Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Can't Take The Heat

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

YEAR TEN

WEDNESDAY

Heat  106

NETS   93

FINAL

The Plot Thickens

Loss, win, loss, win, loss ...

Coming off last season's hamstring injury and offseason rehab, James Harden admitted after Wednesday's game against Miami that he is still not playing at 100%, partly explaining his early-season performance.  

It's also clear due in part to rule changes involving "natural basketball motions," Harden is not garnering the type of whistles he's accustomed to.  From 2012 through 2020, Harden averaged 10.4 free throw attempts per game.  He is presently averaging just three attempts per game.  Harden opened the season with four attempts against both Milwaukee and Philadelphia.  But has since only attempted one against Charlotte and three shots each against Washington and Miami.  That's just 15 free throw attempts in five games.  For someone who has averaged 8.7 free throw attempts over his career, this presently marks a career-low dating back to his second season with Oklahoma City.

The Nets, for a fifth consecutive game, were outshot by the competition.  All five Brooklyn opponents have exceeded 90 shots per game.  Miami attempted 96 shots giving the opposition an average of 96.2 per game.  Meanwhile, Flatbush is averaging just 87.6 shots for a discrepancy of 8.6 shots per game.

Kevin Durant notched his third double-double with a game-high 25 points and eleven rebounds in 37 minutes.

Only Durant, Harden, and Joe Harris have started all five games, and for the first time this season, Harris finished top three in team scoring.  With 15 points in 35 minutes, he finished second behind Durant.  Joe put up 15 shots, also second to Durant, ending up 5/11 from beyond the arc.  

• Joe Harris surpassed Jason Kidd to become the franchise leader in converted three-pointers.

Blake Griffin has started four of five games.  He started the first two games alongside Nicolas Claxton.  When he was held out in the first game of back-to-back nights, Claxton and Jevon Carter started against Charlotte.  In consecutive starts now, Coach Nash has gone with Blake Griffin and Bruce Brown.  Against Miami, Brown finished with twelve points, five rebounds, and three steals in 35 minutes.

Flatbush starters outscored Heat starters (72-71) by one point.  The benches, however, proved a mismatch.  Miami's Dewayne Dedmon and Tyler Herro joined for 28 points as the Heat bench outscored Brooklyn's by (35-21) 14 points.  Patty Mills was just 1/9 from the field and 0/6 from three-point range.

Miami also obliterated Brooklyn on the boards.  They secured 17 offensive rebounds, which helped pad their 48-34 point advantage in the paint.  The Nets had virtually no second-chance opportunities, securing just four offensive rebounds.  All told, Miami outrebounded the Nets by a ponderous 62-42 margin.  Coach Nash says the Nets were too hasty in getting back on defense.  But that strikes me as dead air; it's hardly an excuse for just four offensive boards.  Miami secured 45 defensive rebounds against 38 for the Nets.

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Earns First Home Victory

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

YEAR TEN

MONDAY

Wizards  90

NETS    104

FINAL

No Wizardry In Victory Over Washington

Flatbush evened their record at home with a victory over the Washington Wizards.  

Unlike their previous games, the Nets got off to a hot start, outscoring the Wizards 38-20 in the first quarter.  But while the outcome was never in doubt, this game did more to cover up some underlying defects than bolster my perception and expectations.

After the first quarter, the rest of the game is a matter of interpretation.  Brooklyn was outscored 70-66 over the final three quarters en route to a 14-point margin of victory.

Washington became Brooklyn's fourth straight opponent to exceed 90 shots, whereas Monday's game marked only the first time the Nets eclipsed 90+ shot attempts in a game.  However, their aiming registered a season-low 42.6% from the field.  In fact, the Nets are shooting just 44.2% through their first four games.

Once again, Kevin Durant led the floor with 25 points in a game-high 35 minutes after scoring 38 points in 36 minutes on Sunday.  His minutes in the upcoming game against Miami will be a curious matter.

James Harden is still clearly out of sorts.  He was 5/17 (29.4%) from the field and a mere 1/7 from beyond the arc, with only three free throw attempts.  However, he led the floor with nine assists while old friend Spencer Dinwiddie led the Wizards with six.

The next tier of starting players remains the team's unknown variable.  

Bruce Brown hardly played in the first two games of the season, but we knew he would not sit long.  After just four minutes against Milwaukee and sitting out at Philly, Brown played 27 minutes off the bench against Charlotte, then started Monday against Washington, finishing with 14 points in 30 minutes.

This was Coach Nash's third different lineup in four games.  Kept out of Sunday's game, Blake Griffin was a cold 1/7 from the field but secured a team-high nine rebounds in 19 minutes.  Joe Harris finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.  However, he was 3/11 from beyond the arc and 3/12 (25%) overall - 19.2% below the team's present field goal percentage.

Patty Mills led the bench effort with 21 points in 23 minutes.  It's his second 20+ point effort and his third game in double-digit scoring.  

After starting three straight games, Nicolas Claxton contributed six points and eight rebounds with a team-high +21 in 16 minutes off the bench.

