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: Flatbush Punches Ticket to Playoffs

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

TUESDAY

Nets    118

Raptors 103

FINAL

Step One: Flatbush Clinches Spot in Post-Season Tourney

Sure, the Raptors have their issues, but they're the only Eastern Conference team outside the top six with a positive point differential.  But when you have eight more possessions and only shoot 39.6% from the field against the Nets, odds are you're gonna lose.  All other things being relatively equal, Flatbush was only somewhat more accurate than the Florida Raptors, which still amazingly manifests in a 13 point win.

James Harden is still out, and DeAndre Jordan was a Coach's Decision.  Otherwise, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Blake Griffin were present and accounted for.  However, this night, the supporting cast put the team on their backs and effectively carried them.  Coach Nash stuck with a tight eight-man rotation.  No player received fewer than 20 minutes.

Tyler Johnson scored ten points with three assists and three rebounds in a bench-high 27 minutes.  Playing in only his third game with Brooklyn, Mike James distributed a game-high eight assists with ten points in 21 minutes, and Blake Griffin scored a bench-high 17 points with six rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes.

While Florida's Kyle Lowry led the floor with 24 points in 37 minutes, Jeff Green led the Nets starters with 22 points and eight rebounds in 37 minutes.  Good to see Joe Harris taking the team's second-most attempts.  Harris stepped it up with 16 points and was second to Mike James with six assists, and Landry Shamet added 14 points with a plus-12 for the game.

Kevin Durant made limited attempts, shooting just 5/7 from the field, including 3/4 from three and 4/4 from the line for 17 points in 33 minutes.  Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving was a dismal 3/13 from the field, including just 1/5 from behind the arc as part of a nine-point night with four assists in 39 minutes.

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: 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: 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.

East River Showdown: Flatbush Sweeps Season Series From Manhattan

From the desks: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH & KICKING CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WITH JIMMY

EAST RIVER SHOWDOWN 

Nets defeat Knicks; 3-0

I - BKN 116; NYK 109

II - BKN 117; NYK 112

III - BKN 114; NYK 112

No Kevin Durant, No Blake Griffin, No DeAndre Jordan, Essentially No James Harden, and No Room For Error.

Monday's Nets victory was a costly one.  Already playing on a barking hamstring, James Harden was out of the game after just four minutes on the floor.  

Yet, he somehow tied for second on the team with three assists ...

That's because Kyrie Irving took charge in a manner unlike Sunday's game against the Bulls when he finished with 15 assists and 24 points.  Irving led the team with seven assists but topped all players with 40 points in 37 minutes.  It's the fourth time this season he has scored forty or more, and it was slightly more than double Julius Randle's output, who finished with 19 points in a game-high 39 minutes.  Randle achieves the triple-double with a game-high 15 rebounds and 12 assists, albeit in a losing effort.

RJ Barrett led the Knicks with 22 points in 33 minutes, Reggie Bullock added 21 points in 31 minutes, and Derrick Rose scored 16 points in 25 minutes off the bench.

Nerlens Noel going up against LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Claxton was essentially a wash.  Noel scored six points with five rebounds, while Aldridge and Claxton joined together for eight points and twelve rebounds.  DeAndre Jordan has not played a minute since the acquisition of Aldridge.

Jeff Green's tenacity resulted in him leading the Nets with 13 attempts from the line and 4/8 inside the arc en route to 23 points in 36 minutes.  Joe Harris put up the third-most attempts behind Irving and Green while scoring 16 points in 34 minutes.  Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot played his most minutes since Mar. 24 at Utah.

Both teams scored equally fourteen points on fast breaks.  But whereas the Knicks outscored the Nets by 12 points from behind the arc, the Nets dominated the paint by a 58-40 margin.  Brooklyn was also plus-four in rebounds and plus-three in assists.

The Knicks led the Nets by ten at the half (and at one point led by 14 points) but failed to hold on.  Brooklyn outscored the Knicks by eleven points in the third.  Alec Burks tied the game at 112-112 with 26.1 seconds left in the fourth.  But Jeff Green converted two free throws with 3.7 seconds left to clinch it for Brooklyn.

