Brooklyn Nets: A Rivalry Breaks Out in Flatbush

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

THAT EMPTY FEELING

Sixers lead series 3-1

I - BKN 111; PHI 102

II - PHI 145; BKN 123

III - PHI 131; BKN 115

IV- PHI 112; BKN 108

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Takes One On The Chin After Jared Dudley Confronts Schoolyard Bully.

Nothing Kenny Atkinson tried in game two seemed to work.  Coach said that's why no Nets player exceeded 26 minutes.  That left some scratching their heads.

I left off wondering what adjustments Atkinson would make heading into game four.

Sadly, the results are in.

It took two games but Kenny finally relented.  Four starters exceeded thirty minutes each.  He also broke up the trio of Joe Harris/DeMarre Carroll/Rodions Kurucs whom all started games one through three.  In place of Carroll and Kurucs, Coach (finally) started Caris Levert, and inserted Jared Dudley.

Levert logged 42 minutes as the starting two, scoring 25 points, and tying for team high with six assists, versus 21 ppg in less than 24-minutes per game off the bench.

In game one, Jared Dudley was 0/2 from the field, and 4/4 from the line in 28 minutes off the bench.  He did not see action in game two, then played 17 rather inconsequential minutes - if you ask Philly - in game three, recording no points and one rebound.

Then came the game four fracas on Flatbush Avenue.

Say what you will about Dudley - the Sixers do - but there's something to be said for Atkinson's decision to start him.  Dudley brings defense and acumen to the floor.  And there he was leading the Nets with a plus/12 and a team high five assists (and eight points) until the moment of his ejection at 7:42 of the third quarter.  I absolutely respect Jared for confronting Joel Embiid.  And that's exactly what Dudley did: confront him.  He didn't punch, slap, kick, scratch, thumb him in the eye, or do anything of the kind.  But Jared most certainly grabbed Embiid's arm, and his attention, and added an extra shove for good luck.  Someone needed to do it, and a veteran stepped up.  It was a questionable play on Embiid's part that perhaps appeared to Dudley harder than it was.  Jared, like every fan in the building, clearly grew tired of watching Jarrett Allen get pushed around in the presence of increasing ref approval.  However, Joel's previous transgressions both on and off the court are what really ignited the moment.  The game and series had already been building up pressure and was primed to blow, and so I feel the eruption was rather unavoidable.  I agree with Dudley insofar that no player should have been ejected, but I do not begrudge the officials final determination.

The Sixers are guilty of playing nothing more - and certainly nothing less - than aggressive playoff basketball.  For instance, the Sixers have been kicking the Nets ass on the glass.

REBOUNDS

• GM1 - BKN 45; PHI 50
• GM2 - BKN 32; PHI 49
• GM3 - BKN 43; PHI 54
• GM4 - BKN 42; PHI 55
• Total - BKN 162; PHI 208

This has been quite a telling series.  I believe it's safe to assume Sean Marks has watched every second.  In fact, the more I think about it the more I believe the Sixers were the best possible match-up for this Nets team.  Philly demonstrates on both sides of the ball the importance of size and physical presence in the paint.  But I'm not about to gauge Marks' level of concern over what has transpired over the last four games where it concerns his future organizational considerations.  Truth is he and Kenny should be commended for getting the team this far this fast.  This is still a rebuilding year after all, and with both money and draft picks at his disposal Sean Marks is on the precipice of constructing something very special; something we hope above and beyond that which fans can presently imagine.

In the meantime, Marks is also staying busy bursting into refs locker rooms in search of those who put forth piss poor performances in playoff games.  I say this in jest, so you're better off reading the link for a clearer detail of events.

I say we all chip in to pay the fine levied by the NBA upon Sean Marks for entering ref locker room after game four. #WeGoHard

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) April 21, 2019

I digress ...

Back to Saturday's game ... we pick up this story with the Nets leading by six at the time of Dudley's ejection.

