Brooklyn Nets: Toronto Raptors Outlast Flatbush in Game Two

From the desk of: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

2019   PLAYOFFS   2020

Raptors Lead Nets; 2-0

I - TOR 134; BRK 110

II - TOR 104; BRK 99

Lesson: It's Not How You Start, It's How You Finish

If nothing else game two confirms what I said after Monday's series opener: the Brooklyn Nets did not get blown out.

They are nevertheless down two games to none.

Lose your legs and there goes your shot; the onrush of turnovers begins shortly thereafter.

That's what happens ...

Brooklyn's shot selection and execution deteriorate in the fourth, and they end up shooting 38.8% from the field with 17 turnovers.

Flatbush essentially leads all game with exception of an occasional tie here and there.  They take a 53-50 lead into the half, and lead 80-74 after three.  They still lead 85-84 with eight minutes left, then just run out of gas.  OG Anunoby converts a pair of free throws and Serge Ibaka then buries a jumper from mid-range giving the Raptors an 88-85 lead from which the Raptors never look back.

There is a matter of workload.  All five Nets starters exceed 35-minutes.  Jarrett Allen plays 41-minutes while Joe Harris and Caris LeVert each play 39-minutes.  Coach Vaughn limits bench play to Rodions Kurucs, Chris Chiozza and Tyler Johnson who join together for fifty total minutes.  Meanwhile, he Raptors utilize four bench players for a total of sixty-nine minutes.

Otherwise, I watched an inspired but tiring defensive effort.  They win the battle of the boards, 62-56,  while limiting the Raptors to 104 points - a noteworthy effort considering Toronto has very effective perimeter shooters at all positions.  The game marks the Nets second least points allowed since entering the bubble after an Aug. 11 game in which they yield just 96 points to the Wizards.

The Nets aggressiveness on the offensive end is just as noticeable.  They do a better job of ball distribution and getting to the foul line where they attempt an unheard of 27 shots from the stripe.  It marks their most attempts since entering the bubble, after averaging 23 attempts through eight seeding games and just 16 attempts in game one.  And unlike game one, they limit Toronto to under thirty attempts.  It's the seventh time in the last ten games they've limited the opposition to under thirty free throws.

Garrett Temple leads the Nets with 21 points including 5/11 from the arc.  Joe Harris and Jarrett Allen post identical double-doubles with fourteen points and a game high fifteen rebounds respectively.  Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot adds seventeen points.  Tyler Johnson shoots 5/10 from the field with twelve points in 22 minutes off the bench.

During last year's post-season against Philadelphia Caris LeVert appears in five games and starts two.  He boasts a 49.3FG%, while averaging 21.0 points (26.2 points per 36-minutes) with three assists in 28.8 average minutes.  This year is very different.  LeVert, in the absence of the team's premiere players and litany of regulars missing from the active roster, is being asked to bear the weight of this Borough upon his shoulders in his first playoff as a full time starter.  In game one he scores fifteen points and distributes a game high fifteen assists.  In game two he scores sixteen and again distributes a game high eleven assists.  However, he is shooting only 27.7% (10/36) from the field.  The still 25-year old celebrates a birthday later this month, and his future is looking brighter by the day.

In the meantime, I can only reiterate the fine effort on behalf of Brooklyn.  But in truth Toronto outlasts Flatbush down the stretch.  Depth is on Toronto's side, the Nets not so much.  And now we can add another name to the list of unavailable: Joe Harris has officially opted out of the bubble.

That said, there is still a lot worth taking away from these last two games that are not reflected in the score.  It was never about this season to begin with.  Sean Marks' grade is obviously still incomplete.
Much still remains to be determined.  No one knows it better than him.  For now what doesn't kill the Nets only makes them stronger heading into next season.  That's not being defeatist.  That's being delighted.  These learning experiences are invaluable.

#WeGoHard

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush is Just Bubblicious

From the desk of: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION 

EASTERN CONFERENCE

2019   PLAYOFFS   2020

ROUND ONE

TORONTO RAPTORS(#2)

vs.

BROOKLYN NETS(#7)

The Nets with Tuesday's victory over Orlando improve to 35-36 (.492), leaving one last regular season game remaining against Portland.  Thursday's goal no doubt is about achieving par.  A victory would certainly add that special exclamation point to an already commendable performance in the bubble, not to mention punctuate consecutive playoff appearances, despite their dearth of top available regulars.

But, beware, the Trail Blazers still have much to play for.  They enter Thursday's action struggling to maintain their eighth place standing in the West.  Portland holds a tenuous half-game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies, who wrap up against the Milwaukee Bucks.  Come Thursday night Brooklyn should expect an intense Blazers effort.  Flatbush clinched their playoff spot a few days ago.  They're 5-2 since restarting play, and 7-2 under head coach Jacque Vaughn.  They take a three game win streak into Thursday's season finale.

TUESDAY

Nets    108

Magic    96

FINAL

Tuesday, as expected, Jarret Allen, Caris LeVert, and Joe Harris, under the guise of injury management, do not play.  Garrett Temple is simply given the night off.  It's worth noting Orlando already has the eight spot locked up.  That said, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot leads the floor with his third 24-point/plus performance in seven games, and his second within a week.  He is matched only by Jeremiah Martin's 24-points, who also distributes a game high six assists off the bench.  Dzanan Musa also has six assists with 17-points.  Rodions Kurucs attempts only four shots in 25-minutes, but along with Donta Hall secures a team high eight rebounds.