Flatbush sweeps the season series three games to none.  The Knicks fall back one game under par.

Since losing at Detroit on Feb. 9, the Nets have posted a 21-4 record over their last 25 games.  Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden have only played seven games together with only 21 games left in the regular season.  This team needs to get healthy and just over a month to get it done.

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: 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: The Hoops of Flatbush Defend Home Turf

From the desks: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH & KICKING CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WITH JIMMY

MONDAY

Knicks    112

Nets       117

FINAL

Top Spot in Conference Continues Eluding Flatbush

I - BKN 116; NYK 109

In a match-up pitting the NBA's 2nd most prolific offense versus the league's stingiest defense, Las Vegas set Brooklyn as 7.5 point favorites.  Forty-eight minutes later, the visiting Knicks proved better than the handicappers anticipated and damn near pulled off an upset.  

Knicks fans might argue they - Julius Randle, that is - got screwed by Kyrie Irving and the guys with whistles.  I didn't see it that way.  But a clearly upset Julius Randle would later storm off the court in a bit of a huff.  That's good; it will make the next encounter between teams that much more intriguing.  In any event, the Nets win by five, and if it's any consolation, the Knicks cover—an otherwise entertaining, tightly contested game to be enjoyed by all, sans the final score.

As if ...

Manhattan falls to 9-13 away from their island and sinks back to par with a 20-20 record.  They remain in the Conference mix at number seven.

The Nets are now winners of five in a row and 9-1 in their last ten games.  If you care to extend it further, they are winners of 13 of their last 14 games.  Brooklyn's problem is Philadelphia going 8-2 over their last ten.  The Nets remain hot on Philly's tail, but for some time now, they have been unable to break through that last half-game barrier.

Julius Randle finished the game with both a team-high 33 points and 12 rebounds in 41 minutes.  RJ Barrett contributed 23 points in 35 minutes, and Immanuel Quickley had 21 points in 34 minutes.

Brooklyn did a better job of ball distribution and well outscored the Knicks in the paint.  Kyrie Irving was an exceptional 13/18 from the field en route to a game-high 34 points.  James Harden went triple-double yet again, with 21 points, while leading the floor with 15 rebounds (all defensive) and 15 assists.  Jeff Green also had the Midas touch shooting 8/11 from the field, including 2/2 from behind the arc and 2/3 from the line for 20 points.

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: California Dreamin'

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Ain't No Win Streak Like a West Coast Win Streak

SUNDAY

Nets     112

Clippers 108

FINAL

WELCOME HOME!

In the absence of Kevin Durant, Coach Nash utilized the same line-up for the third time in the last four games.  Jeff Green started in place of DeAndre Jordan and Bruce Brown again started in a three-man backcourt.

However, Green was forced to leave with just under three minutes left in the fourth quarter with an injury.  He finished with five points on just 2/6 from the floor in 34 minutes.  But productive reinforcement came courtesy of DeAndre Jordan who posted a double-double with 13 points, eleven rebounds, and four blocked shots in 32 minutes off the bench.  It's DeAndre's third double-double and only the fourth time this season he has exceeded 30 minutes.

Coach Nash played a three-man bench in the boxscore, but only a two-man bench in any meaningful application.  Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot was without a shot attempt while being limited to just six minutes.  Meanwhile, Landry Shamet was a troublesome 1/7 from the field, all attempts from three-range, in 18 minutes.

• ICYMI: Joe Harris Passes Another Test

The starting five averaged 37 minutes with Kyrie Irving and James Harden playing 40 and 41 minutes respectively.  James Harden scored a game-high 38 points, his highest single-game output with the Nets and his second-highest mark this season, while also notching his 17th double-double through 18 games since his arrival in Flatbush.  Kyrie Irving was 12/26 from the floor but only 2/11 from behind the arc.  In fact, the Nets as a team were just 11/38 (28.9%) from three-range.  Kyrie finished with 28 points and a team-high eight assists.  He and Harden joined for 15 assists.  Joe Harris was likewise somewhat off from the field, shooting 3/8 from three and 4/11 overall en route to 13 points.  

