Billy King's Inconsistent Roster Gets Brooklyn's Second Coach Fired

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BROOKLYN NETS - How The Bulls Played For Their Coach Was All The Justification Needed To Fire P.J. Carlesimo.

For A New Generation, It's Wait Till Next Year, Again - Game Seven Recap and Reaction

Many facets of the Nets game failed them down the stretch yesterday.  That's perhaps why roughly fourteen hours after the local NBA season ended at Barclays Center, the Nets 2012-2013 inaugrual campaign in Brooklyn has now officially cost them their second head coach.  This decision obviously comes swiftly on the heels of Saturday night's abrupt season finale, in which the Nets came up short in Game Seven of their first round playoff series against the Bulls.


It is not hard to determine if interim coach P.J. Carlesimo had a friend in Mikhail Prokhorov.  I doubt it - not with Phil Jackson on the market.  Although he's not necessarily a front and center guy, the Nets owner is nonetheless demanding with clearly stated, high expectations.  Billy King has taken no pause in trying to meet the owner's goal of a championship within five years.  After a few years presiding over the roster's brutal reconstruction in New Jersey, Avery Johnson was named Coach of November to inaugurate Brooklyn's first ever participation in the NBA.  Less than a month later as Christmas approached, Johnson was unceremoniously fired after the team struggled, and dropped down to the .500 mark.  The scuttlebutt was he may have lost Deron William's attention, and the rest of the team began tuning him out.  After Billy King's considerable off-season monetary outlay, the GM decided on a proactive measure.   P.J. Carlesimo guided the team to a 35-19 record the rest of the way.  The team finished its first season in the Borough with a 49-33 overall record, a second place finish in the final Atlantic Division standings, and earned a four seed in the Eastern Conference.


However, after consistently being inconsistent after Game One against the considerably depleted and compromised Chicago Bulls,  P.J. ultimately deserved to lose his job.  By their own admission, his players didn't execute the prescribed game plan properly.  As a coach, when you can't convince your players to do the right thing, it's time to go.  Just look at P.J. Carlesimo's Chicago counter-part.  Tom Thibodeau impresses his will upon his players, and they respond.  They follow his directives to the letter.  The Bulls didn't necessarily beat the Nets in seven.  They willed themselves to victory quicker than the Nets could get their act together.  That's a coaching problem.




Mike.BTB

Andray Blatche Leads Late Charge As Brooklyn Nets Force Game Six In Chicago

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BROOKLYN NETS:
It's The Late Show With Your Host - Andray Blatche.
 

 

 

 

Chicago Bulls Night In Brooklyn Ends With CRASH!

 

Game Five Final

BULLS   91

NETS    110

Chicago Leads Series 3-2

Game Six - Thursday

Nate Robinson was at it again, with ten points in the first half.  But the Nets arrived on Flatbush Avenue this evening with Brooklyn Pride.  Led by Brook Lopez' seventeen points, the Nets took a 52-44 lead into the break.  Brooklyn's center also pulled down four rebounds - three on the offensive boards.  In fact, the Nets renewed effort on the boards was clear early in Game Five.  Brooklyn out-rebounded the Bulls by a 28-18 margin.  Reggie Evans was the only player to reach double-digit rebounds, pulling down ten boards, with eight coming on the defensive glass.  Deron Williams dropped eight points and assisted five times.  Joe Johnson had seven first half points.  Next to Brook Lopez, give credit to Kris Humphries for providing a spark off the bench, and lending some interior size, to go along with his eight points and four rebounds in nine minutes.  The Nets shot horribly from beyond the arch - 20% off two for ten shooting.  Otherwise, they shot 47.7% from the field versus 42.9% for Chicago.


Two minutes into the third quarter, the Nets led 59-49 to match their largest lead of the game.  With seven minutes left, Deron Williams scored his ninth point of the quarter to help keep the Bulls at bay.  But by the 5:30 mark, Chicago closed to within five points.  With just under five minutes left, Deron Williams nailed a three to put the Nets up (72-62) by ten again.  Joe Johnson was still toiling along with only seven points, and took a seat with four minutes left in the quarter.  With  2:34 left, C.J. Watson benefited from a friendly rim to give the Nets a 76-67 lead.  But with 1:14 to go, the Bulls were within two.  Nets shooting was hovering at 48% by the close of the third.  Chicago won the quarter 29-25, shooting a much improved 50% from the floor.  Deron Williams missed a three in the closing minute, while Nate Robinson was leading the Bulls with sixteen points.  As the third quarter buzzer sounded, the Nets lead stood at four, 77-73, with twelve minutes left on the Flatbush night.


With Deron Williams and Brook Lopez on the bench to open the fourth quarter, Nate Robinson scored his seventeenth and eighteenth points of the game to bring the Bulls within one point of Brooklyn.  But Gerald Wallace turned fading momentum around with a steal, and led a fast break with Andray Blatche filling the lane,who converted a lay-up.  At 9:24, Andray Blatche secured an offensive rebound and dropped a floater for two points, putting Brooklyn up by five again.  After an exchange of misses held the score at 87-84, Andray Blatche drove the lane at 6:58 and was victimized by a clear flagrant foul committed by Marco Belinelli.  By 6:09, Blatche was clearly exerting a huge impact on the fourth quarter with thirteen points.  With 4:29 left in regulation, the Brooklyn Nets were trying to protect and expand upon a 93-88 lead, as Chicago was now shooting upwards of 52.9% from the floor.  Nate Robinson shortly made it a 95-90 game, but Brook Lopez promptly answered at the other end with a baseline slam, and converted a foul to make it a 98-90 affair.


The three minute mark decended upon Barclays Center with the Bulls now shooting 54% from the field.  At 2:22, Brooklyn regained a ten point, 101-91 lead off Gerald Wallace's three pointer.  Then at the defensive end, Crash picked off a key pass, and finished emphatically at the offensive rim to give Brooklyn a 103-91 lead with two minutes to go.


Great baseline defense with 1:40 on the clock induced a Chicago turnover.  Deron Williams then took the ball up-court and connected with Brook Lopez to complete a 10-1 Brooklyn run, and bumping up the game score to a 105-91 spread.  At 1:01, the Brooklyn crowd rose to its feet and showered their club with thunderous applause of appreciation.  With fifty-six seconds left, Deron Williams departed the floor with twenty-three points, and a game high ten assists.  When the final buzzer sounded, Billy King headed back into the corridors of Barclays Center with a big smile on his face.  P.J. Carlesimo gets to coach another day.