Enter Joe Harris, who despite continued struggles started game four.  After the game Kenny Atkinson said he played a great game on Saturday.  Technically speaking ... I guess.  The bottom line is the Nets need him burying three's at an all-star rate, which he is clearly not.  The numbers speak for themselves:

• GM1 - 13 points; 3/4 from three; 30 minutes.
• GM2 - 4 points; 0/2 from three; 26 minutes.
• GM3 - 8 points; 0/4 from three; 29 minutes.
• GM4 - 10 points; 0/6 from three; 35 minutes.

On the eve of game one, I said this:

Through the Nets first three regular season games versus Philly, Joe Harris averaged just 11.3 ppg., but was a hawk-eye 6 for 12 (50%) from three point land.  The Nets fourth game against Philly is perhaps the first time Joe Harris exerts himself, posting a team high 22 points and shooting 4/6 from beyond the arc.  The problem is the Nets will require from him more than just four attempts (3-pointers) per game.  In fact "his here today gone tomorrow" act must end post haste if the Nets are to hang around through an extended series against the Sixers.  What I ask for is a little more consistency; playing up to his averages on a nightly basis.  Granted, he only averaged 13.7 ppg for the season.  Make no mistake; I'm not picking on Joe.  But we all know the impact a sharpshooting Harris can have on any given game.  In fact, when Joe Harris glows hot the rest of the Nets radiate brilliance.

On the eve of game four, I said this:

Joe Harris must impact these next several games.  So far he's done quite the opposite.  He played up to his career average with 13 points and shooting 3/4 form behind the arc in game one's opening win.  But he's been missing ever since.  Harris scored just four points and was 0/2 from three range in game two, and scored eight but was 0/4 from the arc in game three.  That's 0/6 from three range with just twelve points over his last two games.

Then game four happened - there goes that phrase again - and another 0/6 performance from three range.  Joe Harris is coming off easily his best season since joining the Nets three years ago.  In his first playoff series, he is now OH! for his last 12 from three range, and averaging a shade under eight ppg.  It pains me to see him go through this, because when Joe is on he draws defense away from Coach's high pick-and-roll and trilateral guard commission.

For one Nets guard in particular, this season and these playoffs are providing an invaluable education.  D'Angelo Russell is clearly a marvelous talent - that bounce pass to Joe Harris was just stupid!  But the 23-year old is still learning.  To a certain extent the Sixers have him bottled up.  Moving forward, this gained experience will teach him how to better fight through the trees.  If this season is indeed the genesis of a star, these last four games were difficult but necessary steps towards that future.

• GM1 - 26 points; 4 assists.
• GM2 - 16 points; 2 assists.
• GM3 - 26 points; 4 assists.
• GM4 - 21 points; 6 assists.

Russell averaged 21.1 ppg in the regular season.  But if you watched him over the second half of the season, you know what he really did.  He also averaged seven assists per game.  Through four playoff games, he's averaging 22.2 points but just four assists.  Looming in the near future a dilemma awaits Sean Marks: securing Russell to a max contract or spending his Nets money off campus.

Good problems ahead.

In the meantime, welcome to the birth of a legitimate rivalry manufactured here in Brooklyn, by Brooklyn, for Brooklyn.

Game Five is Tuesday at Philadelphia.

Brooklyn Nets: Sixers Let Game Four Play Do All Their Talking

From the desk of: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Sixers lead series 2-1

I - BKN 111; PHI 102

II - PHI 145; BKN 123

III - PHI 131; BKN 115

GAME FOUR

Philadelphia 76ers

vs.

Brooklyn Nets

FROM

Flatbush Avenue

Brooklyn Nets: No Joel Embiid ... no problem.  With their second straight victory, the Sixers take back home court advantage, and gain control of the series.

Joel Embiid or not, we're starting to see the Philly team that won 51 regular season games and entered the playoffs as the Eastern Conference third seed.

It's that simple.

Ben Simmons made Jared Dudley eat his words, showing just how average he can be by leading the floor with 31 points and a game high nine assists.  Meanwhile, Dudley failed to score a single point in 17 minutes of play.  The Nets also had no answer for Tobias Harris whom scored 29 points and secured a game-high 16 rebounds, nor JJ Redick who added another 26 points.  All three Sixers exceeded thirty minutes of play.  In a curious distribution of playing time, only D'Angelo Russell managed thirty minutes of play for the Nets.

