Deron Williams And Brook Lopez, Both Recovering Well

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

The Brooklyn Nets in what has been a major off-season of change, are getting good news when it comes to the health of two of their best players in Deron Williams and Brook Lopez. They are both coming off of surgeries, and this season if either one aren’t at 100% it could be a long season for Brooklyn.

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Their new coach Lionel Hollins seems very pleased about where they both stand coming back from surgery right now. “You can't be where you want to be unless you're healthy,” And you can't get in shape unless you're healthy. If you are injured all summer, there's no way you can work out”. "Deron is healthy, Brook is healthy and they are both able to work out." 

“Conditioning is something they both will be able to work on as they move forward,” Hollins said. “And when you are in shape you can go out, and try things, and do things because naturally if you are successful, your confidence rises. That's the only way I look at it and that's my approach."

Training camp is about a month and a half away for the Nets, and after undergoing surgery on both his ankles on May 27^th, Williams is expected to be healthy and ready to go. For Lopez, he said that he was cleared and ready to play about a week ago after foot surgery in December and ankle surgery in March. With a new coach will come a new system for the Nets, so having two of their main players in camp will be important toward whatever success the Nets may have this coming season.

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Nets Decide To Pass On Bringing Back Paul Pierce

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

July 13, 2014

The Brooklyn Nets off-season is shaping the 2014-15 Nets into a completely different looking team from the previous season, as the latest change will be that Paul Pierce won’t be returning to Brooklyn for a second season.

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On Saturday night, Pierce decided to sign with the young, up and coming Washington Wizards for a two-year $11 million dollar contract, with a second year player option. Pierce will fit in nicely with Washington after their Small Forward from last season, Trevor Ariza signed with the Houston Rockets. Pierce certainly has some game left, as last season he averaged 13.5 PPG on 45% shooting. Pierce is also a great mentor to have for Otto Porter, who was the third overall pick in the 2013 draft, but didn’t get much playing time in his rookie season.

Most surprising about the departure of Paul Pierce, was that the Nets, who had his bird rights, just simply passed on him. The Nets don’t believe that they are title contenders, which is correct, and instead of giving playing time and money to Pierce, they have decided to try and develop their younger players, and try to reload in the 2016-17 season when they should have some salary cap flexibility.

Now most attention will go to Kevin Garnett, who is supposedly coming back to the Nets, despite not announcing that publicly yet. Even with the news of his long time teammate and friend Pierce leaving the Nets, Garnett is said to be excited, and likes the direction the Nets are heading in. If Garnett does return, some sort of mid-season buyout or trade if Brooklyn isn’t playing well could be very likely, as although Garnett will be making $12 million, he also wants to play for a contender.

The blockbuster deal from last season to bring Pierce, Garnett, and Jason Terry to Brooklyn turned out to be a failure for the Nets, who essentially traded three first round picks to win one round in the playoffs. The good sign for the Nets is that they are seeming to be cutting their losses well, as there is some young talent on the team for next season, and with a healthy Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, and Joe Johnson, the Nets can still be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference.

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Brooklyn Nets 2013-14 Team Review

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

In their second season in Brooklyn, the Nets were able to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season despite a really difficult start to the season that saw a learning curve for Head Coach Jason Kidd, and a lot of injuries, which included losing Center Brook Lopez for the season. The turning point for the Nets was their first game of the 2014 calendar year on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Going against one of the best teams in the NBA, the Nets were able to get a huge victory thanks to Joe Johnson, who showed off his clutch gene hitting a buzzer-beater that turned the season around.