Since receiving a reprimand from Coach Nash after a lethargic and futile effort against the Detroit Pistons and being told to look themselves in the mirror, the Nets are now winners of six in a row.  They complete their five-game western trip with a perfect 5-0 record.  In games against the Warriors, Kings, Suns, Lakers, and Clippers, the Nets averaged 123.8 points per game while allowing an average of 114.4 points per game for an impressive +9.4 differential.

The Nets triumphantly return to Flatbush for a three-game homestand against the Kings, Magic, and Mavs.

Brooklyn Nets: James Harden Basks in the Phoenix Sun

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

TUESDAY

Nets   128

Suns   124

FINAL

James Harden Enjoys His Moonlanding Day; The Beard is Officially a Net

No Kevin Durant; no Kyrie Irving; no problem, this time.

But, yeah, James Harden leads the Nets to their largest halftime deficit comeback victory in club history.

From the opening tip, former (bitter) teammates James Harden and Chris Paul lock in a tit-for-tat.  Paul shoots 12/20 from the field, including 4/8 from behind the arc, to lead the Suns with 29 points and seven assists in 35 minutes.  However, Harden wins the battle and the war.  The Beard goes 14/22 from the field, 5/11 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 5/5 from the line for a game-high 38 points to go along with a game-high eleven assists.

The last time Flatbush was forced to play minus Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving was against the Sixers.  Harden scored 26 points and handed out ten assists in that game, but the Nets still lost by 16 points at Philadelphia.  This game was heading down a similar path.  Brooklyn gets outscored by eleven points in the first quarter, then by ten points in the second quarter for a 21-point deficit at the half.  The Suns' lead reached as high as 24 points when Chris Paul nailed a three with 1:33 left in the second quarter.  

Then starts the comeback ...

Fueled by a defensive effort perhaps inspired by a lockerroom ass-chewing on top of the one they received after the Detroit Piston flop, Brooklyn limited the Suns to 25 points in the third while closing the gap to twelve points.  The Nets still trailed 113-108 with five minutes left in the fourth.  After which James Harden took charge of the game.  But whereas Chris Paul placed everything upon himself, James Harden incorporated his mates.  The Beard assisted on a Jeff Green three, and Paul answered.  Harden then assisted on a Joe Harris three, and Chris Paul again answered.  Harden then took his turn sinking a floater, but Paul answered yet again.  On the next possession, Harden fed Jeff Green, who hit another three from the corner at 2:21 to bring the Nets within five.  At the 1:39 mark, Harden's two-pointer makes the score 124-121, Suns.  Jeff Green's layup closes the gap to one point.  Harden then nails a huge three-pointer giving the Nets a two-point lead.  With 11.3 seconds left, Harden's two free throws seal the game.  Chris Paul's last-ditch three-pointer misses the mark as is appropriately rebounded by James Harden.  Flatbush closes out the game on a 12-0 run, turning a one-time 24-point deficit into a four-point victory.

Harden's 38-points are a season-high in regulation time; he scored 44-points in Houston's opening night overtime game against Portland.  It's the seventh time this season he's achieved 30-plus points and his fourth time since joining the Nets.

These are the types of games when Joe Harris needs to step it up.  A catalyst on the defensive end; he did just that.  His three-pointer at 3:55 of the fourth quarter reduced the Suns' lead to four.  Harris finished 8/13 from the field, including 4/9 from behind the arc en route to a 22-point game.  It's the seventh time in thirty games Harris has achieved twenty or more points.  Getting the start, Tyler Johnson shoots an effective 5/8 from behind the arc on his way to a 17-point night with five rebounds in 32 minutes.

An integral part of this victory, Jeff Green was 7/14 from the field and 2/3 from the line for 18-points with a team-high eight rebounds off the bench, and Landry Shamet contributed 13-points in 28 minutes. 