That said, Coach Atkinson is receiving some criticisms for the way he negotiated game three.  However, I'm not going there - not at all.  That would be completely taking this whole season and what he and the team have achieved to date completely out of context.

Everything else, though, is fair game.

For instance ...

GM3 #Nets put up 39 shots from three, missed 31 of them.

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) April 19, 2019

For a team that largely predicates its game on rebounding, spreading the floor, pick-and-roll, and taking three-point shots, Thursday's game was about as confounding as it gets.

On the eve of game one, I said this:

Through the first three regular season games versus Philly, Joe Harris averaged just 11.3 ppg., but was a hawk-eye 6 for 12 (50%) from three point land.  The Nets fourth game against Philly is perhaps the first time Joe Harris exerts himself, posting a team high 22 points and shooting 4/6 from beyond the arc.  The problem is the Nets will require from him more than just four attempts (3-pointers) per game.  In fact "his here today gone tomorrow" act must end post haste if the Nets are to hang around through an extended series against the Sixers.  What I ask for is a little more consistency; playing up to his averages on a nightly basis.  Granted, he only averaged 13.7 ppg for the season.  Make no mistake; I'm not picking on Joe.  But we all know the impact a sharpshooting Harris can have on any given game.  In fact, when Joe Harris shines hot the rest of the Nets radiate brilliance.

Therefore I say again: Joe Harris must impact these next several games.  Because so far he's done  quite the opposite.  He played up to his career average with 13 points and shooting 3/4 form behind the arc in game one's opening win.  But he's been missing ever since.  Harris scored just four points and was 0/2 from three range in game two, and scored eight but was 0/4 from the arc in game three.  That's 0/6 from three range with just twelve points over his last two games.

Cycling back to my Tweet, Brooklyn shot 20.5% from beyond the arc, and just 41.1% from the field.  In game two, Philly shot a stellar 56.1% from the field, then followed up shooting 48.4% from the field, and 40.7% (11/27) from three range on Thursday.  None of this even begins to describe the damage they're causing in the paint.

And on the glass ...

REBOUNDS

• GM1 - Nets 45; Sixers 50 (-5)
• GM2 - Nets 32; Sixers 49 (-17)
• GM3 - Nets 43; Sixers 54 (-9)

Ball distribution has also been a major problem.  Sixers head coach Brett Brown seems to have pulled a fast one over Coach Atkinson as Philly has D'Angelo Russell and the rest of the Nets seemingly slogging through a bog.

ASSISTS

• GM1 - Nets 15; Sixers 20 (Russell four assists)
• GM2 - Nets 20; Sixers 29 (Russell two assists)
• GM3 - Nets 12; Sixers 26 (Russell three assists)

Despair not, folks.  The Nets are a resilient bunch.  They've given us many reasons over the course of the season, and within this series, to believe they can bounce back and win game four at Barclays Center.  I'm particularly interested to see what adjustments Coach Atkinson has in store.

But if game three proved anything, it's that Flatbush is behind him, and this team 100%.

Brooklyn Nets: Philly Creates Some Elbow Room

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BACK IN THE LAB

Series tied 1-1

I - BKN 111; PHI 102

II - PHI 145; BKN 123

III - Thursday @ Nets

GAME TWO

Nets     123

Sixers  145

FINAL

Brooklyn Nets: Sixers Counter Punch in Game Two; Series Shifts to Flatbush Avenue.

This is the Philadelphia team Nets fans - and even their own fans - expected to see.  The Sixers played with great physicality unlike game one.  Just ask Jarrett Allen who took a Joel Embiid elbow to the face.  There is great debate as to whether or not Embiid should have been hit with a flagrant-two.  I say that's neither here nor there.  Not when the Nets put up 123 points and still lose by 22 points.