Consistent throughout his first ever playoff series, Brook Lopez imposed himself in Game Five, finishing with a game high twenty-eight points, and ten rebounds.  Reggie Evans led all players with twelve rebounds.  Kris Humphries added six, and Blatche had five.  Brooklyn won the overall battle of the glass, 44-33.  Gerald Wallace's twenty-nine minutes were filled with pure impact.  The timeliness of his twelve points, two steals, and two blocks were impeccable.  It was good to see him punctuate the night late in the game, and effectively end any Bulls' notion of a comeback.


On to Chicago for Game Six.  There is now only one matter at hand - the next forty-eight minutes of basketball.  Were it not for beating themselves, all five games have been within Brooklyn's reach.  There is no reason for me to think Game Six will evolve otherwise.  The Nets can not afford to take a minute off on defense.  That's given.  But Game Five proves the Nets do not have to out-shoot Chicago.  The Nets merely need to avoid shooting 33% from the floor, which, on a regular basis, possesses them like the devil.


The differences in shooting from Game One to Games Two and Three were like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  That's the Nets.  Deron Williams shot nine of fifteen in the opener.  In the follow-up, he shot a dismal one of nine from the field.  Joe Johnson hit seven of thirteen in Game One, and regressed to six of eighteen in the second game.  In their Game One winner, the team shot 55% from the floor, then only 34.5% over the next two losses.  In the Game Five triple overtime chiller, the Nets were back up to 49.5% - but triple O.T. - is what it is.  On Monday evening, Brooklyn finished the evening shooting an even fifty percent.  As has been their trend all season, the Nets are literally a hit or miss team.  Their winning formula is simple, shoot better than thirty-three percent.  If they do that, the Nets will defeat the Bulls in Chicago, and bring a Game Seven back to Flatbush Avenue.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets: Time For The Nets Star To Rise Above Flatbush

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

 

GAME FIVE - TONIGHT

 

Chicago Bulls

vs.

BROOKLYN NETS

FROM

Barclays Center, Flatbush Avenue

BROOKLYN

 

BROOKLYN NETS - Inheriting An Old Refrain


For a new generation of Brooklyn sports fans, there is something a little old school about elimination games.  The Borough knew them well.  Too many came against the Yankees.  There is a seldom recalled instance in 1916 against the Red Sox, and a much more famous occurrence which took place in '51 against the hated Giants at the Polo Grounds.  The Hoops of Flatbush get to play on their turf tonight.  They need to win in order to force a Game Five in Chicago.  Should they loose, a circle of life will have made its round.  A defeat at Barclays Center would revive the old Brooklyn refrain - Wait Till Next Year.


If the Nets didn't learn some very hard lessons after Game Four, then tonight will be an ever greater course to absorb.  It's very simple - tonight is pass or fail.  Missed dunks, and blown leads aside, when I look at the line-ups, I still see a better team in the Nets.  Chicago has as much trouble scoring as the next team.  I would like to think Nate Robinson's recent outburst was an aberration.  Chicago will be without yet another player, Kirk Hinrich. No Derrick Rose - a suddenly recovered Joakim Noah.....ponderous.  I know the Nets can do better.  Games two, three and four were all frustratingly winnable.  The Nets have all the extra help they could have hoped for.  So, Game Five is set up for them to win.


But will they?  Joe Johnson was a virtual hero in Game Four.  However, it goes without saying Deron Williams still needs to lead his team to victory.  Not Brook Lopez, not anyone else - Deron Williams needs to be Brooklyn's star, and rise up over Flatbush tonight.  Fairly or not, if he doesn't, Deron could very well get blamed for dooming the third head coach of his career.  In truth, P.J. Carlesimo only has forty-eight minutes left to figure out a course back to Chicago and back.  Nothing after that is guaranteed.


We need part Gerald Wallace From Game One - part Joe Johnson from Game Three - the Deron Williams who reverse-dunked - and the continued all around solid play from Brook Lopez.  With  helpful contributions from the bench, I'll take my chances.


Get it done.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets: Chicago Bulls Hit Heavy Traffic On Flatbush; Game Two Tonight

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BROOKLYN NETS - Chicago Suffers Saturday Night Fever. The Hoops Of Flatbush Take No Bull On Home Turf.

 

GAME ONE FINAL

Bulls      89
NETS   106

A little under 18,000 fans watched live, as history was being made on Saturday night.  The Brooklyn Nets basketball team won the first major professional playoff game in the Borough since 1956, when the Brooklyn Dodgers last played the Bronx Bombers in the 1956 World Series.  Saturday night's game inside Brooklyn's new downtown arena was only a first round affair against the Chicago Bulls, but was a huge inaugural step for the  club and its fans, not to mention an enormous benchmark for the billionaire owner who's primary goal is to secure the Borough a championship by the 2015 season.

For just over two and a half hours inside Barclays Center, the home team played like a championship caliber club.  In running through the Chicago Bulls by a seventeen point margin, the Hoops of Flatbush did everything near perfectly, and finished the game convincingly.  From the opening tip to the final buzzer, Brooklyn remained relentless.


Six Nets players ended in double-digit scoring versus just one, Carlos Boozer (25), for Chicago.  Deron Williams led Nets scorers with twenty-two points, and also distributed a game high seven assists.  Brook Lopez was next high with twenty-one points, and led all players with three blocked shots.  Joe Johnson dropped sixteen points, and Crash played a very solid game with fourteen points, six rebounds and two blocked shots.  The only starter who failed to score in double-digits was Reggie Evans.  As usual, his game contributions came in the form of a game high thirteen rebounds - the only player with double-digit boards.  Twelve of Reggie's rebounds came on the defensive end.  Unlike Tom Thibodeau, Coach P.J. Carlesimo made almost full use of his bench.  C.J. Watson scored fourteen and Andray Blatche added another twelve points in supporting roles.


The Nets shot 55.8% from the floor versus 47.4% for Chicago.  The Nets are very simple to figure - when they shoot like that, they usually win, for this has been a season riddled with too many 33% nights.  Brooklyn also won the battle of the boards by a 39-35 margin - something they are more accustomed to doing. The Nets additionally shot 82.4% from the free throw line, while Chicago struggled through 68.2% shooting.


Moving forward, if Joakim Noah is going to be hobbling around all series, then it sure makes sense to keep Brook Lopez and Reggie Evans on the floor together.  The two dominated down low as a tandem, and were chiefly responsible for outscoring the Bulls 56-36 in the paint.  Deron Williams also played a part in Brooklyn's paint domination, driving at will, pun intended.  His outside shooting solid, as was Joe Johnson's.  If Williams continues shooting nine for fifteen as he did in game one, the Bulls have to respect the outside.  Joe-Jo was seven for thirteen from the field.  Together, they shot 50% (four for eight) from three point land.

 

GAME TWO

 

Chicago Bulls

vs.

