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.  

 

Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant Lifts Flatbush To Transcendent Victory

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
PLAYOFFS: ROUND TWO

Nets lead Bucks; 3-2

I - BKN 115; MIL 107

II - BKN 125; MIL 86

III - MIL 86; BKN 83

IV - MIL 107; BKN 96

V - BKN 114; MIL 108

There's A New Duke of Flatbush, And His Name Is Kevin Durant

Brooklyn has its transcendent NBA moment, the Barclays Center, and its uproarious fans in utter delirium.  To date, this stands as the Brooklyn Nets finest moment on the court.  Compromised by injuries and thus underestimated in some circles, the Nets undeterred and unrelentingly take a 3-2 advantage in their second-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Kevin Durant takes the weight of Kings County upon his shoulders and carries the Borough to victory while putting forth perhaps the most prolific performance in New York City post-season basketball history.

Just thirty-one seconds in, Durant scores the first two points of the game.  But Flatbush trails by 14 points after the first quarter, then takes a 16 point deficit into the half.  Kevin Durant scores 18 points in the first half.

The Nets still trail by 16 points midway through the third quarter.  That is until 6:18, when Durant drives to the basket for two.  Kevin Durant would score 31 points over the final 17-plus minutes of the game from that moment forward.  Durant scored eleven points in the third quarter while the Nets put up 38 points and outscore Milwaukee by ten to close to within six.  Brooklyn again outscores the Bucks in the fourth quarter by a twelve-point margin.  Look no further than Kevin Durant, who scores 20 points during the final session.  Flatbush wins by six.

Durant finishes 16/23 (69.5%) from the field, including 4/9 from behind the arc and 13/16 from the line for a game-high 49 points, with a game-high 17 rebounds and game-high ten assists.  He played all 48 minutes.

Next, we need to know about the status of James Harden and how much harm did he bring upon his barking hamstring with 46 minutes or not.  His mere presence alone in game five is a major contribution.  He helps Durant with ball distribution while providing something else for Milwaukee to consider.  Playing on one good leg, Harden still ties Jrue Holiday with eight assists.  

Jeff Green steps up his game when the Nets need it most.  He shoots 8/11 (72.7%) from the field, including a clutch 7/8 from behind the arc and a perfect 4/4 from the line for 27 points and a team-high +12 in 35 minutes off the bench.  Brooklyn simply does not win this game without Green's stellar performance.  He twice scored a regular-season high 23 points in January and April games, respectively.  In two first-round games against the Celtics, he totals nine points in 39 minutes.  Last Sunday, he scored eight points in 27 minutes during game three's loss.

Blake Griffin gives Brooklyn three scorers in double-digits, with 17 points in 29 minutes.

JOE HARRIS: Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!

You know who didn't step up his game when the team needed him most ... Joe Harris, that's who!  He finishes just 2/11 from the field, including just 1/7 from behind the arc for five points in 37 minutes.  Being back home at Barclays did nothing to either comfort him or compliment his game.  After scoring 19 points in game one and 13 points in game two, Joe Harris is down to three points in game three, eight points in game four, and just five points in game five. 

Milwaukee outscores Brooklyn in the paint by 20 points.  But despite Joe Harris, the Nets make up the difference with a nine-point advantage from behind the arc and a nine-point edge from the free-throw line.

The decision to load up again for game six close-out or save up for a game seven is squarely on Steve Nash and staff and trainers.

We shall see ...

But Steve Nash may want to consider inserting DeAndre Jordan and letting him burn through his personal fouls against Giannis, then patting him on the butt for a job well done.  

You know what I'm saying ...

Brooklyn Nets Take 2-0 Lead to Boston

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

PLAYOFFS: ROUND ONE

Nets lead Celtics; 2-0

I - BKN 104; BOS 93

II - BKN 130; BOS 108

GAME THREE
Brooklyn Nets

vs.

Boston Celtics

FROM

Causeway Street Gym

It's The Joe Harris Show 

That's six straight quarters that more closely resemble what most of us had in mind.  I suppose the first two quarters of Game One were just a warm-up.

I find it fascinating that 29 different players touched the ball Tuesday night, and not one of them was named DeAndre Jordan.  Otherwise, the Nets starting five outscored Boston's starting five, 97-76, a margin of 21 points.  The flip side of that is Brooklyn's bench only outscored the Celtics bench by one point.

No Celtic achieved 20 points; Marcus Smart came close with a team-high 19 points and six assists in a likewise team-high 32 minutes.  On the other hand, Flatbush had three players post at least 20 points: Kevin Durant led the team with 26 points and tied with Bruce Brown on a team-high eight rebounds.  James Harden came in at 20 points and a game-high seven assists. 

And look who led the game in shot attempts!  Mister Joe Harris was 9/14 from the field, including a Nets playoff record 7/10 from behind the arc for 25 points to go along with a team-high plus-25 in 29 minutes. Flatbush wins by 22 points, and Harris is essentially the difference.

Then there is Kyrie Irving, who, except for 15 points, puts in a near-identical performance as James Harden, with six rebounds and six assists and a plus-19 in 28 minutes.  Perhaps in this game, he and James Harden were simply following Joe Harris' lead.  Otherwise, the more divergent Harden's assist totals and Kyrie's point totals become, the more it facilitates Nets' success.  And even though he previously played in Boston since leaving the Celtics, the crowd will most likely treat this like it was his first time back because that's what fans do.