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Fails to Protect Their House

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

YEAR TEN

OPENING DAY

SUNDAY

Hornets   111

NETS        95

FINAL

After Three Games, We Can Speak of Trends

The tenth opening day in Brooklyn Nets history will be a difficult one to forget.  

After splitting games at Milwaukee and Philadelphia, Flatbush fans were left stung by a listless fourth-quarter effort en route to a ponderous loss against the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center.  It's a game poised to remain swollen in our memory all season long.

After a recurring slow start, the Nets took a 58-50 lead into halftime.  The meltdown ensued post haste.  Charlotte outscored the Nets 29-20 in the third to seize a one-point lead, then in the fourth quarter, blew them out by a 32-17 margin.  All told, Brooklyn was outscored 61-37 in the second half, a margin of 24 points.  Thus, there were issues on both sides of the court and everywhere in between.

Kevin Durant led the floor with 38 points in a game-high 36 minutes, being asked to do everything.  James Harden was the only other Net in double-digits with 15 points and a game-high eight assists.  However, Harden likewise turned the ball over eight times.

Otherwise, Flatbush Avenue reeked of lethargy.  They totaled just 12 shots from the free-throw line, four by Nicolas Claxton.  The Hornets had eight more assists, four more rebounds, four more blocks, seven more fastbreak points, and most glaring, 14 more points in the paint.

Wait ...

Charlotte marks Brooklyn's third straight opponent to lead the game in total shots.  The Nets have so far been outshot by a 290-259 overall margin.  All three opponents have exceeded 90-plus attempts.  Whereas the Nets have been limited to 86.3 shots per game, Kevin Durant averages 26.6% of those.

Speaking of which, six Brooklyn players took more shots than Joe Harris, who finished with seven points in 28 minutes.

Brooklyn's bench got outscored by a 39-27 margin.  Patty Mills was ice cold, shooting 2/10 from the field and 1/6 from three in 32 minutes.  LaMarcus Aldridge led the bench with nine points in 22 minutes, and Bruce Brown added eight points in 27 minutes.

This was Coach Nash's first lineup change in three games.  Jevon Carter started replacing Blake Griffin with back-to-back games, who is due to start Monday against Washington.  Carter was 1/7 from the field for three points in 26 minutes.   

When Blake Griffin returns on Monday, I'm curious to see if, after three straight games, Nicolas Claxton continues in a starting role.

Brooklyn Nets Fail to Buck The Trend in Season Opener at Milwaukee

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Look What The Milwaukee Bucks Did to Flatbush, Again!

Going up against Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo, I was somewhat surprised to see Nicolas Claxton starting over, say, LaMarcus Aldridge, James Johnson, and/or Paul Millsap.

That's not a criticism of Claxton, who scored twelve points with seven rebounds in 24 minutes.  With so many new faces, this team still is learning how to play alongside one another.  Therefore, Claxton has seniority and lineup experience.  So, I'm not begrudging Coach Nash's decision.

However, the trio of Aldridge, Johnson, and Millsap joined together for a grand total of two points, three assists, and six rebounds, with none on the offensive boards.  Meanwhile, Giannis finished tied with a game-high 32 points and led the floor with 14 rebounds.  Said another way, Antetokounmpo outscored all players mentioned above by five points and outrebounded them by one.

The game result was the Nets getting outrebounded by a factor of ten.  Milwaukee secured 13 offensive rebounds and 54 boards overall.  A microcosm of Brooklyn's interior play was Antetokounmpo pulling down five offensive boards, which matched the entire Nets team.  Otherwise, defensive rebounds were almost equal, but possession was far from that.  Throw in twelve turnovers and Milwaukee attempted 21 more shots than Brooklyn.

Kevin Durant canceled out Giannis with 32 points of his own and eleven defensive rebounds.  James Harden and Kris Middleton cancel each other out with 20 points apiece.  Claxton and Jrue Holiday also canceled each other out.  Patty Mills scored 21 points in 29 minutes, while Pat Connaughton scored 20 points in 30 minutes, both coming off the bench.

Afterwhich, the scales favored the Bucks, who had six players scoring in double-digits while the Nets had four.  Milwaukee got 15 points off the bench from Jordan Nwora, and Grayson Allen added ten.  Joe Harris picked up where he left off with nine points in a team-high 31 minutes (yeah, that's a dig), and Blake Griffin was limited to six points in 23 minutes.

James Harden distributed a game-high eight assists, but the Bucks did a better job overall with 25 team assists versus 19 for the Nets.

But the true listlessness of Brooklyn's season-opening game was punctuated by 13/23 (56.5%) from the free-throw line.  On a side note, Giannis was afforded nine opportunities from the line, but Durant and Harden together were limited to ten.

Tuesday's opener indeed brings interior defense, physicality, and other more outstanding issues into the spotlight, but this was only game one.  Coach Nash still needs time to reestablish a cohesive rotation. 

Thus, all other criticisms are at this moment put on hold.  

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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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.