BROOKLYN NETS

FROM

Barclays Center, Flatbush Avenue

BROOKLYN

Point to the absence of Derrick Rose, and the present health of Joakim Noah if you will.  Success is relative.  I get that.  In game one however, Gerald Wallace appeared determined to become a factor.  He was five of seven from the floor, and three of five from the stripe.  In thirty-seven minutes, he did a little bit of everything.  He factored with points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals.  It was a complete night for him.  While it is perfectly clear this is Deron Williams' team to run, if the Gerald Wallace that played with Saturday Night Fever continues to suit up for the Nets, Brooklyn can make noise.  Before he gets to don his white suit when the series shifts to Chicago, first, the Hoops need to continue the Black-Out, and take care of business right here on their home turf of Flatbush.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets: On The Borough's First NBA Regular Season

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

INAUGURAL SEASON FINAL RECORD

49-33 .598

2nd Place - Atlantic Division

 

 

BROOKLYN NETS Berth In The NBA Playoffs Punctuates A Triumphant Return Of Professional Sports To Kings County.

On Thursday, March 21, 2013, the Nets Basketball Club clinched the franchise's first playoff berth since the 2006-2007 season when they still played in New Jersey.  This Saturday will mark the first time since 1956, a major league professional sports team from Brooklyn participates in any type of post-season play.

 

Kings County's first season of NBA basketball is in the books.  So how did ya like it?  Without looking forward into the playoffs, I would say the recently concluded regular season was an unqualified success.  I personally couldn't have been happier.  And why not, the team won forty-nine games which tied for the fifth highest mark in franchise history.  Four times since 1967-68, the ABA/NBA Nets surpassed fifty or more wins in a season.  Three of those came in the ABA.  As an NBA franchise, the Nets have only won fifty games or better once during the 2002-03 season.  Now, for the fourth time in their history, the Nets complete a regular season with a 49-33 record.  Lest we forget, the Nets posted a 22-44 record last season, their last in New Jersey, and they only recorded twelve wins (12-70) during the 2009-10 regular season.  So, to detract from what the team has accomplished in the recent short term just wouldn't be fair.


Today's level of team success has not come without casualties.  Who knows how things would have turned out if GM Rod Thorn had stuck around.  What went down between him and incoming owner Mikhail Prokhorov is academic now.  What turns out being fact, is that Billy King took over a team fresh off losing seventy games, while only winning twelve.  Today, the Nets have improved by thirty-seven wins since then, and by twenty-seven wins over last season.  The Nets might be capped out for the next three seasons, but King still has draft picks he didn't trade away.


Was the decision to fire Coach Avery Johnson the right decision?  The owner might have had in for in from the start.  But to Avery's credit, he was named Coach of the Month of November.  He also put in a lot of work during the overhauling of the roster.  Just when he started enjoying life on the other side of the mountain, a troublesome December got him sacked.  In the snap of a finger, Coach became riddled with perception issues.  Additionally, not only rumors, but body language and productivity perhaps hinted Coach lost his star player's attention.  The team got off to a hot November, but by the time of his firing, the Nets were (14-14) a .500 team.  For the cash Billy King invested into this team, that simply wasn't going to do.  I liked Avery Johnson.  But money changes everything.  However, he may not have been the right guy for the new roster anyway.  Which ever way you slice it, P.J. Carlesimo stepped in and righted the good ship Brooklyn.  The Nets played 35-19 basketball for Carlesimo.  P.J. is a local guy who..., just gets it.  He understands how this place works.


It helps that Deron Williams is now playing his best basketball since becoming a Nets player three years ago.  Many accused him of getting his second coach fired - See Utah.  I tend to focus on the fact he stayed in Brooklyn when it was easier for him to leave.  I also appreciate him coming to the city and avoiding no post-game microphones, and telling it like it is.  This currently assembled roster of slow, plodding, methodical players probably isn't the best group for Deron's style.  But it is what it is, which was good enough for second place in the Atlantic Division.  He finished the season as the team's number two scorer, with 18.9 points per game, and averaged 7.7 assists.


As far as the other half of Brooklyn's much hyped front court, you might say Joe Johnson lived up to his billing.  He's a proven scorer who takes and makes big shots, but also has a tendency to quietly disappear.  He did so this season both on the court, and off, via a foot injury.  In seventy-two games, Joe averaged 16.3 points - his lowest scoring average since the 2003-04 season.  His 36-minute scoring average of 15.9 was even slightly less.  Thus, the max contract Atlanta gave him, and assumed by Billy King will continue to be questioned.


In his fourth full season, and his first season after foot surgery, Brook Lopez averaged 19.4 points per game; his second best mark since his 2010-11 season, and averaged 6.9 boards per game, which is still off from when he averaged over eight rebounds during his first two years in the league.  However, in this season's per-36-minutes stats, Brook averaged twenty-three points and 8.2 boards.  Lopez also had a career best 2.1 blocks per game.


I'm a big Crash fan.  I mean, who isn't?  Yet, there is no getting around the Nets experienced ongoing problems at forward this season; and particularly small forward.  Collectively, I give Gerald Wallace, Andray Blatch, and Reggie Evans favorable mention.  I can not speak for Kris Humphries though.


The Nets finished in second place of the Atlantic Division, five games behind the Knicks.  They enter the playoffs as the Eastern Conference fourth seeded team and will face the Chicago Bulls in the first round.  The question that will now be answered is - were the Brooklyn Nets a paper tiger?  They only recorded a 15-27 record against teams with .500 records or better.  They were 32-6 in all others.  Are they just the best of the rest or fit for the test?


We'll see.  But for now, forget Moses could get his People across the Red Sea faster than a Nets fast break. Until Saturday and Game One roll around, Nets fans and Brooklyn fans should spend at least another day satisfied their team made the playoffs and validated a triumphant return of professional sports to the Borough of Kings.

By defeating the Indiana Pacers last Friday, the Nets earned home court advantage in the first round versus Chicago.  So let Friday be fun.  Gear up for the first playoff game in BroooKlynnn.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets: Brooks Filibustered In D.C.

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BROOKLYN NETS - Old Habits Are Hard To Break.


Last night's visit to the nation's capital was an abysmal fail.  The Nets scored their second lowest point total of the season against the (15-35) Washington Wizards.  You can't put lipstick on this pig.  I only wish I were talking about the government.  But if we should take anything away from this game, it would be this:

"Just a lot of bad habits...., then we start pointing the finger and getting a little selfish. We just got to get out of that habit."  -  Deron Williams after loss.

That is disturbing, but only echoes Gerald Wallace's rant from just over a week ago.  So at least we know there are two players who recognize there is a problem.

