Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Bucks the Naysayers

From the desk of: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

TWO IN A ROW 

TUESDAY

Nets      119

Bucks   116

FINAL

! MAJOR UPSET !

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot scores a career high 26-points as the Brooklyn Nets deny the Milwaukee Bucks an opportunity to clinch top seed in the Eastern Conference.  Flatbush takes a 73-65 lead into halftime, then hold on for a stunning 119-116 upset. 

Making this a wondrous event is the fact that Brooklyn defeats Milwaukee minus the services of Kevin Durant; Kyrie Irving; DeAndre Jordan; Spencer Dinwiddie; Wilson Chandler; Taurean Prince; Caris LeVert; Joe Harris; and Jarrett Allen.  Meanwhile, Jamal Crawford's Nets debut is fleeting.  He exits Tuesday's game with a strained hamstring after just six minutes played.

That being said, both the Nets and Bucks appear in agreement insofar as defense be damned - no such effort Tuesday afternoon.  The Nets convert on just 43 of 103 (41.7%) attempts from the field, while hitting 21 of 57 (36.8%) attempts from beyond the arc.  Milwaukee is 42 of 88 (47.7%) from the field.

Timothe, after scoring 24-points in the Nets return game last Friday, leads the way connecting on five of seven from beyond the arc, and shooting a perfect five for five from the line.  Garret Temple is next in with 19-points.  Chris Chiozza goes double-double with ten points, and a game high ten assists, in 31-minutes off the bench.

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo partakes in the first half only, yet still leads the Bucks with 16-points in 16-minutes played.  Former Nets favorite Brook Lopez did not play.

Flatbush (32-35) slides back into seventh place, one-half game ahead of Orlando.

Brooklyn Nets: The Flatbush Three Turn Back Wizards

From the desk of: HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

SUNDAY

Wizards   110

Nets         118

FINAL

Flatbush effectively locks up a playoff spot with Sunday's 118-110 victory over the Wizards.  It gives the eighth place Nets a seven game lead over Washington, with six scheduled games left to play; the Wizards have only five.  Therefore, if nothing else, at least the Nets have math on their side, as they attempt to trudge forward minus the services of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince, DeAndre Jordan, Wilson Chandler, and still no Jamal Crawford.

For now, all is well.  Brooklyn's big three - Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Joe Harris - with Sunday's win temporarily mute the obligatory minutia of speculation and doubt.  LeVert leads the floor with 34-points in a game high 39-minutes.  Jarrett Allen goes double-double, scoring 22-points and secures a game high 15 rebounds, with ten coming on the defensive board.  Meanwhile, Joe Harris pours in 27-points (6 for 7 from three-land), with seven rebounds.  Chris Chiozza scores 14-points in 21-minutes off the bench, and distributes a team high six assists.

Flatbush shoots 31 of 37 (83%) from the foul line, where they outscore the Wizards by ten.  Not coincidentally, Jarrett Allen is a perfect 10 for 10, while Caris is 10 for 13 from the line.  Nets win by eight ...

Brooklyn has already let it be known that LeVert, Allen, and Harris, will not be available for Tuesday's game against the Eastern Conference leading Milwaukee Bucks.  My only issue with that is philosophically: if you want to be the best, then you must beat the best.

Otherwise, I try letting pragmatism rule the day.  And with regards to what awaits the Nets beyond these next several games, I have but one thing to say: you can not be disappointed with what you do not expect.  I'm pleased Flatbush will be participating in a second straight post-season.  It means they're doing something right.  But we also know this team is far from being a complete product with all its key components in place.  Therefore, I simply wish to enjoy meaningful games to come.  However, my focus will be fixed on the yet to be determined collective ability of Caris Levert, Jarrett Allen, and Joe Harris, joining together and handling the burden of carrying this team forward.  This is their challenge, but at the very least an invaluable experience that will only serve to improve the aforementioned three, and the Brooklyn Nets as a whole.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.