Blake Griffin scored 11 points in 20 minutes, and Landry Shamet led the bench effort with ten points in 25 minutes.

The Nets were plus-three in rebounding and plus-eight in assists.

On to Boston ...

Brooklyn Nets: Blocking Out The Suns

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Nets defeat Suns; 2-0

I - BKN 128; PHX 124

II - BKN 128; PHX 119

Another Great Performance by Kevin Durant, But Was Keeping Him In That Late Necessary?

No team has any business taking the Phoenix Suns lightly.  Despite Sunday's loss at Flatbush, Chris Paul and the Suns still remain tied for second place in the Western Conference standings.  

At one point in this game, the Suns lead Brooklyn by 13 points but only take a two-point advantage into the half.  As is their habit, the Nets pour it on during the final 24 minutes, outscoring Phoenix in the second half by a 69-58 spread en route to a nine-point margin of victory.

The Nets open the fourth quarter staked to a seven-point lead.  With 8:36 left, Blake Griffin ups the lead to twelve.  Kevin Durant's two free throws at 7:50 further extend the lead to 14 points.  Then at 7:25, Durant stakes Flatbush to a game-high 16 point lead.  By 5:28, Blake Griffin still keeps the Nets up by 13 points.  But Joe Harris steps in to give the Nets a 15 point lead with 4:39 left to go.

By this point, I'm wondering why Kevin Durant is still on the floor.  In fact, he plays right through the final buzzer.  I'm not saying you send in the B-Squad when up by 15 points with less than five minutes to go, but the question remains ...

The Nets were still leading by 16 points with less than 2:30 left to go.  Did KD really need to be on the floor, say, in the final three and two minutes?

With Durant on the floor, from the five through one-minute marks, the Suns outscored the Nets 10-7 in four minutes, during which Durant accounted for two points.  But Phoenix was still trailing by nine with just a minute left.  At the 0:31 mark, Durant scores on a drive through the lane, and one.

Durant finished 12/21 from the field and 7/8 from the line for 33 points in 28 questionably managed minutes off the bench.  

Kyrie Irving was 10/19 from the field, including 5/7 from behind the arc and a perfect 9/9 from the line for a team-high 34 points and a game-high twelve assists in 35 minutes.  DeAndre Jordan secured a team-high twelve rebounds with six points in 21 minutes.  Jeff Green and Joe Harris quietly score ten points each.  Blake Griffin is somewhat louder with 16 points in 27 minutes off the bench.

Brooklyn owns the top spot in the Eastern Conference by 1.5 games over the idle Philadelphia Sixers.  They're the first Eastern Conference team to reach 40 victories, and their 25 home wins are most in the conference and second-most in the NBA behind the Utah Jazz.  They also own the second-highest point differential in the conference behind the Milwaukee Bucks.

Brooklyn Nets: Spotlight Suddenly Fixed on Kyrie Irving

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

WEDNESDAY

Nets    103

Raptors 114

FINAL

All Together, Or Not ...

One look at the starting four alongside Kyrie Irving makes it difficult to begrudge him over Wednesday's loss against Toronto.  Kyrie said it himself: Harden is the point guard, and he is the shooting guard.  Their respective talents actually make it a natural fit.  Harden is the ball handler and the facilitator; Kyrie is the shooter, penetrator, and scoreboard detonator.  

There have been a few occasions this season without KD or Kyrie on the floor wherein Harden demonstrated his ability to incorporate more of his teammates en route to victory.  Case in point, Harden squeezes the most out of DeAndre Jordan.  Not that he hasn't before, but Kyrie Irving not so much as he is usually too busy creating his own shots.  The respective season averages in assists between Harden and Irving partly bears this out.  DeAndre Jordan finished with seven points on four attempts but secured a game-high 14 rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench.  Harden looks for Jordan four times in one quarter.

With easily the game's most attempts, Kyrie Irving was 10/21 from the field, including just 2/5 from behind the arc, and once again a perfect 6/6 from the line for a game-high 28 points.  He secured eleven rebounds, but with 21 attempts being a priority, his radar blipped for just eight assists.  In his defense, Kyrie is averaging 6.1 assists for the season, so there's that.

Landry Shamet was second with 17 attempts from the field, and his inaccuracy (3/17 from the field and 2/12 from behind the arc) was certainly a contributing factor in this loss.  But he was second on the team with only four assists in 36 minutes.  That's a mere twelve assists together from Irving and Shamet when James Harden alone is averaging eleven assists as a member of the Nets.  Flatbush had 19 assists all game, and no one other than Kyrie and Landry had more than two.

Otherwise, Joe Harris followed up a big game against the Pelicans by descending back down to fourth on the team in shot attempts.  He was 5/10 from the field, including a more accurate 4/5 from behind the arc for 14 points in 34 minutes.  Bruce Brown was second on the team with 21 points and a game-high 14 rebounds in 30 minutes off the bench.

Lack of ball distribution wasn't the Nets' only problem.  Toronto was plus-14 in fastbreak points and plus-15 from behind the arc.

Brooklyn jumped out to a 36-23 lead after one but was outscored 69-45 through the second and third quarters, then in the fourth quarter dueled to a 22-22 stalemate and an eleven-point loss against the Raptors.

LAST EIGHT GAMES:

• W ~ L ~ W ~ L ~ W ~ L ~ W ~ L

Thirteen games remain before the postseason begins.  Win or lose, they're now at a point where their present condition becomes increasingly more problematic with each passing day.

