.

Don't get me wrong, the Islanders can skate along side Father Time Jaromir Jagr, and his young band of Florida sunshine.  Game Two may have been just one of those things ... after all, they peppered 37-year old Robert Luongo with 42 shots.

The Isles, however, have been playing without their own starting goalie, Jaroslav Halak.  Backup Thomas Greiss has been in net the first two games.  Since Jaroslav last played on March 8, Greiss started 11 of the Isles final 18 games, in which he posted a 4-7 record.  The Isles were outscored in those games 34-29 (including the decisive goal in shoot-outs).  Greiss' worst moment to date may have come on March 25, when the Isles fell to Tampa by a 7-4 margin.  He faced 41 shots that evening, allowing 6 goals.  In the 3rd period, he allowed a pair of even strength goals within 23 seconds of each other, and three goals overall.

After two games in Florida, the Islanders have been outscored by a slim 7-6 margin.  That's too close for comfort, and something the Islanders' forward lines must change - not necessarily Greiss, or any potential return of Halak.

That said, defensive issues have long been a point of contention for Coach Capuano and the Isles.   Look no further than Game One, when five goals barely held up.

John Tavares brought the Islanders to within a goal of Florida at the 16:27 mark of the 3rd in Game Two.  The Isles nevertheless fell short, with the emphasis being Tavares (and his line) can not carry the Islanders by himself - he/they can, but he can't ... not in the playoffs ... and not with this kind of depth.

Quick item - Brock Nelson must continue being a leading scorer for the team.

Otherwise, the Islanders strength is their depth of forward lines, from the first to their fourth units, and their overall physicality.

Lean on that.  Lean on them.  Grind the Panthers down to a crawl.  The Islanders let the Panthers skate around a bit too much in Game Two and paid a price.  Said another way, it's time to make wall paste art out of Panthers jerseys along the side boards of Barclays Center.

That falls on all four lines, but, particularly the fourth.

An early goal and big hits will go a long way towards educating an only somewhat newer Brooklyn fan base in playoff hockey etiquette, and what is expected of them tonight at Barclays Center.

To all you Long Islanders coming into Brooklyn aboard the LIRR, I hope this playoff run makes all your efforts worth while,

.....for as long as it doesn't come at the expense of Tex's Rangers - whom are incorrectly referred to as an Original Six member.  The Americans came first and got screwed.

Just saying...

Stanley Cup Playoffs - Brooklyn is in the house.

N.Y. Islanders: The Thrill of Victory and Agony of the Seats

From the desk of:  FIVE FOR FLATBUSH

Year One in Brooklyn

45-27-10 (100 Points)

Kings County's second ever NHL season is done.

The Borough's first ever NHL Playoffs is underway!

New York Islanders: The Brooklyn Americans were first to play in Kings County.  The former Long Islanders now bring the Borough into their first ever NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

*The 1939-1940 New York Americans qualified for the playoffs.

The Islanders first season in Brooklyn was a difficult adjustment to say the least.

I knew it would be.  

I settled on the blog title Five For Flatbush in order to capture the Islanders' quest for a 5th Stanley Cup, and to inaugurate their arrival on Flatbush Avenue.

There was a reason, however, why I initially titled this blog Brooklyn's Foster Hockey Club prior to their actual move into Barclays Center.  They are here due more to circumstance, than by choice.  An overburdened Long Island (Nassau County) tax base was unnecessarily forced to vote with their wallets instead of their hearts on a new arena proposal - which could have been avoided if local gov't would have simply worked more cooperatively with Charles Wang and his originally proposed Lighthouse Project.

Looking back, the timing couldn't have been worse.  Barclays Center was never intended to host NHL hockey - nor was there a reason to even consider it.

At the time, the New Jersey Nets were still working in cooperation with the New Jersey Devils on a proposed arena in Newark.  When that plan fell apart, native Brooklynite/real estate developer Bruce Ratner purchased the Nets from motivated sellers.

Since the day Ratner announced intentions to move the Nets into a new arena to be built in Brooklyn, and even throughout the construction of Barclays Center a decade later, no one anticipated the Nets and Islanders reuniting under the same roof ever again.  The two ceased being room mates back in the late 1970's when the Nets moved from Nassau Coliseum, and into the Meadowlands Brendan Byrne Arena.  The hockey Devils then moved from Colorado to join them during the early 1980's.  

