Brooklyn Nets Finish Strong In Opening Victory Over Boston Celtics

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

PLAYOFFS

ROUND ONE

SATURDAY
BOSTON CELTICS  93

BROOKLYN NETS  104

FINAL

Here we go!

The spotlight is squarely on Nets general manager Sean Marks.  His construction of this so-called super team comes with weighted expectations.  A championship is in order.  Anything less runs the risk of being labeled a failure.  

But nothing ventured, nothing gained, and Sean Marks should be applauded for putting himself out there and having the chutzpah for executing such bold and controversial maneuverings.  This is about his vision, and to date, he's proven to have the eyes on an eagle.  Marks has repeatedly plucked talented complementary players from seemingly private stock.  This is about rebuilding the Nets despite former general manager Billy King gift-wrapping so many high-round drafts picks to the Celtics in exchange for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.  This has everything to do with D'Angelo Russell, and Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jarrett Allen, and even Kenny Atkinson.

Whatever we make of this, payback against the Celtics for all those years of draft picks, or even Kyrie Irving versus his former team, or the fact that the Big Three have still played less than ten games together, this all ultimately goes back to Sean Marks.  His brilliance will either be confirmed or denied.

🏀

The first half of game one is a discombobulated hodge-podge of disjointed isolation and otherwise erratic offensive interplay.

If you were suffering a conniption in the first quarter or found yourself in a second-quarter stupor, then you haven't been watching this season.  

Big Three or not, Brooklyn's slow and sluggish first quarter start had a very familiar look, which should have caught no one off-guard.  Ponderous, maybe, because, after all, this was game one of the playoffs.  But we've seen this before: poor start, strong finish.

They played poorly, but if Boston's early performance qualifies as a best effort, well, then Brooklyn was still keeping within striking distance despite stumbling and fumbling out of the gate.

The Nets were down 13-8 until Kevin Durant dunked, making it 13-10 Celtics.  But Boston did lead 15-10 at the halfway mark.  In the first, the Nets go ice cold in the closing minutes, missing their initials, second and third attempts.  The possessions and misses keep coming.  At one point, Flatbush was 1 for 13 from behind the arc.  Boston ends up closing out the quarter hitting a long-distance buzzer-beater, giving them a 21-16 lead.

Flatbush still lacks accuracy midway through the second quarter.  They end the first half trailing by a 53-47 difference.

But then comes the third quarter.  The Nets tighten things up and finally take their first lead, but only for a brief moment as the Celtics take it right back.  However, by this time, Brooklyn is poised to make a move and mount a 65-59 lead midway through the third.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, Kevin Durant makes a steal and slams it home at the other end for his 32nd and 33rd points of the night.

Boston is fouled with the Nets leading by eleven and 1:40 left in the game and goes to the line.  But by this time, the Celtics know they're out of time and out of luck.  

Brooklyn wins 104-93, an eleven-point margin of victory.  Despite struggling in the first, the Nets stabilize in the second, recover in the third, and pull away in the fourth.  They've done that numerous times this season.

Did the Nets prove the pundits wrong and play representative defense?  They certainly made a few key stops.  Let us not understate that despite getting off to a quick start, the Celtics end the game with just 93 points.  That's partly due to the absence of Jason Tatum, who seemed to disappear in the second half.  Ask yourself why.  Joe Harris led the team with a +22, Kyrie Irving was next with a +16, and the bench netted a +6 despite Landry Shamet's -14 in 14 minutes.  But it's still worth mentioning this marks Boston's lowest point total against the Nets this season in the three regular-season games and now one in the playoffs.

• Dec 25, 1920 - Boston 95 points.
• Mar. 11, 2021 - Boston 109 points.
• Apr. 23, 2021 - Boston 104 points.
• May 22, 2021 - Boston 93 points.

Jason Tatum led the Celts with 22 points in a game-high 41 minutes, but as noted, failed to factor in over thirty minutes to finish the game.  The Nets outrebounded the Celts by ten, and after a dismal cold start, they recover to shoot 41.7% from the field over the same number of possessions.  Boston outscored Brooklyn by nine on points off turnovers and six points on the fast break, but shooting  36.7% failed to keep up.  Brooklyn was plus-six from the line and plus four in the paint.  Marcus Smart was next in for the Celtics with 17 points in 40 minutes.  Boston got 25 points from their bench.