Brooklyn Nets: Kyrie Irving Pushes Flatbush Past Pelicans

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

James Harden Out Until Further Notice;

Less Than a Month Remains in Regular Season

TUESDAY

Nets     134

Pelicans 129

FINAL

Joe Harris Picks Up The Slack Against Pelicans

Hello, Joe Harris, and thank you very kindly for showing up!

Playing minus Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Nicolas Claxton, Joe Harris is second in shot attempts behind Kyrie Irving.  He shoots 10/16 from the field, including 3/6 from behind the arc and 1/2 from the line for 24 points in 34 minutes.  

That's what I'm talking about, and with James Harden due to miss even more time, the Nets need more of this from Joe Harris.  He and Kyrie keep their hands on the ball in the closing moments to close out a five-point victory over the gamely New Orleans Pelicans.  Harris and Irving join for 18 points in the closing minutes.  Harris scores five of his 24 points, and Irving scores 13 of his team-high 32 points in the game's final five minutes.

Kyrie Irving and Landry Shamet joined together for 16 assists; both tied with a game-high eight apiece.  Shamet was third on the team with 18 points but posted a team-high plus-16 in 33 minutes.  Jeff Green added 15 points and nine rebounds in 33 minutes.  But without James Harden feeding him the ball, DeAndre Jordan finished with eight points and six rebounds.  His 21 minutes was the fewest among the starters.

Bruce Brown played in big role with eleven points and a game-high eleven rebound, along with a plus-12 in 26 minutes off the bench.  Blake Griffin led the bench scorers with 16 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes.  

In all, the Nets had seven players score in double-digits.  They turned a two-point deficit at the half into a five-point victory with 41 points in the fourth quarter and 77 points in the second half. 

According to the Nets, James Harden suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury, and as Coach Nash put it, he is back to square one.  As we know, Kevin Durant is also still not 100% recovered from his own leg injury.  The Nets have 14 regular-season games left to figure out how to get Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving on the floor together in time for the playoffs.  The three have played just seven games together.

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. 

Brooklyn Nets: Unlikely Dynamic Duo To The Rescue

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

FRIDAY

Hornets    115

Nets         130

FINAL

Joe Harris and Landry Shamet Join Forces Against Hornets

And herein lies one of my issues: Joe Harris plays a leading role against a good Hornets team with both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the floor.  As is presently the case with James Harden being out, the Nets need Friday's type of performance when any of the aforementioned big three are not on the court.  That being said, Joe Harris tied for the team lead in attempts and finished with a team-high 26 points in 29 minutes.  He was 8/12 from the field, including a decisive 6/9 from behind the arc.  

After proactively sitting out Wednesday to maintain a barking hamstring, Kevin Durant returned to score 25 points in an extended 30 minutes.  He also played the role of facilitator with a game-high eleven assists.  Kyrie Irving had seven assists but struggled to score twelve points in a team-high 33 minutes.

With the sudden retirement of LaMarcus Aldridge, the onus in the middle is reset upon DeAndre Jordan and young Nicolas Claxton.  Game-wise, a minus-14 by Jordan and a plus-14 by Claxton cancel each other out; individually speaking is another topic.  Jordan finished with eight points and five rebounds.  His 17 minutes were the fewest of Steve Nash's five starters.  Meanwhile, Nicolas Claxton was scoreless, attempting just one shot from the field, but secured nine rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench.

Landry Shamet played a big role in Friday's win, shooting 7/14 from the field, including 6/11 from behind the arc for 20 points and a team-high plus-25 in 21 minutes also off the bench.  Led by Shamet and Joe Harris, who joined for 12/20 from long range, the Nets posted plus-27 points from behind the arc.  

Flatbush was also plus-nine in assists, but their plus-eleven in fastbreak points were canceled out by Charlotte's plus-seven in points off turnovers.

Brooklyn could not gain ground on first-place Philadelphia who narrowly defeated the Clippers to retain their one-game conference advantage over the Nets with 16 games left in the regular season.

Brooklyn Nets: The Showdown That Wasn't

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

WEDNESDAY

Nets   117

Sixers 123

FINAL

Nets Lose the Battle With Sights Set on the Post Season War

In one of the more odd games of the season, the fans seemed more into this game than the Nets themselves.  Playing minus the services of Kevin Durant, James Harden, Blake Griffin, and LaMarcus Aldridge, Brooklyn was still plus-six in the paint, plus-two on fast breaks, plus-seven from the stripe, and even a plus-eleven in rebounds.  

They trailed by eight at halftime, and at one point, were down by as many as 22-points and still put themselves in a position to win.  Down by ten entering the fourth quarter, Brooklyn pulled to within three points of the Sixers with 1:16 left on the clock but ultimately lose by six. 

• NOTE: LaMarcus Aldridge has announced his retirement.  After playing against the Lakers last Saturday, he has been determined to experience an irregular heartbeat.  I bid him health, peace, and calm during this time.  Chris Chiozza is also likely out for the season with a fractured hand.

Joining Kyrie Irving in the starting five were Jeff Green, Joe Harris, DeAndre Jordan, and Landry Shamet.

Irving led the Nets with 37 points and tied (with Ben Simmons) for game-high with nine assists in 33 minutes.  However, he was offset by Joel Embiid's 39 points in 33 minutes.  Otherwise, the Nets shot a mere 4/21 from behind the arc, whereas Philadelphia was 13/28, and therein lies the Sixers' margin of victory.