Friday Final

NETS      74

Wizards  89

The vocal Deron Williams led all players with forty minutes.  He tied for game high with twenty points, but his ball distribution was limited to five assists.  Deron also took a game high twenty shots.  Lopez took eleven shots, and Joe Johnson twelve.  The three combined on 37% shooting.  In the second quarter, the Nets only made four of twenty two shots.  So what are you going to do when you're consistently shooting below 35% from the floor? - See the Lakers game, and many others this season.  In the meanwhile, what scoring they lack from the field they are making up for by consistently getting to the line.  But even then, they only shot 59% from the stripe last night, making 19 of 32 shots.  By contrast, Washington shot 91% from the line.


When you lose the second quarter 30-11, where do you point the finger first - at low scoring, or poor defense?  To that effect, the Nets held their opponent to under ninety points.  Or, do we try a completely different tact, and point a finger at how, for a very good rebounding team, the Nets continually get out-scored in fast break points?  Something has to give, because if you didn't notice the Wizards beat the Nets at their own game.  With a big boost from Nene's twenty points (double-double, 11 rebounds) Washington out-scored Brooklyn 32-30 inside the paint.  The Nets barely out-rebounded the Wizards by a 47-45 margin.  Brook Lopez pulled down eight; seven on the defensive end; and blocked another four shots.  He was limited however to thirteen points.


On a side note, Andray Blatch has no particular love for the Wizards these days, not after they amnestied him to relieve themselves of his contract.  The crowd in D.C. reciprocated last night with a little bit of their own local love.  They delighted in a rather futile night by their former forward.  In sixteen minutes off the bench, Andray only managed five points and four rebounds.  The crowd also reveled in Andray's futility from the line, as he only converted one of six attempts.


Next up - a rematch against the San Antonio Spurs at Barclays Center.  The last time they met was on the last day of 2012 in San Antonio.  The Spurs whooped up on Brooklyn 104-73 to hand P.J. Carlesimo his first loss as Nets coach.  The game also resulted in Brooklyn's lowest offensive output of the season.  Last night against Washington, the Nets came within one point of tying that mark.



Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets: Dwight Howard Visits Mr. Lopez' Neighborhood

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

 

TONIGHT

 

Los Angeles Lakers

vs.

BROOKLYN NETS

FROM
BARCLAYS CENTER

Flatbush Avenue, Kings County

BROOKLYN NETS - May Dwight Howard's Visit To Flatbush Avenue Be a Fleeting One.  Brooklyn Already Has An All-Star Center.  His Name Is Brook Lopez.

"We're happy with Brook, and the team we have now..." - Deron Williams

The Nets and Lakers last met just prior to Thanksgiving.  The Nets under former coach Avery Johnson visited Los Angeles while in the midst a five game winning streak and beginning the season with a 6-2 record.  But Kobe Bryant dropped twenty five points on the visiting Brooks, and Dwight Howard dominated the boards with fifteen rebounds en route to a 95-90 Lakers victory. Dwight Howard also scored twenty three points and blocked four shots in forty one minutes.


By comparison, Brook Lopez played thirty seven minutes that game.  He also scored twenty three points, which led the Nets, but only pulled down seven rebounds, and blocked no shots.  In that game, Pau Gasol pulled down eleven boards, and combined with Howard to account for twenty six of the Lakers forty three rebounds.  Metta World Peace was next in for L.A. with eight rebounds.  As mentioned, Lopez had seven boards for the Nets.  Then Reggie Evans pulled down a team high eleven boards, and Kris Humphries had another ten.  The Nets out-rebounded the Lakers for the game by a 46-43 margin.  It can be argued that perhaps the Lakers were at their optimal rebounding capabilities that night.  They have roster and D'Antoni(!) issues (among others), and certainly lack another body coming off the bench who would give them another ten board night.  Earl Clark?  Jordan Hill?  While the Nets, it can be argued, still had Andray Blatch in reserve.  Andray saw limited minutes in L.A.  So on a night when Dwight Howard was at his best and Gasol ended in double digits as well, the Nets still had that covered.


Now, the Lakers (22-26) must come to Brooklyn as a sub .500 team, and play in Barclays Center for the first time, where the Nets (28-19) are 18-8 at home.  Dwight Howard in all likelihood will not play.  He missed the last two games compromised by his ailing right shoulder.  Despite this recent setback, he has actually played in three more games than Lopez this season.  But in his first season  after back surgery, although playing relatively well, Dwight is not playing up to his accustomed standards.  He is averaging 16.5 points per game.  That marks his lowest average as a center, and his lowest average since his second season in the league when he played power forward.  His current 11.9 rebounds per game are similarly his lowest mark as an NBA center, in addition to being his lowest mark since he averaged 10.0 boards per game playing power forward as a rookie.


Today, the Nets play for P.J. Carlesimo.  And in his fifth season in the league, Brook Lopez is headed to his first All-Star game; as is Dwight Howard.  At current, Lopez is the league's highest scoring center.  His 18.7 points per game top DeMarcus Cousins, Chris Bosh, Al Jefferson, and in fifth place, Dwight Howard.  Brook has maintained his seven rebounds per game average, and is also averaging 2.2 blocks per game.  After playing just five games last season and suffering a minor setback earlier this season, his overall minutes are down.  If Lopez was playing his usual thirty three +/- minutes per game, as he averaged over his first three years (Howard is averaging almost thirty five minutes per game), he in all likelihood would be averaging over twenty points this season.  In the Nets last four games, Lopez scored twenty or more points against Chicago, Miami, and Houston.  And of course, it never hurts to mention Dwight Howard is a 49% free throw shooter.  At least Brook Lopez is 73% from the line.


Dwight Howard had his chance at facilitating a trade to Brooklyn and playing with Deron Williams.  But not only did he blow it, that time is also passed.  The book on Dwight Howard, in my view, is closed.  Let him come to Flatbush and either participate on the Barclays Center hearing-bone court, or let him sit nicely dressed on the sideline spectating.  In either scenario, when the game is done let him leave, and take the never ending scuttlebutt of Dwight Howard to Brooklyn with him.  We have no need for him here.  Last time I checked, Brook Lopez was doing just fine.  It's just like Deron Williams said......., and Brooklyn is happy with him too.





Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets: Half Way Through Borough's Inaugural NBA Season

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BROOKLYN NETS - First Half Report:

Forty One Games Of Sizzle, Sputter, Streaks and Struggles

Game Summary: Flatbush Knots Season Series Against Knicks

That's it.  That's all you get.  The 2012-2013 intra-city rivalry against the Knicks is over.  Let's hear it for the schedule makers.  If the deities of basketball will it, perhaps the Nets and Knicks will meet up in the playoffs.