After the huge win against the Thunder, Brooklyn would have a fantastic month of January, going (10-3). As 2014 went on the Nets would emerge as one of the best teams defending their home-court, with a 15-game home winning streak. Jason Kidd did a very good job hanging in tough after the poor start, and making adjustments, no one more important than him deciding to go with a small lineup. In his final season with the New York Knicks, Jason Kidd was mostly on the court with another Point Guard, and in the Nets turn around he implemented that with his team moving Shaun Livingston into the starting lineup with Deron Williams. The lineup not only helped the Nets on the offense end by having Paul Pierce as a Power Forward causing lots of mismatches, but on the defensive end it turned the Nets into a position-less defense similar to what the Miami Heat do with players being able to constantly switch and rotate quickly. Overall it was a successful regular season for the Nets, finishing with a (44-38) record.

Some careful positioning and rest late in the season the Nets finished in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, which set them up with a first round match-up against the Toronto Raptors, who won the Atlantic Division. Brooklyn seemed to want no part of facing the Chicago Bulls for the second straight postseason, but the young Raptors pushed the veteran Nets to a fantastic seven game series. The Nets would come out on top of the Raptors with victories in both games 6 and 7, with Game 7 being a great one, as the Nets squeaked out a 104-103 win in Toronto to advance and face the defending champs.

In the second round of the playoffs the Nets had the daunting task of trying to knock off the LeBron James and the Heat. The Nets were behind the eight-ball to begin the series, as the Heat impressed at home, defeating the Nets by double-digits in the first two games. When the series shifted back to Brooklyn, the Nets would start to play much better, as they were able to win Game 3 before suffering close losses in Game 4 and 5. The Nets goal was to be title contenders, but even with Lopez that would have been unlikely as long as the Big 3 are together in Miami, but for the Nets the season has to be considered a good one as they were able to win their first playoff series since the move to Brooklyn, and they just unfortunately ran into the best player in the world, and a more talented Heat team.

Standout Star: Joe Johnson

Easily for the Nets in the regular season and the postseason their best and most consistent player was Joe Johnson in the 2013-14 season. Statistically in the regular season, Johnson was the best the Nets had, leading the team with 15.8 points per game on 45.4% shooting from the field, 40.1% from three point-range, and 81.5% from the free throw line. Johnson was under some scrutiny when he was selected to his seventh All-Star Team, but with the Nets doing well coming into the All-Star Break, Johnson being the Nets best player got the nod.

After the Lopez injury, Kidd needed to make changes losing arguably the Nets most talented half-court offensive player, especially in the post. With the loss of their best post player, Kidd would start to run the offensive through Johnson in the post, as being 6-7, 240 caused lots of mismatches, and often forced teams to bring double teams to Johnson, who then made excellent passes out to set up often wide open three-point attempts for teammates.

Johnson had a few special games in the regular season, with the before mentioned buzzer-beater in Oklahoma City, he also had another one earlier in the season against the Phoenix Suns, as Kevin Garnett gave him the nickname “Joe Jesus” due to his clutch gene. His highest scoring game of the season came against the awful Philadelphia 76ers, where he dropped 37 points, which included a 29-point third quarter, and a career-high 10 three-pointers made.

In the playoffs Johnson really shined stepping up his game, as the Nets proved to really need him to in order to win a series. He was able to average 21.2 PPG in the playoffs, with an improved shooting percentage across the board going 53.3% from the field, 41.5% from three-point range, and 83.7% from the free throw line. In what ended up being the Nets final game of the season in Game 5 against the Heat, Johnson came through with his best performance of the playoffs. In the 96-94 loss, Johnson scored 34 points, which was his most of the postseason on 15 for 23 shooting from the field, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Nets season alive.

Off-Season Needs:

The off-season for General Manager Billy King will not be an easy one, as with the trade last season for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, the Nets are strapped in the salary cap, and also have no picks in the 2014 draft. For the Nets they thought to have a two-year title window after the additions of Garnett and Pierce, but for the 2014 season there is no guarantees that either one will be back, as Pierce can leave via free agency, and although Garnett is under contract, he had a tough year and maybe thing retirement at the age of 38. There doesn’t appear to be any way to replace the production that even at their age Pierce and Garnett can give the Nets, as King will have no money or picks to bring in comparable replacements.