Dallas Mavericks Exploit Undermanned Brooklyn Nets

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Win Streak Snapped at Eight Games

Miss Opportunity to Overcome Sixers

SATURDAY

Mavericks   115

Nets              98

FINAL

Flatbush Support Staff Fails to Extend Win Streak

Sean Marks said this team isn't fully formed yet.  That means something is potentially brewing before the trade deadline.  Well, he had better do something about the interior.  Because once again, Brooklyn's deficiencies in the paint were on full display.  Coach Nash decided to limit DeAndre Jordan to just 13 minutes off the bench.  The toll on the Nets was high; Dallas outscored the Nets 50-36 in the paint, and with 19 turnovers committed by Flatbush, the Mavs also outpaced Brooklyn on the face-break by a 15-4 margin.  Brooklyn and Dallas had the same number of attempts from the field and converted the same number of three-pointers.  The Nets were even a plus-three from the free-throw line.  

At one point, the Mavs led by 14 points, but the Nets closed the gap and went into the half trailing by four.  James Harden led all players with 15 first-haf attempts from the field and six attempts from the line converting for 25 points.  In 15 minutes, Joe Harris is just 2/4 from the floor for six points.  He started the game with no shots taken in his first nine minutes on the floor, then struck for consecutive three-pointers.  After Harden, each of the other four Nets starters (Brown, Harris, Green, Cabarrot) contributed six first-half points apiece.  Landry Shamet was second on the Nets with nine points in 15 minutes off the bench.  DeAndre Jordan only saw nine minutes, with no shot attempts, two rebounds, and two assists.

A reason Flatbush generated just 98 points is mainly that Joe Harris failed to take a single shot in the first quarter and only managed 3/8 from behind the arc for nine points in 27 minutes.  Frankly, this is unacceptable and what I've been saying all along.  When Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, or James Harden, or any combination of the three is missing from the floor, it's incumbent upon Joe Harris to do more.  This was that kind of night.  To his credit, Joe has been holding his ground much better this season.  However, this night, he was tied for fourth on the team with eight shots when this was the very type of game when the Nets much needed more.

Another reason Flatbush failed to break one hundred points was Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot shooting a mere 2/12 from the field in 24 minutes.  Nic Claxton was also strangely stuck to the bench, going 1/3 in just 13 minutes.  The Nets got 30 points on 11/29 (28%) from a seven-man bench.  Landry Shamet played a bench-high 27 minutes but only accounted for nine points.  In fact, no one scored double-digits off the bench.

James Harden was 9/21 from the floor and 7/8 from the line for a game-high 29 points and six assists.  However, one sequence essentially describes the night.  With 3:50 left in the game, James Harden dishes to Joe Harris, who does not connect.  Dallas scores on the following possession.  Harden then brings the ball upcourt and drives the lane but is stopped cold by three defenders who cause a turnover. 

Despite the Philadelphia Sixers losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Nets gain no ground.  They remain one-half game out of the Eastern Conference lead. 

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.

Brooklyn Nets: Fans Witness Flatbush Win Seventh Straight

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

HOME SWEET HOME

TUESDAY

Kings   118

Nets     127

FINAL

Bruce Brown Plays Big Man On Campus

Back home in Flatbush and playing in front of a limited number of fans for the first time in a long time, the surging Nets defeat visiting Sacramento by nine points, extending their winning streak to a season-high seven games.  The game also marks Brooklyn's second defeat of the Kings in the last eight days.

Kyrie Irving's 14 points spearhead the surging Nets to a 42-28 first-quarter lead, who then take a 72-66 lead into the half.  But the Kings close the gap and trail by just two points after three quarters.  

That's when Bruce Brown takes over.  Making his seventh straight start, Brown finishes the night tied for game-high with 29 points and 13 points coming in the final eight minutes of the game.  His layup-and-one at 7:43 gives the Nets a three-point lead.  Brown then nails a three at 3:56, then 23 seconds later drains a mid-range jumper.  He again follows with another three at the 3:05 mark and caps off Brooklyn's scoring with two free throws with 1:01 left in regulation.

With Kevin Durant missing his sixth straight game, James Harden and Kyrie Irving join forces on 50 points, and Joe Harris turns in another step-it-up performance.  Harden was 9/22 from the floor, including 5/10 from beyond three and 6/9 from the line to tie for a game-high 29 points.  The bearded one completes the triple-double with a game-high 14 assists and eleven rebounds (ten defensive) during a floor-high 41 minutes; it's his sixth triple-double since donning a Nets uniform.  Kyrie Irving goes 8/22 from the floor, including only 2/6 from three en route to a 21 point effort with seven assists, five boards, and three steals.  Joe Harris was an efficient 6/10 from the field and 5/9 from behind the arc as part of an 18 point performance.

The center of attention, DeAndre Jordan, was back in the starting lineup, posting ten points but more importantly getting to the line.  He secured eight rebounds and played effective defense with four blocks.  Jordan also played 34 minutes while managing four personal fouls, precisely what I want to see.

Long Island two-way Nicolas Claxton made his Nets debut with a field goal, and 3/4 from the line with one blocked shot in 14 minutes.  However, the rest of the bench managed just 15 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in a collective four-man 53 minutes effort. 

• ICYMI: What Happens in Flatbush Stays in Flatbush

The Philadelphia 76ers also defeated the Florida Raptors on Tuesday and thus retain a one-half game lead over the Nets for the Eastern Conference's top team.