The situation left the Islanders alone - a situation very unlike that of the Knicks/Rangers, and aforementioned Nets/Devils.

Quite honestly, I have no idea how many locals are attending home games.  I know some due.   Obviously, wearing Isles gear throughout the decades has not been uncommon here, but I see more now than at any other time I can recall.  Long Islanders may very well be carrying attendance largely by themselves, though  I don't know that, but I'm sure of it.  These figures, however, speak truth...

Local Attendance:

• New York Rangers: NHL rank #18.  They averaged 18,006 per game;100% capacity.
• New Jersey Devils: NHL rank #26.  They averaged 15,073 per game; 91% capacity.
• New York Islanders: NHL rank #28.  They averaged 13,626 per game; 86% capacity.

Here's the rub - the remaining 15% of Barclays Center potential seating for hockey games are (terrible) obstructed views.  Were it for more suitable seating, their attendance would perhaps be on par with that of the Devils, if not better (relatively speaking...) considering capacity is roughly 15,000 at Barclays Center for hockey.  In fact, the Islanders ranked #25 during their last season at the Coliseum, averaging 15,334 per game, or 95% capacity.  A now competitive team playing out a swan song season played into that, but they nevertheless outpaced the Devils whom ranked #26 last season.

Therefore, the Islanders' attendance figures might actually be healthier than meets the eye, but still does nothing to help the fact Barclays is somewhat unsuitable for hockey.  The scoreboard isn't even centered on the rink, adding to the general aesthetic detraction.

Then there's the partial re-branding of the team.  What choice did Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark have?  He had to keep the traditional Long Islanders content, while at the same time entice a new local market with its own very strongly held identity.  As a result, we essentially have a team with an alter ego, donning a completely distinct alternative (or primary?) uniform designed in part to compliment the Brooklyn Nets and the reuniting of one-time arena mates.

At this point, Brett Yormark's mind is undoubtedly pinned on Sunday's first playoff game at Barclays. Only winning playoff games, building a winning atmosphere, and sustained success, make other problems (perceived or real) magically disappear.

Even then, the nuances of this whole arrangement will continue dominating any conversation unless parading a Cup down Flatbush Avenue can change more minds..,

...or one of these parties opt out in a few years.

*          *          *          *

Much like life around Brooklyn, the 2015-16 regular season itself can be summed up with a simple - damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

Four teams exceeded 100 points in the Metropolitan Division this season, led by Washington's eye popping 120 points.  The Islanders came in at an even buck, while the Blueshirts finished just a mere point better.

The Islanders arrived in Kings County replete with a genuine star performer - John Tavares.  For several seasons now, his forward line (w/ Kyle Okposos/various third skater) has routinely been the best among any formed by either of the three local hockey clubs.

2015 - 2016

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE 

PLAYOFFS

Game One Final

Islanders    5

Panthers    4

As presently formed, John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, and Frans Nielsen led the Islanders to a 5-4 victory in Game One of their opening round series over the Florida Panthers.

The seasoned Islanders opted to counter-punch with the feisty Panthers.

Florida opened the scoring within the first two minutes of play.  Just under five minutes later, Brock Nelson tied the game at one.  But the Panthers converted a power play at the 13:51 mark to inch ahead.  Not for long though ...  Frans Nielsen reciprocated at 16:46 with a power play goal of his own, assisted by Tavares.

One again, Florida opened the 2nd period scoring within the opening two minutes.  Flatbush then embarked on a methodical grinding down of the younger cats.  With 0:22 second left in the session, John Tavares converted feeds from line mates Okposo and Nielsen, tying the game at three.

Flatbush continued turning the tables with Kyle Okposo's early score opening the 3rd period - fed once again by Tavares.

At 6:01, Ryan Strome next scored what proved to be the difference in the game, because within another minute, Florida scored giving the Isles their eventual one goal margin of victory.

Goalie Thomas Greiss, starting in place of injured Jaroslav Halak, faced 46 shots and made 42 saves.

For the moment, home ice advantage has switched over into the Islanders hands.

Playoff hockey arrives in Brooklyn this Sunday for Game Three.