Pierce isn’t the only Net that maybe be testing free agency, as including Pierce there are six possible free agents for Brooklyn. Known for sure of the players that have player options, is that Andray Blatche has declined his and will be an unrestricted free agent this off-season. Blatche has said that he would like to come back to Brooklyn, and the Nets would like to have him back, but with him in the open market coming off a good season, averaging 11.2 points, and 5.3 rebounds in just 22 minutes per game the price may get to high for the Nets to bring him back. Another player with an option is Alan Anderson, who holds a player option, which he will be declining, worth just over one millions dollars for next season. Anderson was a pretty steady member of the rotation for the Nets, playing in 78 games with 26 starts. He averaged 7.2 PPG, while playing solid defense, and if the Nets could have him back he could figure to be in the rotation once again for Brooklyn. Andrei Kirilenko, who had a lot of injuries and a poor 2013-14 season by his measure has made the decision that he will be returning to the Nets with his option. Kirilenko will certainly be in the rotation in the coming season, but the Nets could really use him to play better than he did in his first season in Brooklyn.

A major concern for the Nets heading into free agency is that there is a very strong possibility that they will not be able to keep Livingston, who had a great bounce back season, and is now a free agent. Last season, Livingston played in a career-high 76 games, while averaging 8.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. In Kidd’s system, Livingston plays a major role in the two-point guard set on offense, and on defense his height and athleticism make him a perfect player to be able to switch on to multiple players.

Due to the Nets lack of financial flexibility, trades will certainly be in the mind of King, as in all likelihood Livingston will be gone, which has brought up some rumors of a possible Marcus Thornton for Jarrett Jack trade. Kidd likes to have two Point Guards on the court together at the same time in his offense, so in case of the loss of Livingston, Jack would be a good replacement for the rotation.

The possibility of trading Williams or Lopez are both viable ones for the Nets, as the often injured Lopez is making a lot of money, but should draw decent interest if made available. Williams has sort of said that he would like to be moved, but after a down year, ankle surgeries, and a max contract, the return for Williams wouldn’t be a very good one more than likely. in the event that either player is traded, it would likely be for cap relief, young players, or draft picks, as it would mean the waving of the white flag on the championship expectations.

King has made it very clear that he would like to get into the draft somehow or someway, and on draft night he was able to acquire three second-round picks all for cash considerations. The 44th pick was the first one the Nets were able to get, selecting Markel Brown from Oklahoma State. The final two picks of the draft would go to Brooklyn, as they selected with the 59th pick Xavier Thames from San Diego State, and with the 60th pick Cory Jefferson from Baylor. King said all along he would like to get into a deep and talented draft, so getting three second-round picks will add some much needed depth and youth to the Nets bench.

Recently their has been some turmoil in the Nets Front Office, with news emerging that Jason Kidd has made a power move to try and gain more control than King when it comes to personnel decision making. The Nets have quickly shot this play by Kidd down, and now an offer from the Milwaukee Bucks has been accepted. the deal will be for two second-round draft picks. 

2014-15 Season Outlook:

In the upcoming season there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Nets right now with the recent mess in the Front Office/Coaching departments, but their best case scenario if Williams and Lopez are healthy, with Pierce and Garnett back would be them in the middle of the Eastern Conference, with them challenging for the Atlantic Division title, and maybe another playoff series win or two. A lot can also go wrong for the Nets in the off-season if they lose some players because they don’t have the cap or draft picks to bring in adequate replacements. Health is a major concern as well for the Nets will two starters coming off surgeries, and the fact that they are an older team to begin with, which can be a recipe for disaster.

Moving forward for the Nets though in the coming seasons will be mostly disappointment, as the title aspirations they had after the big trade with Boston were unrealistic to begin with, and will cost them down the road with basically no first-round draft picks, and a lot of money invested in players that simply aren’t playing up to it. King will have his work cut out for him, and some extremely difficult calls to make about what the team is really capable of as constructed, which would be an admitted failure by King. The departure of Kidd will mean the Nets will be once again looking to bring in a new Head Coach, and King,who is still running the show will have some good options to replace Kidd for 2014-15 season.