The Nets are now winners of four in a row and are 3-0 on this west coast swing.

• Next Up: the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant Whips Up a San Francisco Treat

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Kevin Durant Returns to The Bay

SATURDAY

Nets           134

Warriors    117

FINAL

The Flatbush Three Play Just Their Sixth Game Together

Kevin Durant last graced the hardwood in San Francisco back during the 2018-2019 NBA Finals as a Warrior.  It was Game 5 at Toronto in which he ruptured his right Achilles.  On Saturday, he made his long-awaited return to the Bay, where he helped lead Brooklyn to a seventeen point margin of victory over the Golden State Warriors.

The Flatbush Three were back together again.  Playing in his first game since Feb. 5, after sitting out a mandatory quarantine, Durant struggled somewhat, shooting 8/19 and just 1/6 from beyond the arc and 3/4 from the line for twenty points in 33 minutes.  His former teammate Steph Curry led the floor with 27 points but similarly struggled for 2/9 from beyond the arc.

Kyrie Irving led the Nets with 23 points in 34 minutes.  James Harden scored 19 points while securing a team-high eight rebounds (all defensive) and distributing a game-high 16 assists.

DeAndre Jordan did not play, out with a sore back.  In turn, Coach Nash plugged a third person into the backcourt, tasking Bruce Brown with a start, who answered with 18 points and seven rebounds (game-high four offensive boards) in 22 minutes.  Joe Harris finished with 15 points in 27 minutes but took the least shots of Brooklyn's starting five.  Jeff Green was effective off the bench with 14 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes.  

This marks Brooklyn's second victory over Golden State this season.  The Nets posted a 26 point victory over the Warriors on Opening Night at Barclays Center.  That was before the trade to acquire James Harden.  

Since The Beard arrived in Flatbush, the Nets have played fifteen games with a 9-6 record.  Of those fifteen games, Durant, Irving, and Harden have played together just six times with a 5-1 record.  Durant has missed the most games with six, followed by Irving with three, while Harden has missed just one game.  

Milwaukee and the Nets are the lone two NBA clubs averaging more than 120 points per game.  The third-place Clippers are a distant five points per game behind.  At last check, through 26 games the Bucks are averaging 121.1 points per game.  The Nets entered Saturday's action averaging 120.4 points per game.  However, since the arrival of Harden, the Nets five times have scored 130 or more points and are otherwise averaging 122.9 points over the last fifteen games.  When the triumvirate is together, the Nets average 125.1 points per game.

Forty-four games remain in the regular season.  Considering there is no semblance of practice, that leaves ample time to iron out the wrinkles.

In the meantime, expectations mount.

Brooklyn Nets: Sweating The Heat At Barclays

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

SATURDAY

HEAT   124

NETS   128

FINAL

Analytics or Bad Math: James Harden and the Eight Point Swing

Despite getting outscored by ten in the fourth quarter, Brooklyn's Big Three wins their first game together.  But it wasn't easy.  They allowed the undermanned Miami Heat 124 points, and if it weren't for James Harden committing a smart foul with 3.3 seconds left in the fourth, maybe the Nets lose by several points instead of winning by four.  

James Harden continues showing he is the smartest situational player (sans KD) on the floor, knowing exactly when to foul.  He did it against Khris Middleton and the Bucks and did it again Saturday night when Miami was heating up at Barclays.  It's an issue I brought up even before the trade, but to be clear, I was directing my comments towards DeAndre Jordan.  

The defense will be problematic for this club as presently constituted.  The hope is the Nets simply outscore their opponents.  In the 13 games before James Harden's arrival, the Nets averaged 118.6 points for and 112.9 points against.  In the five games since the trade, they are averaging 124.6 points for and 126.8 points against.  They went from a +5.7 point differential to a -2.2 point differential, nearly an eight-point swing.  It's a small sample size, but the numbers speak for themselves.  