Year one in the Battle of the Boroughs goes to.....  It's a tie.  Not only was the first ever meeting between Brooklyn and Manhattan supposed to take place on November 1st, their game was also  supposed to open up the 2012-2013 regular season.  But Hurricane Sandy had other ideas.  The first showdown would have to wait.  Eventually they did meet, on November 26th at Barclays Center.  In the first meeting between the two, Brooklyn came out victorious in a 96-89 overtime thriller.  When they met again on December 11th for the second time at Barclays, it was the Knicks who came away winning on a last second shot in a 100-97 chiller.  Just eight days later, in Brooklyn's first game at Madison Square Garden, Manhattan flexed.  The establishment came down on the Nets with a heavy hand during a lop-sided 100-86 lesson.  Then on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Nets evened the series by defeating the Knicks 88-85, in their second visit to the Garden.


The Nets are now half way into their inaugural season in the Borough of Kings.  Forty one games have been played.  They own a 25-16 record, good for second place and just one game behind the first place Knicks in the Atlantic Division standings.  The Nets also have a division best 9-3 record against their Atlantic foes.  They are one of five Eastern Conference teams playing above a .600 win percentage.  The Brooks currently rank fourth in the conference.  They are tied with the Bulls for most conference wins.  In twenty three games at Barclays Center, the Nets own a 16-7 mark.  They are playing .500 on the road, with a 9-9 record.


Brooklyn's inaugural season in the NBA commenced with an 11-4 record in November.  The month was highlighted by two wins over the Celtics, a win over the Clippers, and Brooklyn's first victory in the Battle of the Boroughs over the Knicks.


But that didn't translate into good times in December.  An injury to Brook Lopez, an overall lack of cohesion, bowing down to stiffer competition, and a pink slip for Avery Johnson marred the month, and even soured the mood around downtown Brooklyn.  In a reversal of fortunes, the Nets struggled to a 5-11 record in December.  Speculation started running rampant accusing the Nets of not being able to beat teams with winning records.  The numbers were starting to bear that out.  Through two full months, the Nets only compiled a 4-13 record versus teams playing above the .500 level.  Meanwhile, twelve of their sixteen wins to this point came against sub .500 teams.  The list of good teams to defeat the Nets grew by the day - Heat, Thunder, Warriors, Bucks, Knicks, Bulls, Jazz, Celtics, and Spurs.


On Christmas Day, the Nets put forth four brutal quarters in their third encounter versus Boston.  The Celtics handed Brooklyn a most embarrassing defeat - one that inspired changes.  When the Nets followed up the Celtics loss with yet another pitiful effort against the Milwaukee Bucks, those changes came post haste.  Because November's start became a distant memory, and the loss against the Bucks dropped the Nets to 14-14, the Nets owner felt compelled to make a change himself.  After twenty eight games into Brooklyn's inaugural season, Mikhail Prokhorov dismissed Avery Johnson as head coach.  It was reported GM Billy King tried lobbying on Avery Johnson's behalf, but to no avail.  P.J. Carlesimo was promoted from the staff, and named interim coach of the Nets.


Since then, the Brooklyn Nets have been on fire.  The Nets won their first two games under P.J. but dropped game three in San Antonio to end the 2012 calendar year.


So far, it has been a Happy New Year on Flatbush Avenue.  The Nets opened 2013 with a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Then proceeded to win their next six games, marked by additional victories over the Pacers, Hawks, and the New York Knicks.  The Nets have lost once in January, and are now 11-2 under coach P.J. Carlesimo.


With a very noticeable improvement in their overall play under P.J., it has become clear to many the Nets stopped responding to former coach Avery Johnson.  The most notable differences have come from Deron Williams and Kris Humphries.  Coach Johnson's dismissal came uncomfortably soon after Williams expressed his issues with Avery Johnson's system to the media.  However, Deron Williams did not escape some mild criticism, as he was also widely rumored to have been at the root of Jerry Sloan's firing in Utah as well.  Kris Humphries was nursing a sprained ankle in December.  But even more troubling to his performance was his inability to escape Avery Johnson's dog house.  But he is out now.  And against the Knicks Monday afternoon, he flourished.


Overall, the ageless one Jerry Stackhouse, Marshon Brooks, C.J. Watson, and Keith Bogans have been very good off the bench.  But extra mention should be made for Andray Blatch and Reggie Evans.  Despite being questioned involving a hotel incident, Blatch has been making the most of a second chance after being jettisoned by the Wizards.  By the end of the season, he could conceivably play himself into contention for the NBA's 6th Man award.  Reggie Evans has been tremendous on the boards this season.


If you're asking me, this most recent win over the Knicks was Joe Johnson's signature game since joining the Brooklyn Nets.  He is averaging 17.4 points per game, and seems to be just getting started.  He is exerting himself more, as he and Deron Williams continue working together.  If you remember, there was much hype surrounding Billy King's newly formed, Brooklyn Backcourt.  But Deron Williams continues to be a very interesting case study.  He has been streaky, and is not quite playing up to the level he exhibited in Utah with the Jazz.


The biggest difference maker on the Nets has no doubt been a healthy Brook Lopez.  Almost two years of having to deal with Dwight Howard rumors would have broken a lesser man.  But Brook Lopez responded this season by, so far, becoming the NBA's top scoring center.


Every player brings something different to the court.  That's why I left Crash for last.  Gerald Wallace is the backbone of this team.  This guy is indefatigable.  His nickname is well earned.


With regards to the battle for the city, the Knicks have had problems on the court, off the court, and along side the court.  But have the battle lines really been drawn?  Yes, kind of.  But a fierce playoff series between the two should expedite the process.  There's the second half of the season to play first.  Then, who knows?




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Knots Season Series Against Knicks

From the desks of:

THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH  &  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
SHOWDOWN

 

BATTLE of the BOROUGHS - V

Nets and Knicks End Series 2-2

I - Hurricane Sandy

II - BK 96; NY 89 *

III - NY 100; BK 97

IV - NY 100; BK 86

* overtime

GAME FIVE FINAL
Brooklyn     88
Manhattan  85

GAME SUMMARY - Nineteen Turnovers Prevent Nets From Cruising To An Easier Victory.  Without Ray Felton On Floor, Carmelo Anthony Could Not Beat Brooklyn By Himself.


The Brooklyn Nets made things significantly more difficult for themselves by turning the ball over nineteen times.  Otherwise, this afternoon they rode Deron Williams' ball distribution, Kris Humphries' and Brook Lopez' strong rebounding, and Joe Johnson's clutch buckets to victory over the New York Knicks before a festive Martin Luther King Jr. Day crowd inside Madison Square Garden. The Flatbush Hoops owned a 26-24 lead after the first quarter, and took a 47-41 advantage into the break.


Even though Melo dropped his obligatory eighteen first half points, offensively the Knicks remain a team out of sync.  A compare and contrast will bare that out.  After Pablo Prigioni got wiped out on a pick and left the game, Melo was forced to play the fourth quarter as a point/forward.  But that only compounded the Knicks greater problems without Ray Felton on the floor.