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Deron Williams Set For Surgery On Both Ankles

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 22^nd, 2014

The 2014 off-season has begun for the Brooklyn Nets, and with that will surely come change, but for their face of the franchise and 100 million dollar man Deron Williams it will mean surgery. The day after Memorial Day, Williams will be undergoing ankle surgeries on both his right and left ankles.

In the right ankle the surgery will far less intrusive than the left, as for the right ankle it will just require the removal of some bone spurs. In the left ankle however, it will be a full arthroscopic cleanout with bone spurs being removed from both the front and back of the ankle.

Since joining the Nets, the ankles of Williams have been watched carefully, and it is well noted that they are not what they use to be. Usually for Williams either some cortisone shots or getting the platelet-rich plasma injection surgeries. They have helped with the pain, but the problem hasn’t gone away for Williams, so surgery seems like the needed and smart thing to do.

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"I feel like I've kind of let people down, so I don't like feeling like that," Williams said. "I take my job seriously, I work hard in the off-season, I work hard every day. It's just real frustrating not to be able to play how I'm capable of playing.

"I used to step on the court and feel like I was the best player no matter who I played against, so I gotta get back to that. Even if I'm not the best player on the court, I gotta feel like I am."

After a lot of struggles in the postseason for Williams, and a lot of money still owed to him the Nets will hope these procedures work for Williams, as moving such a big contract is difficult, and it’s even more difficult when that player has seen his stats decline in the past few seasons.

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Brooklyn Nets Season Ends in Miami

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 14th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Miami Heat Game 5 Recap

Final Score: Nets 94 Heat 96

The Brooklyn Nets with less than five minutes to go in Game 5 had an eight-point lead, and it looked like they were going to be heading back to Brooklyn for a Game 6, but down the stretch the Nets struggled to execute, which led to their season ending. The Nets were very competitive in the series, but lost 4 games to 1, as they blew many opportunities to make this a longer series.

Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

This postseason easily the best and most consistent player for the Brooklyn Nets and in Game 5 Johnson came up big for the Nets. Johnson scored a game-high 34 points on 15 for 23 shooting, which included going three for six from three-point range. Johnson also added seven rebounds and three assists to round out a good postseason for Johnson.

Positives:

In what very well be Paul Pierce’s last game with the Nets, he came through with a good game while facing elimination. Pierce was second on the Nets in scoring with 19 points on eight for 18 shooting with two three-pointers. Pierce says he still has some game left in the tank, but the real question is whether it will be with the Nets or not.

Brooklyn did a good job against the supporting cast of Miami, but with good games from the “Big 3” it wasn’t enough. Mario Chalmers was non-factor, as he went zero for seven from the field, which included five misses from beyond the arc. In the first half Brooklyn held Miami to one for 16 shooting from beyond the arc, which was great and a major reason for the halftime lead.

Negatives:

Photo Credit:Howard Simmons NYDailynews

In a close out Game 5 for the Heat their “Big 3” showed their experience and will to finish off the Nets at home despite being down late. After a quiet Game 4, Dwyane Wade followed it up with a great game scoring 28 points on 10 for 18 shooting, which included going a perfect eight for eight from the free throw line. Chris Bosh had a nice game chipping in with 16 points on six for 11 shooting, and he also hit four three-pointers. In the fourth quarter LeBron James looked like he picked up where he left off in Game 4, as he scored 14 points to help complete the comeback victory. James finished with 29 points on six for 14 shooting, as he did most of his damage at the free throw line going 15 for 17. James also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds with five assists, and finished averaging over 30 points against the Nets in this series.

For three quarters Deron Williams was playing pretty well, but when it came to finishing off this game in the fourth quarter, Williams disappeared. Deron finished with 17 points on seven for 16 shooting, but went scoreless in the fourth, as the face of the franchise had an extremely disappointing postseason for the Nets.