Landry Shamet was second in with 17 points in 36 minutes, and DeAndre Jordan went double-double with twelve points and 14 rebounds.  However, Joe Harris again was nowhere to be found.  Attempting only the team's fifth-most shots, he finished with a mere six points in 26 minutes.  On the other hand, Bruce Brown scored 14 points with five rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench.

Philadelphia wins the season series against Flatbush, two games to one.

Brooklyn Nets: Tuesday Tune-Up Before Conference Showdown at Philadelphia

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

TUESDAY

Nets    127

T'Wolves 97

FINAL

Flatbush Simply Does What Needed To Get Done

Let's first keep Tuesday's game at Minnesota in context, shall we?

The game marks the tenth time this season the Nets held their opponent under one hundred points which, considering the Timberwolves are the worst team in the league, is no great achievement.  Minnesota had just two players score in double-digits led by Anthony Edwards' team-high 27 points and the familiar D'Angelo Russell's 15 points in 20 minutes off the bench. 

Despite the competition, Coach Nash's starting lineup was no less intriguing.  Nicolas Claxton, Jeff Green, and Chris Chiozza were teamed up with Kevin Durant and Joe Harris.  Nash also distributed at least 20 minutes to eight different players on the front end of back-to-back nights.

Jeff Green quietly scored seven points in 19 minutes, while Chris Chiozza scored four points in a near-silent 14 minutes.  Nicolas Claxton got the start in the middle, scoring six points with seven rebounds in 21 minutes.  However, the real center of attention was DeAndre Jordan making his first reappearance since LaMarcus Aldridge's acquisition.  Jordan scored 13 points with seven rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench.  LaMarcus Aldridge did not play.

In only his third game back, Kevin Durant was 11/15 from the field, including 4/6 from behind the arc and 5/6 from the stripe for a game-high 31 points in just 27 managed minutes.  Durant has now participated in just 22 (40%) of Brooklyn's 54 games to date.  Playing minus James Harden and Kyrie Irving, the three have played together this season a mere seven times.

Enter Joe Harris, who tied for third-most attempts on the team with twelve.  He converted eight times, including 5/8 from long range and 2/2 from the line for 23 points, the second-most on the team behind Durant.  It's the first time he's eclipsed 20 points this month and the tenth time this season.  He is currently averaging 14.1 ppg through 54 games which rates slightly behind last year's 14.5 ppg mark.

Landry Shamet gave Brooklyn four scorers in double-digits.  He was 7/12 from the field and 5/9 from three-range for 19 points in 26 minutes.  Shamet and Chiozza also tied for the team lead with five assists each.

Blake Griffin struggled, shooting 0/6 from the field with only four points from the stripe in 24 minutes.

Otherwise, Flatbush finished plus-13 in rebounds, plus-15 in assists, and doubled up the T'Wolves by a 48-24 margin in the paint.  

Flatbush reestablishes a first-place tie with the idle Philadelphia Sixers atop the Eastern Conference standings with the victory.  It just so happens the two teams square off Wednesday night at the City of Brotherly Love.  The season series is knotted at one game apiece, with each team winning at home.

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Runs Pelicans Out of the Building

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

WEDNESDAY

Pelicans 111

Nets     139

FINAL

Kevin Durant Plays in Support of Starting Lineup During Return to Action

The intersection at Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues is a dangerous place for Pelicans, but that didn't stop the Nets from running them out of Barclays Center by 28 points.  

Brooklyn obliterated New Orleans from behind the arc, shooting 19/46 (46.3%) versus just 6/27 for the Pelicans.  The Nets were plus-five in rebounding and razzle-dazzled to a plus-14 in assists.  Brooklyn also outscored the Pelicans by six in the paint and rushed off to a 22-12 edge in fastbreak points. 

James Harden is out, but Kevin Durant is back.  Easing him back into the flow, Coach Nash limited Durant to 19 minutes off the bench.  Otherwise, in his first game back since Feb. 13 against Golden State, KD was a perfect 5/5 from the field, including 2/2 from behind the arc and 5/5 from the line for 19 points, along with seven rebounds and five assists.  Blake Griffin also returned to the floor with ten points in 13 minutes off the bench.

Kyrie Irving again led the Nets with 24 points in 30 minutes.  However, veteran LaMarcus Aldridge was the big man on campus with 22 points in 23 minutes.  Joe Harris is next in with 14 points in 22 minutes.

Coach Nash emptied the bench with the exception of DeAndre Jordan, who once again was the lone Net to not touch the floor.  Chris Chiozza scored twelve points with a game-high eight assists in 18 minutes, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot once again saw big minutes.

With Wednesday's victory, the Nets take over sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference by one-half game over the idle Philadelphia Sixers.

The Nets are off until Saturday when they host the LeBronless defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Brooklyn Nets: Going Through The Motions in Chicago

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

SUNDAY

Nets  107

Bulls 115

FINAL

Brooklyn's Effort Puts The Flat in Flatbush

Back at the start of the season, no one could have anticipated Steve Nash putting out a starting five of Blake Griffin, Joe Harris, Bruce Brown, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Kyrie Irving.  Yet, there they were, taking on the struggling Bulls who entered Sunday's game losers of six in a row.

Flatbush starters scored just 66 total points.  Kyrie Irving scored a team-high 24 points with a game-high 15 assists in 39 minutes.  But it wasn't enough.  Despite putting up the second most shots among starters, Joe Harris was still a mere 5/11 from the field for eleven points, and that just will not do.  Otherwise, Blake Griffin scored ten points with eight rebounds in 22 minutes, and Bruce Brown likewise added ten points in 30 minutes.  