No Brooklyn Net played upwards of 40 minutes.  Their bench contributed eleven points.  However, the starting lineup featured three players posting over 20 points for the game.  Kevin Durant led the Nets with 39 minutes and led all scorers with 32 points and a game-high twelve rebounds.  He was just 1/8 from behind the arc but 11/12 from the line.  Kyrie Irving took over this game for a stretch in the third. He was 11/20 from the field and 5/5 from the line for 29 points.  James Harden added 21 points with nine rebounds and a game-high eight assists.  All of which pretty much meets most pregame expectations.

Joe Harris adds ten points in 37 minutes.  He slotted in well with the fourth most shot attempts but lacked accuracy shooting 4/11 from the field.  

There was much curiosity and speculation about who Steve Nash would and should have included in the starting lineup.  Some pundits thought Harris should come off the bench.  But he took his normal spot in the rotation, joined by Blake Griffin, who finished with no field goal attempts and just one basket from the line in 20 minutes.  To that end, Jeff Green played 27 minutes off the bench.

 

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush at the Gates

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Sean Marks Hired February 18, 2016

2016-2017;  20-62 (.243)

2017-2018;  28-54 (.341)

2018-2019;  42-40 (.512)

2018-2019

National Basketball Association Playoffs

ROUND ONE

(#6) BROOKLYN NETS

vs.

(#3) PHILADELPHIA 76'ERS

Are Hoops of Flatbush Poised For First Round Upset Over Philly?

You can't be disappointed with what you do no expect.  That's exactly what is making Brooklyn's odyssey so enthralling.

Therefore, in the spirit of Ralph Kramden let's get right to the $64,000 question: Can the Nets defeat the Philadelphia Sixers?

My answer: Damn right they can!

Philadelphia head coach Brett Brown admitted as much (paraphrasing) saying the Sixers do not defend pick-and-roll very well (if at all), and will be hard-pressed to thwart Brooklyn's predilection and adroitness for creating space, working from the outside in, and raining three's.

It's no great secret the Nets oft times have difficulty matching up inside against bigger specimens.  Although, since the Clippers game they seem to have stepped up their physicality - smartly I might add.  In this instance, Joel Embiid is of course the X-factor of the series.  Naturally, the longer he remains hobbled by a bum knee, the better off the Nets will be.  For the moment, he's listed as questionable for Saturday's series opener.

Embiid led the Sixers this season with an impressive 27.5 points and 13.6 rebounds per game.  That said, no one is certain how he'll perform until we actually see him in action.  Otherwise Jarrett Allen I believe is quite capable of handling a nonathletic Boban Marjanovic, and helping with any Ben Simmons attempts down the lane.  The onus for Philly will fall on the trio of Jimmy Butler, JJ Redick, and Tobias Harris(?).  That's a scenario I believe Brooklyn is equipped to handle.

Brooklyn and Philadelphia split their season series down the middle; two victories apiece.

Nov.4)  BKN 122; PHI  97 @ Brooklyn

• Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons each post double-doubles.  Embiid scores 16 points with a game high 15 rebounds.  Ben Simmons leads the Sixers with 20 points and 12 rebounds.  Six Nets score in double digits.  Both D'Angelo Russell and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson tied for team high with 21 points.  Caris LeVert added 20 points, and Jarrett Allen scored 15 points with a team high ten rebounds.

Nov. 25) PHI 127; BKN 125 @ Brooklyn

• Nets lose by two.  Jimmy Butler leads Philly with 34 points and tied for team high with 12 rebounds with Joel Embiid whom added 32 points.  However, it was D'Angelo Russell who led all scorers with 38 points; Spencer Dinwiddie dropped another 31 points.  The two joined to distribute 13 assists.

Dec. 12) BKN 127; PHI 124 @ Philadelphia

• Joel Embiid posts a typical 33 points and 17 rebounds.  Ben Simmons follows with 22 points and eight rebounds.  This time, Spencer Dinwiddie leads the floor with 39 points.  Allan Crabbe is next in with 20 points, while D'Angelo Russell is limited to 12 points but ties for game high with seven assists.