Brooklyn's emerging maelstrom, Caris LeVert, since entering the bubble is averaging 22.6 points in 33 minutes.  In just the Nets second game back, Caris scores 34 points against the Wizards.  This past
Sunday against the L.A. Clippers LeVert goes double-double with 27 points and 13 assists.  He has distributed at least seven assists in three of five games, and is averaging 19.4 shots attempts, but a light 6.4 attempts from the free throw line.

I just hope Jarrett Allen's ankle sprain is a minor matter, and that he'll be able to withstand the pounding to come against Toronto.  That's my guy we're talking about.  Three double-doubles in five games back: 22 points and 15 boards against the Bullets; 17 points and 11 boards against the Kings; and most recently 16 points and 16 rebounds against the Clippers.

Meanwhile, Joe Harris is averaging 20.2 points since returning, while averaging 4/7 from beyond the arc for a stellar 57.5% rate of success.

THURSDAY

Portland Trail Blazers  vs.  Brooklyn Nets

  #WeGoHard

Brooklyn Nets: A Rivalry Breaks Out in Flatbush

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

THAT EMPTY FEELING

Sixers lead series 3-1

I - BKN 111; PHI 102

II - PHI 145; BKN 123

III - PHI 131; BKN 115

IV- PHI 112; BKN 108

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

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

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

Sadly, the results are in.

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

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

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

Then came the game four fracas on Flatbush Avenue.

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

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

REBOUNDS

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

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

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

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

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

I digress ...

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

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

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

On the eve of game one, I said this:

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

On the eve of game four, I said this:

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

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

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

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

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

Good problems ahead.

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

Game Five is Tuesday at Philadelphia.

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Marches Towards Their Rubicon

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

FLATBUSH

36-33 (.522)

MONDAY

Pistons  75

Nets    103

FINAL

Brooklyn Nets: Packed Barclays Center Give Hoops of Flatbush a Rip-Roaring Sendoff.

While the rest of the NBA sticks to its schedule, Brooklyn's playoffs are well underway.  With 13 games remaining in the regular season, Monday night's commanding 103-75 victory over the Pistons in front of a packed house at Barclays Center nudges the Nets into sixth place in the Eastern Conference standing, one-half game ahead of Detroit.

Over 17,000 strong witnessed seven Nets players score in double-digits.  Spencer Dinwiddie led all players with 19-points off the bench, and Allen Crabbe posted a double-double with 14-points and ten rebounds.  Otherwise Brooklyn's defensive effort ruled the night, and the crowd roared with appreciation throughout.  Rodions Kurucs led the team with three steals.  Detroit shot just (27/97) 27.8% from the floor, and (8/33) 23.5% from three-point range.  The Nets meanwhile were (39/79) 49.4% from the field, and (11/31) 35.3% from beyond the arc.

Brooklyn snapped Detroit's five game win streak, and thereby extended their own to four games.

With a 15-17 road record, the Nets now march towards their Rubicon: a brutal seven game road trip which includes four against the Western Conference's top eight contenders, to date.

• 3/13 - @ OKC*
• 3/16 - @ Utah*
• 3/17 - @ LAC*
• 3/19 - @ SAC
• 3/22 - @ LAL
• 3/25 - @ POR*
• 3/28 - @ Phila

If they can survive these next four games, by this time next week we'll be speaking of a truly special season.  However, upon their return there will be no rest for the weary, as the top three Eastern Conference teams (Boston, Milwaukee, and Toronto) will be awaiting their arrival back at Flatbush.

Brooklyn Nets: Caris LeVert Strides and Glides to Game Winning Basket

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

FRIDAY

Knicks   105

Nets       107

FINAL

Brooklyn Nets: After Season Opening loss at Detroit, Flatbush opens Barclays Center with victory over cross-river rivals.

Brooklyn's home opener is a proverbial layup ...

Friday night at Barclays Center; game is tied with 15.9 second left in the fourth; Nets possession; Caris LeVert with the ball.  He dribbles to the top of the key, squares up against Tim Hardaway, then drives to the basket.  LeVert's lay-up attempt drops in with one second left on the clock.  Knicks assume possession.  After a full time out, Hardaway launches a three-point attempt from DeKalb Avenue, that misses.  And the Brooklyn Nets win their first game of the new season.

From the desk of: DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP 

Hard Knox Loss at Brooklyn 

After taking a 57-50 lead over their cross-river rival into halftime, they regress in the third, but recover in time to outscore the Knicks 33-29 in the final session.  Flatbush finishes 49.3% from the floor, and 40% from three-point range.  They overwhelm the Knicks on the glass by a 55-36 margin, and prove better at ball distribution with a 22-14 edge is assists.  However, 22 turnovers very nearly becomes Brooklyn's undoing.  The Knicks commit just three turnovers all game.

Four of five Nets starters score in double-digits.  While Rodions Kurucs' eleven points and Spencer Dinwiddie's ten both off the bench makes five players in double-digits overall.

D'Angelo Russell scores 15-points, and ties Dinwiddie for team lead with six assists.

Try as they might, the New Yorkers have no answer for Caris LeVert who leads the team with a career high 28-points (10/11 from the line).  In fact, Levert's five rebounds are more than any Knicks player.

Jarrett Allen and Enes Kanter go toe to toe as each register double-doubles.  Kanter leads the floor with 29-points, and secures ten rebounds.  Allen answers with 15-points and leads all players with eleven rebounds.  Ed Davis adds another ten boards in just 14-minutes off the bench.

All that being said, scoring was never really an issue, right?  The Nets now own a minus/one differential after two games:

• Nets - 207 points.
• Opponents - 208 points.

Just saying ...

Off to Detroit.