In game one, Embiid scored 22 points with 15 rebounds in 24 minutes mostly spent loitering around the three-point line.  He shot 12/18 from the floor, and 0/5 from beyond the arc.  In game two, he scored 23 points with 10 rebounds in 21 minutes.  However, the biggest difference from game one to game two was Embiid taking his game into the paint.  He attempted no three-point shots in game two, while going 8/12 from the field and 7/8 from the line.

In game one, Philly had only three players score in double-digits.  They featured six double-digit scorers (four from the starting lineup) in game two on Monday.  Jared Dudley, so instrumental to Coach Atkinson's defensive scheme in game one, did not participate in Monday's loss.

Most concerning to me was the Nets getting overwhelmed on the boards by a wide 49-32 margin.  They managed just 12 offensive rebounds, while the Sixers secured 34 defensive rebounds.  And although the Nets shot a respectable 47.8% from the field, Philly executed at a rate of 56.1% and benefited from nine more possessions.

While the win/loss sequence somewhat dampens the mood, the Nets nevertheless accomplished what needed to be done: earning a split on the road.  Now it's back to the lab in preparation of game three at Barclays Center on Thursday.

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Wins Thriller in Milwaukee

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Biggest Victory of the Regular Season!

SATURDAY

Nets       133

Bucks    128

FINAL

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Takes Another Step Closer to Playoff Berth; One Giant Leap Forward for Nets Kind.

How big was Saturday's victory at Milwaukee?

Let us count the ways ...

Already facing the league's toughest rated schedule down the stretch, nine of Brooklyn's last thirteen games have been on the road, and almost exclusively against playoff contenders.  That's medieval torture in and of itself, much less having to negotiate another quick turnaround for Sunday afternoon's penultimate game at Indianapolis.

Milwaukee had won all three of their previous meetings against the Nets this season.  Meanwhile, Brooklyn entered Saturday a game under par (.500) upon losing four of their last five games.  Self determination of their playoff destiny was fast slipping from their grasp.  Now for a second time within the span of just four days they were tasked with playing the Eastern Conference top seeded Bucks whom already had clinched of the NBA's best overall regular season record.

However, on this day Brooklyn catches a break of sorts.  Giannis Antetokounmpo is a DNP for the game, reportedly resting a sore calf.  Milwaukee's depth nonetheless takes Brooklyn to task.  Despite the Nets maintaining a lead for most portions of the night, the more polished Bucks not surprisingly have the Nets reeling late.  Six Milwaukee players finish with double-digit points, led by Eric Bledsoe's game high 33-points, complimented by Khris Middleton's 24-points.

Enter Kenny Atkinson, the mastermind whom I think negotiates the Nets through this critical juncture in their season.  After all, this is a young team still learning how play meaningful games in April.  That said, a few key time outs, some targeted kicks in the proverbial posterior, along with Atkinson's insistence on attacking Milwaukee's size by going small in the closing minutes wins the day.  Led by their back court, eight Nets score in double-digits.  D'Angelo Russell posts team highs with 25-points and ten assists, with Caris LeVert adding another 24-points and six assists.  Veteran Jared Dudley added another 16-points and six very key rebounds off the bench, but contributed so much more through his veteran leadership on the floor and smart composed play in the closing minutes and seconds.  D'Angelo Russell's driving layup with less than a minute left ultimately put the game out of reach.

The Nets are now 40-40 for the season.  It's their first 40 win season since winning 44 games during the 2013-2014 season.  They've certainly come a long way since winning 21 and 20 games respectively from 2015 through 2017, and posting just 28 wins last season.

The Nets are presently tied for sixth with the Orlando Magic, with a half-game lead over number eight Detroit, and a 1.5 game lead over the (outside looking in) Miami Heat.  Brooklyn has two games left on their docket, perhaps needing to win either Sunday afternoon at Indianapolis, or against Miami at Barclays Center on Wednesday in order to help ensure a playoff berth.

Playing important games in April is downright fun.  This emerging Brooklyn team makes it more so.  For a night at least, Saturday's triumph is easily the greatest Nets win in the last four years or so.

But don't take your eyes off the scoreboard just yet.