First lets talk points.  After Melo's eighteen, Chris Copeland and Jason Kidd were the Knicks next high scorers with five and six points respectively.  Amare Stoudemire did not factor into the game until the second half.  For the Nets, scoring was more balanced.  Joe Johnson scored thirteen points, Brook Lopez eleven, and Kris Humphries dropped nine first half points.  Lets talk assists now.  Melo was also Knicks high man with three first half assists.  Chris Chandler and Ronnie Brewer had one apiece.  Deron Williams had seven first half assists for the Nets alone.  Now lets talk rebounds.  The Nets really excelled on the glass.  They held a 27-16 advantage after two quarters.  Twenty one of the Nets boards came on the defensive end.  And that has nothing to do with Ray Felton being injured.  Tyson Chandler led the Knicks with six first half boards.  Kris Humphries pulled down eight.  Reggie Evans and Brook Lopez pulled down five apiece.  For the Knicks, all that adds up to a six point deficit at the half.  All didn't go perfectly for Brooklyn however.  The Nets turned the ball over eleven times in the first half versus just two times by the Knicks.


Brook Lopez opened the third quarter with a jumper.  Crash Wallace then gave Brooklyn a nine point lead by nailing a three-pointer, and shortly followed with another layup to make it a 54-45 game.  Midway through the third quarter, Tyson Chandler ripped through the lane for a dunk to get the Knicks within three.  Deron Williams responded with a pair of three's.  But with 3:32 left in the quarter, J.R. Smith helped reduce a 60-55 Brooklyn lead to one point with consecutive buckets.  The Knicks completed a 10-0 run with 2:20 left, and owned a 63-60 lead.  With 0:52 on the clock, Joe Johnson hit two free throws to tie the game at sixty three all.  By this time, the Nets had committed fifteen turnovers and were paying a price for repeated miscues and losing the defensive bearing they adhered to in the first half.  A Melo three-pointer, and Amare Stoudemire's closing dunk gave the Knicks a 68-65 lead after three quarters.


To open the fourth quarter, and to the chagrin of Brooklyn fans, Marshon Brooks and Kris Humphries joined forces to execute and score on a fast break.  The Nets scored exactly zero fast break points in the first half, and only two all game.  Keith Bogans helped Flatbush regain their lead with a trey to make it a 70-68 game.  But Amare's dunk at 10:23 tied the game again at seventy all.


Fresh off two more Brooklyn turnovers (#16 and #17), J.R. Smith nailed a three pointer to give the Knicks a 75-72 lead, then headed back the other way while he mimicked spinning his still smokin' six-shooters back into their holsters.


With 8:09 left in the fourth, C.J. Watson came off Brooklyn's bench and tied the game again at 75-75 with a three.  Then Joe Johnson took over.  A three pointer at 7:20 gave Brooklyn a 78-75 lead.  After a J.R. Smith basket, another Joe Johnson three pointer gave Brooklyn an 81-77 lead.  And yet another Joe Johnson jumper gave the Nets an 83-77 lead, and completed an 11-2 Flatbush run.


The Nets continued turning over the ball until they reached number nineteen halfway through the quarter.  Brooklyn was leading 83-77 with 5:30 left in the game.  And then their scoring stopped.  A series of key blocked shots by Brook Lopez and continued tenacious rebounding kept the Nets going until the clock read 0:52 seconds, with the score reading 83-82 Nets.  After a foul, Melo completed two free throws to complete a 7-0 Knicks run, giving Manhattan an 84-83 lead again.


Later with 22.3 seconds left, Joe Johnson popped from outside again.  At the other end, Brook Lopez pulled down another huge rebound off a Melo miss.  After Deron Williams nailed two free throws, the Nets were up by an 87-84 score with 8.3 seconds to go.  P.J.Carlesimo perhaps made the call of the night in deciding to foul Jason Kidd, putting him at the line with 7.5 seconds.  Kidd hit his first shot, then fouled Deron Williams with 5.7 seconds left after the Nets guard drew the rebound and tried heading the other way off the miss.  Deron hit one of two.  After J.R. Smith's last attempt at a three pointer missed, Brooklyn walked off the MSG floor with an 88-85 victory.


Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with twenty nine points.  Next high man on the Knicks was J.R. Smith with sixteen points off the bench.  Amare Stoudemire scored fifteen mostly second half points.  Jason Kidd kicked in eleven, and Tyson Chandler contributed seven points in the Knicks losing effort.


The Knicks shot 40.5% from the floor.  That's not the Knicks main matter as the Nets shot at a 41.9% clip.  Brooklyn wound up beating the Knicks at their own game, outscoring them 36-18 from three point land.  The Nets shot 50%, hitting twelve of twenty four from behind the three-point line.  The Knicks only shot 28.6% from behind the arch, making only six of twenty one shots.


Joe Johnson was the Nets high man with twenty five points.  Deron Williams and Brook Lopez each dropped fourteen.  Off the bench, Kris Humphries kicked in eleven points, and Keith Bogans added eight.  Deron Williams led all players with twelve assists.  As a team, the Knicks totalled fourteen.  Seven assists came from Melo.


Brooklyn dominated the boards.  Brook Lopez (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Kris Humphries (11 points, 13 rebounds) are the Nets double-doubles.  For the game, Brooklyn out-rebounded Manhattan by a wide 52-37 margin.  Both teams were actually sub-par from the free throw line.


The 2012-2013 inaugural battle for the city ends in a tie.  Both teams won a game apiece.  Unless these teams meet again in the playoffs, they will not play each other again this season.  But with regard to the Atlantic Division standings, the Nets and Knicks now have an equal number of wins.  Brooklyn improved to 25-16, while the team from Manhattan sports a 25-14 record.  With Monday's win, Brooklyn moves to within one game of the first place New York Knicks.  The Nets also improved their road record to a 9-9 mark.  This was the Knicks sixth loss at Madison Square Garden.


This game marked the mid-point in Brooklyn's inaugural season.  Forty one games are in the books.  Forty one more games to go.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Defends Home Turf Against Visiting Hawks

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BROOKLYN NETS - Flatbush Salvages Back End Of Home-And-Home Against Atlanta.  Team Saves Face In Brooklyn.


Last Wednesday was supposed to be Joe Johnson's night in the spotlight as he was due to face his former team for the first time since being traded to the Nets.  But the Brooks showed up lethargic in Atlanta and lost by a deflating 109-95 disparity.  As it turned out, it was former Nets guard Devin Harris who had himself a rather enjoyable game with eighteen points and five assists against his former team.