When things get down and dirty, DeAndre Jordan must impose his presence and utilize his size more.  In the meantime, James Harden is drawing more game out of Jordan than anyone previously.  In 21 minutes against the Heat, Jordan scored eight points with eight rebounds, one block, and one personal foul.  Before the trade, Jordan was averaging 4.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 18 minutes.  He hadn't scored in double-digits through the first 13 games, with Jarrett Allen still on board.  In five games since the trade, Jordan is averaging 8.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 26.4 minutes.  Playing alongside Harden, DeAndre has twice scored in double-digits and posted his first double-double in their second game against Milwaukee.

Jeff Green picked up where DeAndre Jordan left off with eleven points and five rebounds with SIX personal fouls(!) in 26 minutes off the bench.

Harden also continues deferring to Kyrie Irving.  He started his first career game at power forward Friday night at Cleveland.  Yesterday against the Heat, Irving was 10/17 from the field, including 3/5 from three and 5/6 from the line for 28 points with seven assists in 36 minutes.  Harden was 2/8 from the floor and 0/5 from the arc, but a team-high 8/9 from the line gave him twelve points with eleven rebounds.  It's his lowest scoring output since arriving, yet he has posted a double-double in each of his five games with the Nets.  Harden is averaging only 15.8 shots per game, whereas Kyrie Irving, since the trade, is averaging 23 shots through three games.

After a night off at Cleveland, Kevin Durant returns to score a team-high 31 points in 37 minutes.  Not coincidentally, he is averaging 31.2 points in 36.2 minutes through his first 13 games.

Then there's Joe Harris.  After getting erased in back-to-back games by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Joe tapped back into his inner Dr. Jeckyll with 7/12 from the arc en route to 23 points in 37 minutes. 

Brooklyn Nets: Suffer Flat Tire During Road Trip Through Cleveland

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

No Defense 

Against Second Lowest Scoring Team in League

NETS   250

CAVS   272

Two of the more disturbing losses of the season ...

Two games against the second-worst offensive team in the league and the Nets, the third highest-scoring team in the league, lose both getting outscored by a gross 250-272 margin.  Playing without Kevin Durant, the Nets were badly outrebounded 29-50 on Friday, while Cleveland nearly doubled them up at the free-throw line.  James Harden, starting at power forward for the first time in his career, scored 19 points with a game-high eleven assists in 37 minutes.  Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 38 points with only five assists in 31 minutes.  Coach Nash extended the bench to six, with Jeff Green and Timothe-Luwawu Cabarrot playing 26 minutes respectively.  Back in the starting lineup, Joe Harris was limited by Cleveland (and Kyrie's lack of distribution) to just eight points on 3/9 from the floor.

Brooklyn Nets: Triumvirate Debut is a Mixed Bag of Goods

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Team Says Need More Time In The Lab

WEDNESDAY

Nets  135

Cavs  147

Double-Overtime

(I STILL MISS JARRETT ALLEN . . . and Kyrie Irving is back)

Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden played together for the first time as members of the Brooklyn Nets.  However, during the second overtime of Wednesday night's game at Cleveland, Collin Sexton outplayed them all.

I'm not getting caught up in a double-overtime loss.  Once it gets there, stuff happens.  However, through the game's course, it became clear the Flatbush Three obviously need more practice time together.  The starting lineup as a whole displayed a measurable lack of cohesion.  But also give the Cavs their due.  They are among the top two stingiest teams in the league and recently added Jarrett Allen to their ranks.  

Regarding who gets the ball and when the Nets offered another small glimpse into the near future.  After a poor third quarter, the Nets recovered from a double-digit deficit.  The ball was put in Kyrie Irving's hands with the score tied 113-113 and time running out in regulation.  In the first overtime, Harden handled the ball somewhat more and facilitated a key slam by Jeff Green.  With the score tied and time expiring in the first overtime, the final shot was put into Kevin Durant's hands.

On this night Harden clearly deferred to Irving.  Look no further than the first half.  Harden scored no points from the field.  Meanwhile, Kyrie attempted a team-high 28 shots from the field, while Harden attempted only fourteen shots.  Otherwise, Kyrie scored 37 points with only three assists in 48 minutes.  Whereas Harden scored 21 points with a game-high twelve assists and ten rebounds during a game-high 51 minutes.  Kevin Durant finished with a team-high 38 points with a game-high twelve rebounds and eight assists in 50 minutes.