Brooklyn Nets: Look What Flatbush Did to the Denver Nuggets, Again

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Nets win season series; 2-0

I - BKN 112; DEN 110

WEDNESDAY

Nuggets    130

NETS       135

FINAL

Brooklyn Nets 29th Victory Surpasses Last Season's Win Total.

Last Friday evening I was listening on sports radio to N.Y. Post's Brian Lewis crediting much of the Nets success this season on their defensive prioritization.  And while Kenny Atkinson maintains a grip on the greater issues at hand, Lewis says the greater impact upon the team's overall focus is most attributable to veterans DeMarre Carroll, Ed Davis, and Jared Dudley.

Although 130 points might suggest otherwise, defense was again front and center against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday night at Barclays.  Their efforts helped Brooklyn amass a lead upwards of 20-points.  Which in turn permitted them to withstand and outlast Nikola Jokic's triple double (25 points; 10 assists; 14 rebounds) and Denver's fourth quarter surge in which they outscored the Nets by 16-points.

With Spencer Dinwiddie out, D'Angelo Russell is being afforded time to prove his fourth quarter worth.  He led all scorers with 27-points and tied for game high with 11 assists, while playing in a game-high 35-minutes.  Joe Harris (... he's so good!) backed up Russell with 17 points in 32 minutes.

The Nets featured six players overall scoring double-digits against Denver.  Off the bench, DeMarre Carroll contributed a double-double (18 points; 10 rebounds), while Shabazz Napier posted the Nets third double-double of the game with ten points and 11 assists.  Also playing off the bench, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson effectively sticks the dagger through Denver's heart with a dunk making it 133-125 with 25 seconds left.  Throughout the game, RHJ and the refs never did see eye to eye.  And after being called for a foul on what appeared to be a clean block, he sort of blew his top to earn a technical.

The victory not only snaps the Nets three game skid.  It's their 29th victory of the season, which on Feb. 6 surpasses last year's entire win total.  It also comes against the Western Conference's second ranked team.

That should send a little tremor throughout the NBA this evening.

But insofar as the message Wednesday night's victory sends: don't mistake their injuries as their weakness.  Underestimate the Brooklyn Nets at your own risk.

Brooklyn Nets: The Joy of Sixth

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

WEDNESDAY

Hawks  100

NETS   116

FINAL

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Playing .764 Ball Since Snapping Eight Game Skid Back on Dec. 7 Against Toronto.

Brooklyn's hard work is going under-spoken.  Very simply, the local media is generally ignoring what is presently the better story in town.

But I'll save that for another day ...

In my humble opinion, Kenny's Kids have earned enough credibility this season to at least have last Monday's lopsided loss at Boston expunged from of our collective short-term memories.  Both teams entered that game tied for the the best record against Atlantic Division opponents.

The Nets season was off to an 8-10 start when on Nov. 13 Caris Levert sustained a foot injury.  Yet, the players remained committed to each other, exhibiting commendable resiliency throughout their ensuing eight-game losing streak.  After which, their continuing perseverance in the face of more recent and mounting injuries should likewise be applauded.  Already playing minus Caris LeVert, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Allen Crabbe, the Nets now lose Jared Dudley during Wednesday night's 116-100 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays.

Their victory over the Hawks gives them 21 for the season (21-22), to date, which presently ranks them sixth in the Eastern Conference standings ahead of the Heat and Hornets.  This season in particular has been an education in finishing and closing out games.  That being said, the Nets are now closer to the end of the season than its start.  In the aftermath of LeVert's injury and their ensuing eight-game slide, the Nets are 13-4 over their last 17 games.

In Kenny Atkinson's first ever season (2016-2017) as a head coach, the Nets finished with a 20-62 record.  Last season, the Nets did not win their 21st game until Mar. 8 (against 45 losses), en route to a 28-52 season.  This season, the Nets win their 21st game on Jan. 9, which by the way evens the Nets record (11-11) at home, finally.

However, they're still -0.4 in point differential.

They've nevertheless set themselves up for what should be a interesting, if not very entertaining second-half of the season (trade deadline, included).

I'll simply leave off by reaffirming my belief that Flatbush is absolutely going about this the right way.