In the Friday night follow up, the Nets were having to work hard in order to play with the Hawks at Barclays.  The teams were tied after the first period, and remained tied after the second period, and third period.  However, Brooklyn's first half effort was marked by turnovers that really kept Atlanta hanging around.


With just over a minute remaining in the game, the Hawks pulled down a defensive rebound and quickly went into transition.  Josh Smith received an outlet pass and fended off Brook Lopez as the two headed up court.  Once they gained the paint, Josh Smith shoved down a vicious dunk in the face of Lopez that pulled the Hawks within a point of Brooklyn, in what was now a 90-89 game.  The play punctuated a 7-0 run by the Hawks......


I then sensed the sharks beginning to circle.  There was sure to be a wave of media criticism headed the Nets way if they dropped the back end of this home-and-home series.  The knock on Flatbush during their inaugural season is them only being able to defeat sub-par teams.  And heading into Atlanta Wednesday evening, the numbers supported that growing sentiment.  The Nets were only 7-14 against teams with winning records before facing the Hawks.  After Wednesday, they had dropped to a 7-15 record.


Despite Atlanta's 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter, the final quarter was actually highlighted by a much improved defensive effort in which the Brooks limited visiting Atlanta to fifteen points.


For the game, Deron Williams led all scorers with twenty four points.  Brook Lopez dropped twenty points.  Joe Johnson improved by three points over his effort in Atlanta and scored eighteen points Friday evening at home.  Andray Blatch joined the double digit scorers club with eleven points in sixteen minutes off the bench.  Keith Bogans was Nets high man logging twenty one minutes off the bench, in which he scored eight points. Of the starters, Joe Johnson logged in a whopping forty one minutes.


Brooklyn out-rebounded Atlanta by a formidable 48-35 margin.  Reggie Evans was a monster on the glass, recording twice as many boards as Atlanta's top rebounder, Josh Smith, who pulled down nine.  Reggie Evans pulled down twenty rebounds.  Fifteen of those came on the defensive end.


Atlanta actually out-shot the Nets in all respects.  From the floor, the Hawks shot 43% versus just 40% for Brooklyn.  Both teams hit nine three-pointers.  But Atlanta came in at almost 43%, while the Brooks shot 34% from behind the arch.  And from the free throw line, the Hawks enjoyed a 71% versus 68% edge.  However, Brooklyn bested the Hawks twenty five points versus ten.


Crash Wallace was on the floor Friday.  In his first game back since bruising ribs against Phoenix, he played twenty nine minutes and scored a quiet eight points, pulled down four rebounds, and issued three assists.  He had one block and managed one steal.


Brooklyn held on Friday evening.  The Nets salvaged the back end of this home-and-home by a 94-89 final score.  The Nets are now 16-7 at Barclays.  They upped their record to 10-2 under P.J. Carlesimo.  But more importantly, they provided a response.  They rebounded, and improved their record to 8-15 against teams with winning records.  Perhaps the media sharks will remain docile, and not bite on Saturday.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets: In Search Of More Legitimate Wins

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH


BROOKLYN NETS - Are The Nets Oppressors Of The Weak?  The Best Of The Bad?


Back in Hot-Lanta! - the place Joe Johnson became an all-star, to play the team that didn't want him anymore.  Games like this always make for a good story, in any sport, in any league.  And the timing couldn't have been more right.  For Joe Johnson is heating up.  But the Hawks aren't all the worse for trading him.  At 21-16, they only trail the Miami Heat by 3 1/2 games in the Southeast Division.


The Nets enter the game with a 23-15 record.  But the Nets are white hot right now.  They are undefeated in the new year, and are 9-1 since P.J. took over the reigns.  Have the Nets been getting fat on sub-par competition?  Yeah, absolutely.  But their victories over the Thunder and Pacers gives this latest stretch legitimacy.  Tonight, the Nets will be tested by another competitive team.  Or will they?  Atlanta's top scorer, Josh Smith, has been suspended one game by the Hawks for conduct detrimental to the team.  The Nets may still be without Crash Wallace for a third game, after he bruised ribs against Phoenix.


But has too much been made of the Nets success against weaker opponents?  Fourteen of their fifteen losses came against the Heat (2), Warriors (2), Bucks (2), Knicks (2), Lakers, Thunder, Bulls, Jazz, Celtics, and most recently, the Spurs.  The fifteenth loss came very early in the season against Minnesota.  Minus the T-Wolves, those are all above .500 teams.  On the win side, Brooklyn defeated the Clippers, Blazers, Knicks, Thunder, Pacers, and the Celtics twice.  So that makes them 7-14 versus above .500 teams, and 16-1 against sub .500 teams.  The Nets had a stretch where they lost consecutive games to the Heat, Thunder, Warriors, Bucks, and Knicks.  But they also had a string of victories over the Clippers, Blazers, Knicks, and Celtics.


They've had two good months.  One in November, and so far, January has been pretty successful.  They had one bad month in December which cost Avery Johnson his job.  I think they can hang with the big boys.  So how harshly are you judging?




Mike.BTB

BKN Nets: Flatbush Kicks Off Weekend With Friday Night Win

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH


BROOKLYN NETS - The P.J. Era Keeps Rolling Along.  The Flatbush Hoops Are 7-1 Under Their New Head Coach.

 

Friday Night Final:

Phoenix Suns   79

BROOKLYN    99

So far so good right?  All is proceeding smoothly under interim coach P.J. Carlesimo.  Under him, the Nets are 7-1 since the firing of Avery Johnson.  Prior to their Friday night contest against the Phoenix Suns at Barclays Center, several outlets were reporting a Nets source as saying P.J. would be able to finish out the season.  And why not?  That only makes sense.  Three coaches in one season would be absurd.  And besides, P.J. is well equipped to handle the head coaching position, as well as Brooklyn, N.Y. itself.  He is a long time resident of the metro area.  Whether you like him or not is a matter of preference, and something for next off season.  For now, there is an appreciable difference in Deron Williams' game, and that of the overall team.  If this success is coming against the lesser teams of the league, so be it.  You can only play who is on the schedule.


There is no doubt a different atmosphere around the team.  Avery Johnson was always very intense.  Two things about Coach Avery - he was forever going to exert his will, and he would forever be pushing, pushing, pushing.  In a subtle manner, P.J. has given the team a little less structure, and a little more playing time and discretion.


The Phoenix Suns, in the midst of an awful 12-25 season, and sporting a 2-16 road record, gave the Nets more troubles than the home crowd in Brooklyn cared to mind.  After jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead, the Nets were behind 19-17 with 1:42 left in the opening quarter.  Midway through the first, Gerald Wallace had to leave the game after receiving a hard foul by Shannon Brown which was ruled a flagrant.  Brown caught Wallace in mid-air as he drove to the basket.  In attempting to close the angle and block, he sent Wallace spiraling feet over head to the floor.  Gerald's right shoulder and arm took the full impact of the fall.  It was later reported Crash suffered bruised ribs.  The Nets had a chance to tie the game at 21-21 with under 0:30 left in the first, but a travelling violation called on Andray Blatche turned the ball over.  The first quarter ended with Phoenix staked to a 25-21 lead.