Mar. 28) PHI 123; BKN 110 @ Philadelphia

• Philly earns a season split with a 13-point margin of victory.  This time Embiid leads the floor with both 39 points and 13 rebounds.  This is perhaps the first time Joe Harris exerts himself against Philly, posting a team high 22 points and shooting 4/6 from beyond the arc.  Otherwise, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson adds a double-double with 19 points and ten rebounds.

Through the 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 problem is the Nets will require more than just four attempts (3-pointers) per game from him.  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 him.  But we all know the impact a sharpshooting Joe Harris can have in any given game.

No need getting into the triumvirate of Russell/LeVert/Dinwiddie.  And I have nothing but love for Jarrett Allen.  The veterans on this team have been and will continue playing indispensable roles in any potential playoff success.  It's just that when Joe Harris shines hot, the Nets radiate brilliance.

Brooklyn Nets: D'Angelo Russell and the Comeback Kings

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

#LinksNYC

Brooklyn Nets: D'Angelo Russell Seizes the Reigns, Rallies Team to Greatest Comeback in Franchise History.

Faced with playing the NBA's toughest schedule to close out the regular season, we knew heading in the gauntlet that lay ahead.  Thus, Flatbush opens this brutally uncommon seven game road trip with a loss at Oklahoma City, where they excel through three quarters before being undone by the hands of Russell Westbrook.  Next stop was Salt Lake City where they get routed by the Utah Jazz.  After which the Nets make the first of two stops at Los Angeles, where they fall to the Clippers in heart breaking fashion on a Lou Williams last second buzzer beater from long range.

Teetering at par (36-36) with only ten games left in the season, the Nets enter Tuesday's match at Sacramento in obvious need of a win.  However they open play with great lethargy, falling behind by upwards of 16-points before closing the gap to eight by halftime - if only because Coach Atkinson flips out midway through the second quarter.  The turnaround is short lived as the Kings open the third quarter with a 20-0 run.

And then, the remarkable happens.  Down by 25-points to open the fourth quarter, and Coach Atkinson fit to be tied, the Nets go on to achieve their greatest comeback in franchise history. D'Angelo Russell leads the way with 27 of his career high 44 points coming in the fourth quarter, as Brooklyn outscores the Kings 45-18 in the final session.  The Nets all-star guard also leads all players with 12 assists.  During their final possession with only seconds left to play, rather than have Rondae Hollis-Jefferson surrender the ball, Russell audibles commanding RHJ to drive the lane.  Rondae does just that en route to the game winning layup.

Road Ahead:

• 3/22 @ L.A. Lakers
• 3/25 @ Portland
• 3/28 @ Philadelphia

Return to Flatbush:

• 3/30 - BOSTON
• 4/1 - MILWAUKEE
• 4/3 - TORONTO

Back to Back:

• 4/6 - @ Milwaukee
• 4/7 - @ Indiana

Home Finale:

• 4/10 - MIAMI

A week ago, the Nets were defeating the Pistons for control of the sixth seed.  But they've since slipped to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, a precarious 1.5 games ahead of eighth place Miami (and three games ahead of ninth place Orlando).  If they are to realize their playoff aspirations, the Nets will need to somehow manage at least a few more victories against the East's top ranked contenders before this race is through.  Easier said than done, I know. 

But Tuesday's comeback against Sacramento bears testament to this team's increasing confidence and resiliency.  And if we correctly keep the Nets within the context of a rebuilding team, then what a marvelous season it's been already.  Here we are late March talking meaningful basketball, with relevant games in April still yet to play.

The Nets remain easily the best story of the local cold weather sports scene.  The Giants, Rangers, and Knicks could all learn something from Sean Marks' business model.  Meanwhile, Kenny Atkinson seems to be extracting from D'Angelo Russell what Magic Johnson claims he could not.

See you in L.A.