Next up for the most expensive team in NBA history will be an interesting off-season filled with questions on what the roster may look like next season.

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49-Point Game From LeBron James Carries Heat Past Nets

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 12th, 2014

Miami Heat vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 4 Recap

Final Score: Heat 102 Nets 96

In a huge Game 4 for both teams the best player in the world, LeBron James showed exactly why he is that player with a ridiculous Game 4 to carry his team to a big victory and a controlling 3-1 series lead heading back to Miami.

Player of the Game: Paul Pierce

For the Nets in what may very well be their last home game of the season, Paul Pierce knew the Nets needed this one, and came thru with a good game on the offensive end for Brooklyn. Pierce finished with 16 points on six for 11 shooting from the field, while grabbing seven rebounds, with two assists, and two steals. Offensively Pierce was good, but trying to slow down James it was a totally different story for the over-matched Pierce.

Positives:

The experienced Kevin Garnett also knew the magnitude of Game 4, and in 25 minutes played well for the Nets. Garnett was efficient scoring eight points on three for five shooting to go along with seven rebounds, four of which were on the offensive end.

Brooklyn’s bench was pretty good in Game 4, led by Andray Blatche, who scored eight points on four for 10 shooting to go along with game-high eight rebounds. Alan Anderson also was good in Game 4, as he led Brooklyn’s bench with 10 points on three for five shooting, which included two three-pointers.

Negatives:

In Game 4 the biggest problem for the Nets was the ultra-aggressive James, who wanted this game badly, and went and got it. James finished with 49 points on 16 for 24 shooting, which included him, going three for six from three-point range, and 14 of 19 from the free throw line. Pierce asked for James, thinking he could slow down the King, but according to ESPN stats and information, James went five for eight with 18 points while being guarded by Pierce in Game 4.

Once against for Brooklyn, Deron Williams didn’t play up to the level the Nets need him to in order to earn victories. Williams struggled with his shot, as he scored just 13 points on five for 14 shooting. He did have seven assists and six rebounds, but the Nets need Williams to score more than in low teens.

Joe Johnson also had a rough time with his shot on Monday, as with him and Williams both struggling it was surprising they were in this game. Johnson finished with a team-high 18 points, but it came on five for 15 shooting. Johnson did however do a good job at the free throw line, going a perfect seven for seven, but overall it was a difficult night for Johnson.

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Nets Narrowly Defeat Raptors in Game 7

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 4^th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs Toronto Raptors Game 7 Recap

Final Score: Nets 104 Raptors 103

In a win or go home Game 7 in a hostile arena in Toronto, the Brooklyn Nets were able to survive the young Raptors for a thrilling Game 7 victory on Sunday. A few missed free throws at the end of the game for the Nets nearly cost them, but a block by Paul Pierce on Kyle Lowry sealed the deal for the Nets, as the advanced to the next round.

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Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

Easily the best player for the Nets throughout the entire series was Joe Johnson, and Game 7 was no different. Johnson finished with a team-high 26 points on 11 for 25 shooting, with four rebounds, and four assists. The Raptors threw the kitchen sink at Johnson with multiple defenders guarding him and frequent double-teams, but Johnson made the right pass out almost every time, as he could have a lot of hockey assists.

Positives:

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were in different roles in this Game 7 than previous seasons. They both only played 25 minutes, but it was an effective one from both of them. Pierce finished with 10 points on four for 10 shooting, but made the play of the game for the Nets blocking Lowry's shot in the final seconds. Garnett had a very good game, as he was able to notch a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, as it was his first double-double since February 1^st.