Meanwhile, LaMarcus Aldridge scored eleven points with three rebounds and three blocks in 26 minutes.  But that is all the Nets need of him.  That being said, Nicolas Claxton was given just eight minutes, and for the second game in a row, DeAndre Jordan did not play.

Otherwise, Jeff Green contributed 21 points in 25 minutes off the bench, but the rest of the reinforcements weren't up to the task, accounting for just 20 points in 63 total minutes.  Landry Shamet scored 13 points in 22 minutes, leaving little credit for the rest but a detrimental minus-19 while on the floor.

On the other hand, Chicago starters scored 89 points, and the Bulls got another 26 points from the bench.  Zach LaVine led the floor with 25 points, and Nikola Vucevic followed with 22 points.

Brooklyn essentially got blown out in the second quarter by a 32-18 margin and went into the half trailing by eleven.  The Nets trailed by 17 points after three.  Despite outscoring the Bulls 35-26 in the fourth, the Nets lose by eight.

If you're not drawing fouls, you're not trying.  Just look at the totals posted by the starting five.  Brooklyn collectively failed to get to the line, and the results proved costly.  Just three Nets players (none named Kyrie Irving) joined together for 6/7 from the charity stripe, whereas the Bulls were 21/30 from the line for a plus-15 point disparity.  The Nets were coming off a two-day break, and it's not like they flew cross country for the game.  Thus, I'm left to believe this was perhaps symptomatic of lazy play, plain and simple, and therein lies the difference between the Nets winning and losing.

Having failed to seize upon Philadelphia's loss against Memphis, the Nets and Sixers end the weekend in a first-place tie.

EAST RIVER SHOWDOWN

MONDAY NIGHT

KNICKS vs. NETS

FROM

FLATBUSH AVENUE

• N.Y. Knicks: Back To Par With Blowout Over Pistons

Brooklyn Nets: LaMarcus Aldridge Plants His Flag in Flatbush

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

THURSDAY

Hornets 89

Nets   111

FINAL

Newest Net LaMarcus Aldridge Brings Old School Artistry to the Paint

Change (verb) - 1. make (someone or something) different; alter or modify.  2. replace (something) with something else, especially something of the same kind that is newer or better; substitute one thing for (another).

Making his Nets debut, LaMarcus Aldridge, who turns 36-years old this coming summer, scored eleven points with nine rebounds and six assists.  His play in the paint was a work of art, featuring post-ups, a blocked shot, a plus-22, and two personal fouls in the prevention of easy layups, for which I am very appreciative.  Meanwhile, Nicolas Claxton played only 14 minutes, and DeAndre Jordan played none.

We've been witnessing James Harden involve and demand from DeAndre Jordan a higher level of play.  To his credit, Jordan tries keeping up and perhaps leads the team in the highest percentage shot in basketball, slam dunks.  How minutes at the center position get dispersed moving forward remains to be seen.  That being said, I cannot wait till James Harden plays together with LaMarcus Aldridge, who brings both a complementary and different dynamic to the Nets.

I don't mean to pile on Joe Harris, but I must.  Consistency for him remains an alien concept.  Thursday's performance against Charlotte effectively renders inconsequential Wednesday's 28 point effort against Houston.  Among Thursday's starting five against the Hornets, Joe played the second-most minutes but was the lone starter to not score in double-digits.  He finished 3/9 from behind the arc for nine points and distributed six assists.

Otherwise, playing without Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Blake Griffin, Kyrie Irving took on the distributor's role with a game-high eight assists and a game-high eleven rebounds to go along with 15 points.  Spearheading Brooklyn's group effort, Jeff Green led the floor with 21 points in 31 minutes.  

Landry Shamet and Tyler Johnson were strong off the bench with 17 points and 15 points, respectively.

Brooklyn's collective defensive effort was palpable.  The Nets outscored the Hornets 32-11 in the first quarter and took a ten-point 68-48 lead into the half.  Charlotte was limited to 89 total points, as the Nets cruised to a 22 point margin of victory.

Flatbush improves to 20-6 at home and retains their first-place Eastern Conference standing by one-half game over Philadelphia.

Brooklyn Nets: The Beard Burns Rubber Through Motor City

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

The Motor City Madman

Excuse me; pardon me; The Beard coming through ...

James Harden essentially said I got this.  He was 14/30 from the field and 12/14 from the line and posted game-highs with 14 rebounds and eight assists.

And there's the rub ... distribution.  Harden wasn't much interested in sharing.  With Coach Nash implementing a nine-man rotation, no other Net attempted more than eight shots.  That was the cutoff point as five other players did indeed attempt eight shots apiece, but no more.

For a third time, Harden this season scores forty points or more.  It's his second time as a member of the Nets and the second time this month.  His 44 points Friday against Detroit match his season-high effort back on opening night while still with Houston.  

Steve Nash was in a sharing mood, as no player received any less than twenty minutes.  But whereas Harden clocked in a game-high 42 minutes, Jeff Green was next in with a comparatively paltry 30 minutes.

DeAndre Jordan was the only other starter to score double digits.  His ten points in 20 minutes were highlighted by a romp through the lane for a monster dunk.  He just missed a double-double with nine rebounds.  Blake Griffin has dunked more with the Nets than he has in the last fifteen months.  He was second to Harden with 17 points in 20 minutes off the bench.