Brooklyn Nets Bench Brigade Turn Away Hapless Knickerbockers

From the desks of:  

DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP  and  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS-IV

Nets win season series 4-1

I - BKN 107; NYK 105

II - NYK 115; BKN 96

III - BKN 112; NYK 104

FRIDAY

Knicks  99

Nets    109

FINAL

Brooklyn Nets: Mounting Injuries Put Spotlight Squarely Upon D'Angelo Russell.

Make that six wins in a row, and 19 wins in their last 24 games.  The Nets are now 19-5 since snapping an eight-game losing streak back on Dec. 7, marked by noteworthy victories over Toronto, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Boston, Houston, Sacramento, and of course their crosstown rival Knickerbockers.  They've done all this while hurt.  The Nets were just 6-8 on Nov. 12 when Caris LeVert was lost to a foot injury.  After which Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Allan Crabbe, and Jared Dudly, also went down and remained out.  Only on Friday did Jefferson finally return to the lineup against the Knicks.  However, the Nets now lose Spencer Dinwiddie - arguably on pace to win the NBA's 6th man award - sidelined a torn ligament in his thumb.  Surgery is pending.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

6th) Nets        27-23 (.540)

14th) Knicks  10-37 (.213)

As injuries mount, all eyes now turn towards D'Angelo Russell.  This is his team now, and he'll have the fourth quarter all to himself.  Although he has played himself into the All-Star conversation, there's been many games this season where in much of the final session Coach Atkinson has kept him wrapped in sweats.  It's only recently that Russell's and Dinwiddie's games have begun to mesh on the floor together.  There was clearly an initial disconnect, of which Coach says the two have learned how to play together and the results bear that out.

It's been a happy new year for D'Angelo Russell indeed, who was named NBA Player of the Week.  Through 12 games in January, he's averaging 23.1 point and 7.4 assists per game.  On Jan.14, he scored 34-points in a winning effort over Boston.  Two games later, he dropped 40-points in a win over the Magic at Orlando, then followed that up with 31-points on Jan. 21 against Sacramento.  In their lead-up to Friday's game versus the Knicks, Russell posted a double-double (25-points; 10 assists) in Wednesday's rematch against the Magic.  For the season (49 games) he is averaging 19-points and six assists per game.

Against the Knicks, however, Russell was limited to just 12-points in 24-minutes.  Joe Harris was the only other starter to score in double digits with ten points in 28-minutes.  The real story of the game, and for the matter the continuing narrative of the Nets season, is the next guy in line stepping up and contributing effective play and productive minutes.  Brooklyn featured more four scorers in double digits all off the bench.  Theo Pinson led all Nets with 19 points.  With 29-minutes in Dinwiddie's absence, Shabazz Napier was next in with 18-points.  Ed Davis played big man on campus with 17-points and a game high 16-rebounds.

Friday's 109-99 victory over the cross-river Knicks gives the Nets a 27-23 record on the season, good for sixth place, 2.5 games ahead of the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference standings.  They also improve to 15-11 at home.  Lest we forget they started the season 3-10 at home.  They've since won  92% of their games (12-1) at Barclays Center.

And don't look now, but their season long negative point differential now reads +0.4 for the season; another benchmark; more evidence of sustained improvement.

Against the Nets, Noah Vonleh scored a double-double Friday with 22-points and 13 rebounds; Trey Burke led all scorers with 15-points off the bench.

New York Knicks: Unfortunately for Enes Kanter, this is what happens when you become enmeshed with the Bockers.

One the one hand, Enes Kanter knew he was opting into a rebuilding situation.  Therefore, part of his present calamity came by his own hand.  Money will do that.  Little did he know there would be a heavy price to pay for his (micro vs. macro) decision.  On the other hand, Friday's performance was a picture perfect demonstration of tank-a-thon in action.  This game was perfectly suited for Kanter.  Just take a look at his last three games against the Nets.  He's right to express displeasure, and for that matter demanding a trade.  A man of his talents riding the bench is hardly ideal for either party.  Kanter is actually my favorite Knick, but he obviously needs to go.  The Knicks just have no real leverage to work with, so what can they reasonably expect in return?  Where this tank-a-thon ultimately gets the Knicks, remains to be seen.  But for as long as Steve Mills remains a part of this organization's decision making process, I expect nothing good.