Brooklyn's bench showed up for Game 7 after a mostly disappointing series against the Raptors, as Andray Blatche, Shaun Livingston, and Marcus Thornton all had good games. Blatche, who was in a bit of foul trouble still played well with nine points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes. Livingston in his second straight game coming off the bench was a much bigger factor in the game than he was on Friday night, as Livingston scored 10 points on four for five shooting, and hit two extremely clutch free throws down the stretch. For the first time in the series, Thornton was able to get hot from the field, as he finished with 17 points on four for eight shooting, and went five for six from the free throw line in his best game of the series.

Negatives:

Toronto really pushed the Nets in this series, and could have easily won it in large part due to their back court of Lowry and DeRozan, who played well in Game 7. Lowry finished with a game-high 28 points on seven for 19 shooting, and went an outstanding 12 for 14 from the line in addition to grabbing seven boards. DeRozan didn’t have a monster Game 7, but still played very well scoring 18 points on five for 12 shooting with six assists, and seven free throws, as DeRozan and Lowry lived at the free throw line in the series.

The Power Forwards for the Raptors also stepped up in Game 7, as Amir Johnson and Patrick Patterson both put together nice games. Johnson was a beast despite looking a bit hobbled, as he scored 20 points on nine for 12 shooting with 10 rebounds before he fouled out. Patterson was great off the bench most of the series, and in Game 7 he finished with 16 points and eight rebounds on a perfect day shooting from the field.

Nets Point Guard Deron Williams had a tough Game 7, and nearly cost his team the victory down the stretch, as he struggled from the foul line. Williams finished just 13 points and four assists, as yet again it was a disappointing game from him.

Next up for the Nets will be a series against the two-time defending champs in the Miami Heat, who will be well rested before Tuesday's Game 1 in Miami.  

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Nets Defeat Raptors to Force Game 7

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 2nd, 2014

Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 6 Recap

Final Score: Raptors 83 Nets 97

The Brooklyn Nets were able to bounce back from their Game 5 loss in Toronto with a Game 6 victory in the Barclays Center to keep their season alive, and force another Game 7 in what has been a great First Round in the Playoffs this season.

Player of the Game: Deron Williams

For the Nets their recipe is to win is pretty simple, when Deron Williams’ plays well they win, and luckily in Game 6 for the Nets, he played well. The Nets Point Guard was under a lot of pressure heading into the elimination game, as he responded well with a team-high 23 points on eight for 16 shooting, including four three-pointers. The aggressive Williams also had five rebounds, four assists, and one steal to help lead the Nets to the victory.

Positives:

The very solid performance from Williams also came at the expense of Lowry, who had by far his worst game of the series, which was a great sight for Brooklyn. Lowry, who was coming off a 36-point game in Game 5, was held in check in Game 6. He was only able to score 11 points on a poor four for 16 shooting night from the field, and also turned the ball over four times. If Williams can outplay Lowry like this or even keep it close stats wise in Game 7 the Nets will be in great shape to advance.

In what it a rare thing to see in the playoffs, Jason Kidd went with a gutsy moved and switched up the starting lineup, as Shaun Livingston was benched for Alan Anderson. The move worked for Kidd, as Anderson led the team in rebounding with nine, and scored nine points on four for 10 shooting.

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Brooklyn’s starting lineup as a whole played well, as with their backs against the wall, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett all played well. Johnson was second on the Nets in scoring, as he finished with 17 points on five for 12 shooting with seven made free throws. Pierce and Garnett combined to score 25 points, and Garnett even was able to play 27 minutes, which raises the question how much will he have in the tank for Game 7?

In Game 6 the Nets also did a good job against the Raptors two main guns of the bench in Patrick Paterson and Greivis Vasquez. Patterson was held to just eight points on three for nine shooting, and Vasquez also struggled, scoring just nine points with only three assists.

Negatives:

The only negative for the Nets in Game 6 was that the Raptors All-Star DeMar DeRozan was able to have a very good game despite the rest of his team struggling. DeRozan finished with a game-high 28 points on eight for 18 shooting, while going 10 for 11 from the free-throw line, with six rebounds and four assists.

Next up will be a do or die Game 7 on Sunday in Toronto for the Nets and the Raptors with the seasons on the line.