It's hard picking on Joe Harris (this time) when no one else attempted more than eight shots.  But I was expecting more from Harris than what the Nets got on this now completed three-game road trip.  It started out well enough; he scored 17 points in 32 minutes during their four-point victory at Portland.  Then against the Jazz, poof!  After going 0/3 from the field in five minutes, he never saw the floor again. 

Otherwise, he capped off a ponderous trip with nine points in 29 minutes against the Pistons. 

Sean Marks strikes again.  Here comes LaMarcus Aldridge.  Defensive help at the center position is on the way.  All the Nets need is for the 15-year veteran to work together with Nicolas Claxton and DeAndre Jordan.

 

Brooklyn Nets: How Joe Harris Can Win The West

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

SUNDAY

Wizards 106

Nets    113

FINAL

Third Time's The Charm; Flatbush Finally Conjures a Victory Over Wizards

After a mind-numbing one-point defeat on Jan. 3 and an equally disappointing three-point loss on Jan. 31, the Nets come away with a seven-point victory over the Wizards at Barclays Center.

Blake Griffin made his Brooklyn debut.  He scored on a classic dunk as if to show people he still can, but perhaps more to just get it out of the way.  It was his only two points of the game to go along with two rebounds in 15 minutes.  Sunday's game was Blake's first action since Feb. 22, after going down again with an ongoing knee issue.

Getting the start, Jeff Green attempted just one shot and was 3/4 from the line for three points in 25 minutes.  DeAndre Jordan contributed twelve points and five rebounds, but his defense (-7) limited him to 17 minutes.  Making up for both, Nicolas Claxton was again the key player off the bench and at both ends of the floor.  He was 7/10 from the field en route to 16 points with three rebounds, three blocks, and one steal. 

Kyrie Irving led the way with 25 shot attempts and 28 points in 35 minutes.  He only shot 1/6 from behind the arc but was a perfect 7/7 from the line.  James Harden was right behind with 23 attempts and 26 points, with a team-high eight assists.  Harden also struggled from three-range.  Together, Harden and Irving were just 4/15 from three. 

I did not forget Joe; I saved him for last.  Harris was 3/7 from behind the arc and 1/2 from the line for ten points in 35 minutes.  I understand he's largely at the mercy of Harden's and Irving's ball distribution. Still, sorry, Sunday evening's familiar performance-light is no way to earn your new contract as an everyday starter.  He has indeed established a well-earned reputation since joining the Nets, and teams are paying attention.  Therefore, the next move, adjustment, is now his to make.  

Even before the trade to acquire James Harden, I've been adamant about Joe Harris needing to step it up whenever Kevin Durant and/or Kyrie Irving is out of the lineup.  It just so happens the Nets are having more problems than a math book trying to keep both together on the floor for any meaningful length of time.  Thus, I've been keeping a spotlight on Joe Harris, and yes, this has everything to do with his disappearance act two years ago in the playoffs against Philadelphia.

Joe Harris this season has appeared in all 43 games to date, but only 19 games played alongside Kevin Durant, and not since Feb. 13 at Golden State.  Granted, when KD is playing, opposing teams pay less attention to Harris and vice versa.  Without Durant, teams can better defend Joe's three-point threat.  One can argue at least Harris is holding his ground.  But the same vigor can be put into arguing he has not effectively elevated his game when the team's more premier players become unavailable.

In 19 games during which he and Durant have played together, Joe Harris averaged 5.4/10.5 from the field (51.4%) for an average of 14.9 points per game.  Four times he eclipsed 20 points in a game and on Jan. 31 scored a season-high 30 points in the above aforementioned ponderous loss against Washington.  

In 24 games played minus Kevin Durant from the starting lineup, Joe Harris to date is averaging 5.2/10.0 (52.0%) from the field and 14.3 points per game.  He's likewise posted four twenty-point efforts in Durant's absence, topping out at 28 points on Jan. 7 in a big win over Philly which, in truth, remains Joe's signature game of the season.  Otherwise, on Feb. 16 and again on  Feb. 18 he scored twenty-plus points in consecutive games for the first time this season.  

Through eight games in March, Joe Harris is averaging 4.7/10.2 (46.0%) from the field and 13.5 points per game. 

Overall, Joe Harris is currently averaging 5.3/10.3 (51.8%) from the field and a career-high 14.6 points per game (last season he averaged 14.5 ppg).

The Nets now head West to face Portland, Utah, and Detroit.  Kyrie Irving will not be traveling with the team citing family issues.  Meanwhile, Kevin Durant is expected to miss a few more weeks.  That leaves James Harden as the big man on campus.  However, Joe Harris is a senior on the Flatbush Avenue campus.  But his grades in March indicate he is fading.

Eight times through 43 games this season, he scored twenty points or more - that's almost one every fifth game.  It's time he put up three such games in succession; two out of three would be just fine.  Joe is no novice anymore.  The ability is there.  Three other times he posted 19 points in a game.  Maybe James Harden on this trip will inspire into him some measure of killer instinct like he tries to do with DeAndre Jordan.

Is it too much to ask Joe for 60'ish points over the next three games?  

It's called elevating your game when the team needs it most.