I'll say this much about Coach Fizdale: if the intention is indeed to tank the season, he's in the midst of masterminding something epic.  With Friday's loss, the Knicks fall to just 10-37 on the season.  They extend their losing streak to eight games, making them just 1-16 in their last 17 games.  With February just around the corner, 37 games remain in the season.

Brooklyn Nets: The Joy of Sixth

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

WEDNESDAY

Hawks  100

NETS   116

FINAL

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Playing .764 Ball Since Snapping Eight Game Skid Back on Dec. 7 Against Toronto.

Brooklyn's hard work is going under-spoken.  Very simply, the local media is generally ignoring what is presently the better story in town.

But I'll save that for another day ...

In my humble opinion, Kenny's Kids have earned enough credibility this season to at least have last Monday's lopsided loss at Boston expunged from of our collective short-term memories.  Both teams entered that game tied for the the best record against Atlantic Division opponents.

The Nets season was off to an 8-10 start when on Nov. 13 Caris Levert sustained a foot injury.  Yet, the players remained committed to each other, exhibiting commendable resiliency throughout their ensuing eight-game losing streak.  After which, their continuing perseverance in the face of more recent and mounting injuries should likewise be applauded.  Already playing minus Caris LeVert, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Allen Crabbe, the Nets now lose Jared Dudley during Wednesday night's 116-100 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays.

Their victory over the Hawks gives them 21 for the season (21-22), to date, which presently ranks them sixth in the Eastern Conference standings ahead of the Heat and Hornets.  This season in particular has been an education in finishing and closing out games.  That being said, the Nets are now closer to the end of the season than its start.  In the aftermath of LeVert's injury and their ensuing eight-game slide, the Nets are 13-4 over their last 17 games.

In Kenny Atkinson's first ever season (2016-2017) as a head coach, the Nets finished with a 20-62 record.  Last season, the Nets did not win their 21st game until Mar. 8 (against 45 losses), en route to a 28-52 season.  This season, the Nets win their 21st game on Jan. 9, which by the way evens the Nets record (11-11) at home, finally.

However, they're still -0.4 in point differential.

They've nevertheless set themselves up for what should be a interesting, if not very entertaining second-half of the season (trade deadline, included).

I'll simply leave off by reaffirming my belief that Flatbush is absolutely going about this the right way.

Brooklyn Nets: Spencer Dinwiddie Enjoys Manhattan Borough Experience

From the desks of:

DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP  and  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

Nets lead series 2-1

I - BKN 107; NYK 105

II - NYK 115; BKN 96

III - BKN 112; NYK 104

Brooklyn Nets: Escape From New York

Brooklyn Hoops took an eleven point lead into halftime, and led by as many as 17-points after three quarters.  However, the building blocks of victory stood poised to come tumbling down during yet another self-destructive fourth quarter.  The Knicks, who outscored the Nets 27-18 in the final session, pulled within five points of the Nets with under six minutes left in regulation.  But that's as close as they'd get.  Spencer Dinwiddie's six points in the final three minutes would seal the Knickerbockers fate.

Spencer Dinwiddie led all scorers with 25-points off the bench.  D'Angelo Russell, just 4/14 from the field, distributed a game high eleven assists.  And Jarrett Allen posts a double-double, leading the Nets with twelve rebounds to go with 14-points.  Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also hit the twenty point mark on 50% shooting.

Enes Kanter wins the battle of big men with his own double-double, leading the floor with 14 rebounds, and a Knicks high 23-points.  

For only the second time this season, the Nets have pieced together consecutive victories.  The first time occurred in early November, with Caris LeVert still on the floor.  While the Nets were just 6-8 at the time, their season since Nov. 12 has taken a precipitous turn for the worse, evidenced by their 4-10 record without him. 

The Nets finally snap an eight game losing streak against the team with the NBA's top record.  Flatbush defeats the Toronto Raptors in a 106-105 overtime thriller Friday night at Barclays Center.  On Saturday, they cross the East River into Manhattan, and defeat the Knickerbockers by eight at Madison Square Garden.

While the Knicks forever remain a freaking mystery to me, I have a far clearer understanding of the Nets present and future plans.  During their most recent slide, frustration and impatience not unexpectedly reared their ugly heads, inciting many a knee-jerk reaction.  Firing Kenny Atkinson and even Sean Marks very quickly became considerations for debate.