With 3:40 left in the half and the Suns holding on to a 40-37 lead, I watched C.J. Watson, Marshon Brooks, and Reggie Evans, run a fast break that made Spain's running of the bulls look artful.  With less than two minutes left in the half, Phoenix opened up a double digit 52-42 lead against the Brooks.  The teams went into the break with the Suns ahead by a 53-46 score.


To begin the second half, the home crowd watched Deron Williams drop to the floor after knocking knees, or perhaps his thigh, with Phoenix guard Goran Dragic at the high elbow.  D-Will limped off the court in very obvious discomfort, but did not leave the game.


Three minutes into the second half, the Nets closed to within 55-54, then went ahead 56-55 on a Brook Lopez rebound and put back after Joe Johnson's drive failed to drop.  Halfway through the third quarter, Phoenix went ahead by four again, 60-54, as Brooklyn started settling for lazy perimeter shots.


Unlike in the second quarter, C.J. Watson and Blatche actually converted on a fast break after a Phoenix turnover, and looked smooth doing it.  Blatche finished with a slam at the other end to bring the Brooks within two.  C.J. Watson factored again on the next possession when he tied the game at 60-60 with a high arching jumper from the left corner.  The teams muddled through scoreless possessions until Andray Blatche broke the deadlock with 2:30 to go.  But Phoenix responded on their next possession with a trey for a 63-62 lead.  But Andray Blatche struck again, driving, scoring, and drawing a foul.  A free throw later, the score was 65-63 Brooklyn.  Then it was Blatche yet again with two more points on a scoop lay-up to make it 67-64 Nets.  Marshon Brooks nailed a three before the period expired.  And the Nets finally won their first quarter of the night.  They held a 74-66 lead heading into the final session.


After the Suns shot 55% from the floor in the first half, the Nets were clearly much more committed to defense in the second half.  They had a series of defensive stops to start the fourth quarter.  Brook Lopez finally scored the first points of the fourth, and gave the Nets a ten point 76-66 lead.  Deron Williams' own scoop layup gave Brooklyn a 78-66 lead, making Phoenix call time out.  After the break, back-to-back three pointers by Joe Johnson opened up an eighteen point 84-66 lead for Brooklyn with 7:30 still left on the clock.  With two minutes left, the Nets were staked to a 93-75 lead.


Finally in the end, Tornike Shengelia, who hadn't seen action all night, made his way on the court and gave the Nets their first twenty point lead of the evening.  The buzzer then sounded making official the Nets defeat of the Suns by a 99-79 final.  The win was Brooklyn's fifth consecutive victory, and sixth in seven games under P.J. Carlesimo.


Joe Johnson led all scorers with nineteen points.  Five Nets scored in double digits.  Marshon Brooks and Andray Blatche contributed handsomely off the bench.  Marshon was next high man with seventeen points.  Andray Blatche dropped another fifteen.  Deron Williams, although somewhat hobbled in the second half also finished with fifteen points.  Brook Lopez dropped thirteen points and came up with several key rebounds.


But Friday night, rebounds were Reggie Evans' department.  He led all players in rebounds with fifteen.  Ten of those boards came on the defensive end.  Brook Lopez pulled down eight rebounds, as did Andray Blatche.  Overall, the Nets out rebounded the Suns by a 44-39 margin.


With only six assists, Deron Williams still managed the game high.  In the second half, the Nets cut down their turnovers, and only lost the ball eleven times for the night.  Phoenix turned the ball over eighteen times.  The Nets pounded Phoenix from the line.  They got to the stripe twice as many times as Phoenix.  The Suns shot ten for sixteen, while Brooklyn buried twenty five of thirty two free throws, good for 78% shooting.


Phoenix shot the ball considerably worse from the field during the second half, and ended the evening shooting 39% from the floor versus a consistent 45% by the Brooks.  Again, credit the Nets' second half defensive effort which clamped down on Phoenix, and limited the Suns to thirteen points in each of the third and fourth quarters.


The Nets next opponents are the Indiana Pacers, who will visit Barclays Center for the first time this Sunday afternoon.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets: Coach Avery Rings In New Year With Pink Slip

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH



BROOKLYN NETS:  A New Year Ushers A New Effort To Make Borough's First Season A Successful One.


I'm not going to say Coach Avery got a raw deal because he sort of earned his termination.  But not entirely.  He is tough, and a task-master.  I like those qualities in a coach to a certain extent.  But Coach Avery was too stubborn.  That was his downfall - not a quick start and a cooling off period on way to a .500 record.  And yes, not catering to his star partly got him fired in Dallas as well.  Coach's style took Deron Williams far away from his game.  But it was more than that.  If you're a rookie like Shengelia, Tyshawn Taylor, or Teletovic, you weren't getting on the floor much.  Some coaches just don't like rookies.  And then you can ask Kris Humphries how hard it is to get out of Coach's doghouse.  But in Avery Johnson's defense, an abbreviated pre-season, and only thirty games to get his new team to gel was a bad break.  Continued fourth quarter and overall second half collapses however screamed for attention.  And apparently, even GM Billy King couldn't save Coach from the team's basketball knowledgeable owner.


I walked out of Barclays Center on Christmas Day after that debacle against Boston saying to my son, this game just might get Avery Johnson fired.  I felt a simmer had been brought to a boil that afternoon, and there would be consequences.  However, I was thinking along the lines of what Coach Avery was going to do to the team.  Instead, the situation turned into a case of what Mikhail Prokhorov did to Coach Avery.


I'm old school.  So I can appreciate a good old fashioned post-up game and isolation offense.  But in the Nets case, something had to give.  And Avery Johnson wouldn't bend.  I never checked the official stats, but in that game I do not believe the Nets scored a single fast break point, nor one transition basket.  They additionally had an atrocious day at the line.  But that sort of thing (cold shooting) happens.  Problem was, nothing was happening Boston didn't see coming.  The Celtics see that brand of basketball everyday in practice.  It's what they're all about.  So why wouldn't they be ready to defeat it?


It is too bad Coach Avery got fired.  He was tasked with unceremoniously ending the New Jersey era and couldn't last the first season in Brooklyn.  Being just a bit too stubborn was enough.  I'm sorry to see him go.  That said, I would like for the Nets to rectify their coaching situation quickly.  Until then, while he does not have a strong supporter in me, I'm sure P.J. will do fine.




Mike.BTB