Brooklyn Nets: Fourth Quarter Defense Is a Real Thing

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Nets lead Pacers; 2-0

I - BKN 104; IND 94

II - BKN 124; IND 115

James Harden Leads Flatbush to Sixth Straight Victory with Eleventh Triple-Double as a Member of the Nets

BROOKS CLAIM SHARE OF EASTERN CONFERENCE HIGH GROUND

We've seen this kind of first quarter out of Flatbush before, wherein Indiana jumps out to a 15 point lead.  The Nets chip away and reduce their deficit to three by halftime.  Brooklyn then normalizes and outscores the Pacers 66-54 in the second half, highlighted by a 35-24 finish in the fourth.

And there's the rub ...

This run the Nets presently are on began back on Feb. 10 against these very Indiana Pacers.  Since then, they've won 14 of 15 games.  The last time Brooklyn allowed 30 points in the fourth quarter was on Feb. 15 against Sacramento.  Afterwhich, they've now limited opponents under 30 points (25.0 point average per fourth quarter) for a twelfth straight game.  In this game, the Nets also outrebounded the Pacers by a 50-34 margin. 

In the absence of Kevin Durant (and Blake Griffin), James Harden continues carrying this team on his shoulders.  That's no slight against Kyrie Irving, who is playing very well but also didn't participate in this game.  That said, we all know who is doing what, how, why, and when.  Wednesday night James Harden registered his eleventh triple-double since arriving in Brooklyn.  He scores a game-high 40 points, his most as a Net, to go along with a game-high 15 assists and team-high 10 rebounds.

Meanwhile, the education of Jam Master DeAndre Jordan also continues.  Harden fed him five times en route to a ten-point game in 20 minutes.  DeAndre still needs help, but that's for Sean Marks to decide come trade deadline.

Joe Harris stepped it up, playing a prominent role in the game.  He was 7/11, including 5/7 from behind the arc, for 19 points in 37 minutes.

Tyler Johnson and Jeff Green led the charge off the bench with 15 points each.  Nicolas Claxton was a plus-24 with eleven points, eight rebounds, and two blocks in 23 minutes.

Philadelphia finally lost in overtime against Milwaukee.  Therefore, the Nets and Sixers closeout business tied for first in the conference with identical 28-13 (.683) records.

Brooklyn Nets: Look What Kyrie Irving Did To The Celtics, Again

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

THURSDAY

Celtics 109

Nets    121

FINAL

Kyrie Irving Ties Season-High With Forty Points Against Celtics

No Kevin Durant, no Blake Griffin; no problem.  It was business as usual for Steve Nash and the other more familiar faces at Barclays Center.

After sputtering in the first quarter, Flatbush takes a four-point lead into the half and, with a strong fourth quarter, secures a twelve-point victory over the visiting Boston Celtics.

Playing against and surely motivated to perform against his former team, Kyrie Irving took his turn being the big man on campus with a game-high forty points; it's the second time this season he's notched forty, the last time occurring on Feb. 18, at Sacramento.  Irving was 15/23 (65.2%) from the field, including 5/8 from three and a perfect 5/5 from the line, to go along with eight rebounds in 34 minutes.  James Harden added 22 points but shot just 1/8 from behind the arc.  He otherwise led the floor with both ten rebounds and eight assists.

Starting at center, DeAndre Jordan grabbed eight rebounds.  You know I've been riding Joe Harris whenever KD, Kyrie, or The Beard do not play.  But I'll let him off the hook this time.  Although somewhat off-target, he at least attempted ten shots and finished with twelve points.  Meanwhile, Bruce Brown flat out struggled, shooting 2/9 from the field in only 19 minutes.

But that's where the bench comes in.  Jeff Green, Landry Shamet, Tyler Johnson, and Nicolas Claxton joined together for a plus-14, with 39 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, in 92 total minutes.  Landry Shamet led the effort with 18 points in 32 minutes, and Jeff Green scored eleven points in 25 minutes.

Brooklyn is now 2-0 versus the Celtics.  Back in December, Kyrie Irving scored 37 points in Brooklyn's first visit to Boston.  Thursday marks the Celtics' first visit this season to Flatbush. 

The Nets improved to 14-6 at home.  They next host the Detroit Pistons.  On Feb. 9, the Nets suffered perhaps their most ponderous and confounding loss of the season at Detroit.  That's the night when Steve Nash effectively told the team to look themselves in the mirror and decide what kind of team they wanted to be.  With Thursday's victory, the Nets since that night improve to 11-1, which included an eight-game win streak.

Brooklyn remains a mere half-game out of first; Philadelphia, winners of three in a row, retain the Eastern Conference top spot with a victory over the Bulls.

Brooklyn Nets: Sean Marks Is Kings County's Resident Mad Scientist

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

24-13 (.643)

2nd Eastern Conference

🏀

There Are Still A Few More Parts Needed Before Sean Marks Unleashes His Creation Upon The NBA

History is unfolding before our eyes.  If you look back through the over seventy years of NBA competition, the list of all-time "Awesome Foursomes" is short and disputable at that.  

I urge all basketball fans, and also Knicks fans, to just soak it in because, for better or worse, we're not likely to again see something like this for a long while to come.  So, no, I'm not naive.  This can go supremely well or horribly wrong.  

These are unusual times, and through very bold maneuvering Sean Marks has assembled quite the uncommon collection of talent.  In fact, he is the midst of creating a monster.  When hired as general manager in February of 2016, the Nets finished the season with a 20-62 record.  Now, look what he's done.  To date, Flatbush has won 24 games with 35 left to play in this pandemic shortened season.  Lest we forget, Marks secured James Harden just twelve games into the Nets season and has now acquired Blake Griffin - both before the all-star game and still two weeks left before the NBA trade deadline and flexibility to boot.  

