Brooklyn Nets: Like a Buck in the Headlights

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

PLAYOFFS: ROUND TWO

Nets lead Bucks; 2-0

I - BKN 115; MIL 107

II - BKN 125; MIL 86

GAME THREE

BROOKLYN NETS
vs.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

James Harden Warned Us Scary Days Lay Ahead

James Harden had a front-row view.  He watched, took sips from his drink, looked up at the scoreboard, then looked at Kevin Durant, looked around at the crowd, again raised his drink, and repeat.  We know Harden previously played with Kevin Durant.  But there were times during Monday's game when even he looked in disbelief.  If you recall, Harden was the one who said things were gonna get scary around here.

Even after dismantling the Celtics in five, how can you not be somewhat taken aback by Brooklyn's two-game utter dominance over Milwaukee at Barclays Center.  Tightly contested affairs, yes; completely one-sided games, not so much.  No one anticipated this.

We are fast approaching the second anniversary of Kevin Durant's Achillies injury sustained during the 2019 NBA Finals.  But whereas he appears fully recovered, Giannis Antetokounmpo's ankles must be killing him today ... 

Kevin Durant scored 21 first-half points in 21 minutes, and Brooklyn went into the locker room with a 24-point lead.  Durant added another twelve points in the third quarter and sat out the fourth.  He still finished the night with a game-high 32 points while the Nets won by an uncommon 39 point margin. Both Durant and Kyrie Irving put in at least 20 first-half minutes.  Kyrie went into the half with nine points but with five assists.  And that was the plan, build a big lead and manage the minutes on the back end.  Like Durant, Kyrie Irving was out of the game with nine minutes still left in regulation, and the Nets staked to a 30-point lead.

Kyrie Irving was second on the floor with 22 points in 34 minutes.  In Harden's absence, he and Durant tied for game-high with six assists apiece.  In fact, the Nets had 27 assists while the Bucks finish with just 14 assists.

The Bucks again got the better of Flatbush in the paint by a 52-38 difference, but there was just no keeping pace with Brooklyn's 50.0% from behind the arc.  The Nets had eight steals and forced 16 turnovers; they put up ten more shots than Milwaukee.  Brooklyn put those extra attempts to good use, outscoring Milwaukee 63-24 from long range.

I'm happy to speak of a well-played complimentary effort put in by Joe Harris, connecting on 3/7 from three with 13 points in 30 minutes.  Getting the start, Bruce Brown also contributed 13 points in 26 minutes.

By far, the person having the most fun in the first half was Blake Griffin.  His putback slam gave Flatbush a 10-7 lead.  He later squared up for a big three giving the Nets a 43-21 lead, and another monster dunk put the Nets ahead by a 52-31 margin.

Flatbush wins the battle of the benches, outscoring Milwaukee 40-26; Mike James led the bench with ten points in 24 minutes while posting a game-high plus-30; Nicolas Claxton was a factor on defense with a block, steal, and four rebounds in 14 impact minutes.

For a team that averaged 120.1 points per game (third in NBA) during the regular season, playing against a Nets team that averaged 114.1 points allowed during the regular season, the Bucks were held by Brooklyn to just 86 points (and 107 points in game one).  They've been far from accurate.  But that still doesn't take away from the fact not one Buck eclipsed 20 points in game two.  Giannis led the Bucks with just 18 points on 8/15 from the field but did secure a game-high eleven rebounds.  However, Jrue Holiday was limited to just 13 points.  Kris Middleton was second on the Bucks with 17 points, and Brook Lopez finished with ten points.

In two games at Barclays Center, the Nets outscored Milwaukee by a scary 240-193 differential.

I do not anticipate the Bucks staying around 44% from the field.  Brooklyn got outscored in the paint by 24 points in game one and 14 points in game two.  I expect the Bucks to intensify their attack within the paint and second-chance opportunities.  Brook Lopez can and will be securing more rebounds, preferably on the offensive glass if you're Milwaukee.

Who on the Nets will contest this?  Can Claxton and Blake Griffin stay the course?

You know what they say; it's not a series until the home team loses.

Brooklyn Nets Win Game One For The Beard

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

PLAYOFFS: ROUND TWO

GAME ONE

Bucks   107

Nets      115

FINAL

The Flatbush Villans Take Game One

I believe Steve Nash as much, and any player deserves his fair share of credit for reengineering the game plan in Saturday's series opener against Milwaukee.  In under a New York minute, James Harden was out of the game and walking back towards the locker room.  He did not return.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 34 points in 35 minutes.  The Nets were also getting exploited in the paint.  But Kyrie Irving answered Giannis with 20 points in the first half and finished with 25 points.  But if you think that's a nine-point disparity between the two players, you're wrong.  That's a reflection of halftime adjustments.  Kyrie Irving finished with a game-high eight assists, and Blake Griffin, Joe Harris, and Mike James were direct beneficiaries.  

Griffin was a whirlwind, doing a little of everything.  He shot 7/13 from the field, including 4/8 from behind the arc for 18 vital points.  Blake's hustle, his game-high 14 rebounds, three assists, and two steals were nothing less than commendable.  In James Harden's absence, Joe Harris goes 7/11 from the field, including 5/9 from behind the arc for 19 points.  Mike James played a huge role with twelve points, seven rebounds, and three assists with a plus-twelve in 30 minutes off the bench.

   

Kevin Durant played a game-high 40 minutes, leading the Nets with 29 points and ten rebounds.

Brooklyn got destroyed in the paint by a 72-48 margin and got outrebounded by eleven.  However, Flatbush outscored the Bucks 45-18 from behind the arc.  Without Harden, the Nets were still able to register four more assists than Milwaukee.  The Nets also had more steals, more blocks, and turned the ball over less.

Even though Milwaukee put up 32 points in the first quarter, the Nets only trailed by two.  The Bucks would fail to register 30 points in any of the ensuing three quarters.  Meanwhile, Brooklyn exceeded 30 points in three of the four sessions en route to an eight-point margin of victory.  Milwaukee starters account for 90 points, the bench adds 17 points.  Brooklyn's starting FOUR (minus James Harden) drops 91 points, while the bench, led by Mike James, contributes 24 points.

Through four games now, the Bucks are still yet to face Brooklyn's Big Three.  James Harden's status is still as yet undetermined.

• ICYMI - Why Joe Harris is so vital to Brooklyn's success: The X Factor

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.