I say that's folly, and every one just needs to relax.  Stay the course, Nets.  It's us fans whom must exercise more discipline.  Sean Marks (IMO) is fine, the team is back in control of their draft picks, and Kenny Atkinson at the very least is the right coach for this stage of Nets rebuilding process.  

If the Nets biggest problem is an inability to sustain and win through the fourth quarter, then I say it's a great problem to have.  That's an issue correctable through various means and venues.  But make no mistake, it's one of the hallmarks of a young rebuilding team.  Learning how to close out games is part of the process.  At least they're building an identity.  Think of it what you will.  But take a second and circle back to the Knicks.  Who are they, and what are they doing?

Brooklyn Nets: The Coach of Flatbush Loses His Cool

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

No Blood - No Foul..!

Brooklyn Nets: Congratulations, Kenny Atkinson, on your first NBA ejection.

No blood - no foul.  That's how the refs saw it.

The guys in the stripes allowed the Nets and Timberwolves to play a somewhat physical game Saturday night at the Target Center.  Both head coaches naturally hounded the refs all night, directing most of their vitriol at referee Tony Brothers.  As one coach growled at him from the camera's left, the other barked from the camera's right.

Pretty typical stuff ...

This went on for roughly 42-minutes, right up until an outraged Coach Atkinson got ejected with 5:55 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Granted, Thibodeau was just being Thibodeau.  But in the first quarter, the refs seemed to be whistling his favorite tune.  And so Coach Atkinson's initial fury over his team being in foul trouble less than four minutes into the game may have been justified.  With 8:39 still showing on the clock, Minnesota went on to score nine points from the charity line en route to a 30-11 first quarter lead, from which the Nets would not recover.

The Nets were shorthanded to begin with, playing minus the services of D'Angelo Russell, Caris LeVert, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.  Yet, Flatbush outscored (first place) Minnesota 86-81 over the remaining three quarters of the game.

So, yeah, that's very frustrating.

But with under six minutes left in the game, Atkinson finally blew his top.  Believing Joe Harris deserved better after what he perceived was a hard foul committed in the offensive paint, Atkinson let referee Tony Brothers have it.  When the Coach of Flatbush got tee'd up, he exploded with rage.  Good thing Spencer Dinwiddie was nearby to intercept his coach, otherwise Atkinson could have landed himself in even deeper trouble.

As it stands, I'm sure the players would love to pay off whatever fine the league office levies against their guy.  Coaches can be overbearing at times (or all the time).  But Atkinson has established a culture of development here.  And episodes such as this reveal the coaches who are willing to battle right alongside their players from the some of the more emotionally divested, overly critical chess masters of the NBA.  The more players trust and respect their coach, the more agreeable, attentive, and teachable they become.  That's what the Nets have going.

On that note, congratulations, Kenny Atkinson, on your first NBA ejection.

It was a good one.

Well done.

While D'Angelo Russell was observing a scheduled day off, Jahlil Okafor was banging bodies with Minnesota's Carl Anthony Towns.  He led the Nets with 21-points, and secured six rebounds in 24-minutes off the bench.  Towns scored 16-points in 34-minutes, but dominated the boards with a game-high 19 rebounds.

Spencer Dinwiddie distributed a game-high ten assists.

Next stop: Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

Brooklyn Nets: Cheating Themselves For A Worthy Cause

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Just not on defense ...

FRIDAY FINAL

Nets       112

Lakers   124

Brooklyn Nets: Not necessarily in last place with a 3-6 record because they're rebuilding.  They're propping up the Atlantic Division because their defensive effort is grossly inadequate.

Brook Lopez Notches Double-Double in First Ever Game Against Former Team

C'mon ... who checked to see if they were tuned into the correct channel for Friday night's game?

Be honest.

If you were paying attention with two ears and one eye like I was, the opening tip between Brook Lopez and Timofey Mozgov sounded like an NBA Channel highlight reel from the 2010-2011 season.

Times have certainly changed since then, haven't they?