That said, Kings County's resident mad scientist still has roster spots to fill, and Griffin does little to address their deficiencies on defense.  Trying to relearn his game from behind the arc isn't going to cut it.  That's what Joe Harris gets paid for.  Therefore, before firing up the jumper cables and unleashing his creation upon NBA villages throughout the land, I would please ask Sean Marks to acquire someone who will help make the defensive paint a more uncomfortable place for trespassers; a physical type who can tag team with DeAndre Jordan in preventing opposing players from just pirouetting through the lane.  Who knows ... as former teammates, maybe Blake Griffin can be that guy if he focuses more on rebounding or not.  

Just remember Frankenstein got taken down by a bunch of simple old farmers with pitchforks and torches because he had no interior defense. 

Brooklyn Nets Escape The Alamo With Overtime Victory Over Spurs

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

First Win at San Antonio 

Since 2002-2003 Finals

MONDAY

Nets   124

Spurs  113

FINAL

Crisis Averted; Flatbush Closes Out Spurs in Overtime

Flatbush started out fast, jumping out after the first quarter to a 27-20 lead.  Their lead grew to as large as twelve.  However, San Antonio answered with a 33-30 second quarter, closing the deficit to just three points at halftime.  Nicolas Claxton led the Nets with 13 points and three rebounds in just nine minutes off the bench.  Kyrie Irving was 3/3 from behind the arc en route to 12 points, and James Harden led the floor with ten assists with six points.  Back in the starting lineup, DeAndre Jordan had a big block against DeMar Derozan and soon after converted an alley-oop from Kyrie Irving, making it a 24-14 game in favor of Brooklyn.  The Nets shot an even 50% from the field and outscored the Spurs 24-18 in the paint.

Bruce Brown then took charge as Claxton was limited to just four points in the second half but remained energetic on defense.  San Antonio continued chipping away nevertheless, outscoring the Nets again in the third 27-24, for a tie game after three.  Brooklyn went on a 7-0 run giving themselves a 90-84 lead.  Shortly thereafter, James Harden's three-pointer gives the Nets a twelve-point lead.  But back came the Spurs closing the gap to four, then two points with only 0:40 left.  With regulation time winding down Kyrie gained penetration through the middle but could not convert a clean layup that would have effectively put the nail in the Spurs coffin.  Kyrie could have also just dribbled it out, but San Antonio secures the rebound and hurriedly heads up the court.  Despite getting tripped up, Dijounte Murray maintains possession and launches a desperation shot from the high key and hits!

The San Antonio Spurs close out the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run, and into overtime, they go at the Alamo ...

Brooklyn with a 16-5 effort in the extra session wraps up their first win at San Antonio since the 2002-2003 season.  It's their ninth win in their last ten games.  They improve to 23-17 for the season and 10-7 on the road.

Nicolas Claxton finished with 17 points in 17 minutes off the bench and nailed a big three in overtime, while Bruce Brown was a stellar 10/13 from the field en route to a clutch 23 point performance.  I say it that way because, with Kevin Durant still out of action, Joe Harris once again failed to satisfactorily step it up.  I don't need Joe Harris flourishing when five opposing defenders are preoccupied with Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden.  I need Harris upping his game when the big three aren't together.  Joe finished 3/10 and 3/8 from behind the arc for nine points in 40 minutes.  Meanwhile, DeAndre Jordan earned his keep with three big blocks and an overall good effort on defense to go along with eight points and 13 rebounds.

James Harden scored 20 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.  He wound up leading all players with 30 points, 15 assists, and 14 rebounds in 44 minutes.  It's his sixth game of 30+ points and seventh triple-double since joining the Nets.  Kyrie Irving was 6/10 from three-range as part of a 27 point night with seven assists.

With Philadelphia's victory over Indiana, Flatbush remains one half-game behind the Sixers for the conference's top spot.

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Wins NBA Leading Eighth In A Row

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

THURSDAY

Kings    92

Nets    129

FINAL

For only the fourth time this season, but not coincidentally for the third time since their game against the Detroit Pistons, Flatbush limited their opponent under one hundred points en route to a commanding 37 point margin of victory against the Orlando Magic.

With Kevin Durant missing his sixth straight game while still hampered by a strained hamstring, Kyrie Irving leads the Nets with 27 points and a game-high nine assists in 30 minutes.  However, he continues to struggle from long-range shooting 11/18 from the floor but only 1/6 from three.  James Harden was 5/10 from behind the arc en route to a 20 point night with nine rebounds and seven assists.  

Despite 14 points each from Joe Harris and Bruce Brown, I'm going to give DeAndre the third man recognition award this game for his eight points and a game-high eleven rebounds.  Flatbush finished +16 in rebounding and exhibited better distribution with a 30-19 advantage in assists.  Moreover, Brooklyn was on the run, outscoring Sacramento 25-6 in fastbreak points, and were a +5 in the paint.

The hot and cold season of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot continues.  He was just 1/7 from the field, which really means he was just 1/6 from long range.  Landry Shamet led the bench effort with 19 points in 29 minutes.  Nicolas Claxton gave the Nets six players scoring in double-digits with ten points in just 15 minutes.

Jeff Green remains out of action. 

Brooklyn extends their NBA leading winning streak to eight, with the Dallas Mavericks coming to town on Saturday.  Philadelphia defeated the Mavs on Thursday to keep Brooklyn one-half game out of the Eastern Conference lead.