Getting the start, old man Jeff Green had an active night with sixteen points and seven boards in 44 minutes.  The Nets "center of attention" DeAndre Jordan is working well with Harden, who provides him an on-court reeducation in working pick and rolls.  Jordan scored (6/7) thirteen points with four boards in 24 minutes.

Landry Shamet was a curious DNP, and Bruce Brown only saw seven minutes.  Just wondering what Coach Nash is thinking.  Meanwhile, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot was 0/6 including 0/3 from the arc in twelve minutes.  

Joe Harris picked a bad night for feeling numb to the touch.  He was just 2/7 from the arc and missed three other shots from mid-range in 42 minutes off the bench.

The loss puts the Nets one game under .500 on the road.  The play the Cavaliers once again this Friday at Cleveland.

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Jazzes Up The Place

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

JAZZ     96

NETS   130

FINAL

After two straight losses against the Hawks and Wizards, Flatbush gets back in the win column with Tuesday's commanding victory over the visiting Utah Jazz.  

The Nets led by eleven after the first quarter and took a nineteen point lead into the break.  Kyrie Irving, who last year played in only twenty games, took charge of this game with haste, scoring 22 of his team-high 29 points in the first half.  He was 12/19 (63%) from the field for the game, including 5/7 from the arc and no trips to the line.  Overall, the Brooks did a much better job of ball distribution (31-17) and outrebounded the Jazz by a 43-32 margin.  In the end, Flatbush came away with an overwhelming 34-point margin of victory, all minus the services of Kevin Durant, who is quarantining per COVID protocol. 

In the absence of both Durant and Spencer Dinwiddie, Coach Nash's starting five took on quite a different look.  Jeff Green, Taurean Prince, and Bruce Brown all started for the Nets.  Playing in only his fourth game and making his first start as a Nets member, newcomer Bruce Brown scored six points with five assists and six rebounds in 23 minutes.  The Taurean Prince doldrums continue; he mustered eight points, two assists, and no rebounds while playing a season-high twenty minutes.

Jarrett Allan also made his first start of the season (and it's about time).  His new role coming off the bench is a contention point for some fans (me).  However, he is getting more minutes than DeAndre Jordan, and more importantly, is finishing games.  After receiving a season-high 32 minutes, Allan rewarded his coach with 19 points, a game-high 18 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.  The game marks the first time Allan has breached thirty minutes this season.  

Meanwhile, ask, and ye shall receive!  It was after the second Hawks game when I said:

"Lastly, if you're going to let DeAndre Jordan start over Jarrett Allen, who is getting more minutes and finishing games, then encourage Jordan to throw around his body more."

DeAndre Jordan against the Jazz was limited to a season-low nine minutes.  In fact, it's the first time this season Jordan has been held under fifteen minutes.  Perhaps that's because he drew five personal fouls!  I like it, and I want more of it.

On a night Caris LeVert appeared likely to start, Coach Nash kept him on the bench.  Yet, he and Kyrie Irving were the only two Nets with double-digit shot attempts.  LeVert scored 24 points with five assists in just 21 minutes.  Joe Harris scored ten points in 23 minutes also off the bench.  

The night's true beneficiary was Tyler Johnson, who played more minutes on Tuesday than he had in three previous appearances.  Entering the game, having grossed only twelve minutes of floor time, Coach Nash directed eighteen minutes his way, in which Johnson scored six points and distributed a game-high seven assists.

NEXT: Philly comes to Brooklyn.  This will be a test case in Coach Nash's in-game adjustments, as if to say going off-script.  Memphis and Atlanta, in their contests against the Nets, completely painted their interior wall to wall.  We all know Philly means physicality.  How will the Nets handle this coming off last season's playoff experience against the Sixers and this season's two recent instances wherein teams trampled through Brooklyn's inner turf?