This wasn't Lopez and the New Jersey Nets crossing the Hudson River seven years ago playing Mozgov and the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.  Even the thought of Lopez and the Nets taking on Timofey Mozgov and D'Angelo Russell in Los Angeles is so last year.

That's because Nets general manager Sean Marks traded Brook Lopez (and Brooklyn's 2017 27th overall pick) this past summer to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for the locally familiar Timofey Mozgov and third year guard D'Angelo Russell.

Within seconds after tipping-off his first ever game against the Nets, Brook Lopez, the team's all-time leader in blocked shots, was turning back Caris LeVert on Brooklyn's first field goal attempt of the game.

Just over a minute later, D'Angelo Russell scored Brooklyn's first field goal of the game up and over a yielding Brook Lopez.

So went the opening sequence in what both teams hope over time will become more meaningful confrontations to come.

For now, they each have their respective work cut out for them.

Brook Lopez, the NJ/BK Nets all-time scoring leader with 10,444 points, topped all scorers with 34 points, and grabbed ten rebounds in leading the post-Kobe Bryant Lakers over the Nets by a 124-112 final score Friday night at the Staples Center.  Lopez is also the first Lakers player to drop 30+ points since Kobe Bryant retired.

Despite tying D'Angelo Russell with a game high seven assists, rookie Lonzo Ball continues disappointing from the field, converting on just 3/15 attempts, and 0/3 from three point range.

Making his first NBA start, forward Kyle Kuzma, whom Los Angeles selected with the #1 pick acquired from Brooklyn as part of the Lopez/Russell trade, led all players with 13 boards.  Brandon Ingram made it three Lakers in double-digits with ten boards, as the Lakers easily out-rebounded the Nets by a 57-43 margin.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the Nets with 21 points, playing a team high 37 minutes.  Mozgov, by the way, was 2/4 from the field and converted one free throw in 16 minutes.

Be it Nets fans watching at home, and/or Lakers fans at home and in attendance, all eyes were invariably on guard D'Angelo Russell.  Magic Johnson took some parting shots at the Lakers former #2 overall pick of the 2015 NBA draft.  Although the head Laker in charge extolled Russell's physical talents, Magic said (paraphrasing) he needs a leader and someone who will make Lakers players around him better.

Tough words.

I ponder whether Magic Johnson erred in his assessment of Russell simply by making himself the measure of all Lakers guards.  The great ones tend to do that as executives (eh hem ... Wayne Gretzky; Michael Jordan, etc.).

In any event, good luck ballin' with Lonzo, guys.

I happen to believe Sean Marks engineered a fine trade.

D'Angelo Russell, who turns 22-years old in February, slashed 17 points/seven assists/seven rebounds in 35 minutes.  Perhaps not the greatest revenge game of all-time, but as the hook player in the trade with Los Angeles, I'll gladly take my chances with his potential.

The Nets are presently depleted by injuries.  No denying that.  But they still managed 112 points against the Lakers.  In fact, Friday's game marks the eighth time in nine games to date in which they've topped 100 points.  The only time they failed to do so came on Oct. 27, during a 107-86 loss against the Knicks.  Otherwise, the Brooklyn Nets are presently second in the league in scoring, averaging 114 points per game.

They're also middle of the pack in limiting offensive turnovers, and are twelfth in the league in rebounds per game.

But what good is all that if they're giving up a league leading 119 points and 50 rebounds per game?

What ails this team is seemingly not something necessarily inherent with rebuilding.  In simplest terms, it's poor effort, and damn lack of overall defense.  I'm obviously not breaking new ground here.  It's been discussed, and painfully clear to see.  Coach has previously called his team out on this very issue.

Unfortunately D'Angelo Russell has earned a similar reputation, defensively speaking, and we're beginning to understand why.

Coach Atkinson can drill this team all he wants, but they collectively must want to play defense first.  Effort is the one thing teams can control on a night-in, night-out basis.  So far, other complimentary aspects of the Nets game for the most part have been otherwise present.

In the mean time, the Nets are cheating themselves.  Only this might actually get them somewhere instead of Boston for a change in next year's NBA draft.

Lest we forget, the league office doesn't appreciate when the term tanking is applied to rebuilding organizations.