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Nets Game 5 Comeback Falls Just Short Against Raptors

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 30th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors Game 5 Recap

Final Score: Nets 113 Raptors 115



In a crucial Game 5 on the road after losing Game 4 at home due to a late game scoring drought, the Nets found themselves down by 26 points at one point on Wednesday night, but fought back. Their miraculous attempt of a comeback however came up a little short, as after a offensive rebound on a missed free throw on purpose by Andray Blatche, he threw a wild pass over Deron Williams head, leading to a backcourt violation and a loss.

Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

As it has been for most of the series, Joe Johnson has been the Nets go to guy, and in an important Game 5 it was no different. Johnson took over the game for the Nets in the second half, as he finished with a team-high 30 points on 13 for 23 shooting, and was the major catalyst in the Nets attempted comeback. Johnson was a ridiculous +22 when on the court in the loss, but his early foul trouble in the first half certainly put the Nets behind the eight-ball.

Positives:

When the Nets went down by 26, Jason Kidd would strike gold with a few bench players, as Mirza Teletovic, Alan Anderson, and Blatche were big parts of the comeback. Teletovic was the Nets best player off the bench, as he finished with 17 points on six for 10 shooting, which included four three-pointers, and seven rebounds. Anderson also played well down the stretch, as he scored 13 points on four for seven shooting, and had two four-point plays in the fourth quarter.

Negatives:

In the Raptors Game 5 victory, Kyle Lowry had a fantastic performance, as he led his team to their first lead of the series. Lowry finished with a game-high 36 points on 11 for 19 shooting, with six three-pointers. Lowry also dished out six assists, as he outplayed Deron Williams, who finished with only 13 points, as the aggressive Williams that we have seen throughout the series wasn’t anywhere to be found in Game 5.

Lowry wasn’t alone in playing well for the Raptors, as his backcourt partner DeMar DeRozan played good yet again, as the highest scoring backcourt in the NBA Playoffs combined for 59 in Game 5. DeRozan finished with 23 points on five for 12 shooting, but went an outstanding 12 for 13 from the free throw line to go along with six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Greivis Vasquez also had a solid Game 5, as he scored 15 points on six for 12 shooting with six rebounds, and two assists.

The Nets veterans, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were both non-factors in the crucial Game 5, as when the Nets went on their run, Pierce and Garnett were both on the bench, and never returned. Garnett only played 12 minutes with four points and two rebounds, while Pierce scored 10 points with five turnovers in 24 minutes.

Next up for the Nets will be possibly their last game of the season at home, where they have been so great all season, and will need to win one more to keep their season alive.

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Nets Offense Disappears in Game 4 Loss

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 27th, 2014

Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 4 Recap

Final Score: Raptors 87 Nets 79

In a must win Game 4 for the young Toronto Raptors on the road, they were able to rise to the challenge and win their first playoff game on the road since 2001. The loss for the Nets evens the series up at two games a piece, and the home-court advantage switches back into the Raptors favor.

Player of the Game: Paul Pierce

In the Game 4 loss for Brooklyn they did receive a strong performance from Paul Pierce, who led the team in scoring. In the low scoring game on Sunday night, Pierce was able to drop 22 points on a great nine of 14 shooting from the field. Pierce added five rebounds and two assists to his final line, but was one of the few Nets to have a good game in the disappointing home loss.

Positives:

Besides Pierce the only other Nets player to turn in a good game was Mirza Teletovic, who had a strong game off the bench. Teletovic was second on the team in scoring with 12 points on five for nine shooting, shockingly none of which came from beyond the arc. Teletovic also added five rebounds, three of which were on the offensive end in a good 17 minutes of play.

Raptors Center Jonas Valanciunas has been a double-double machine in this season, but in Game 4, he was held to his worst game of the series, but noticeably only played 23 minutes. Valanciunas only had six points and six rebounds, far below what he has been doing to the Nets for the series in the first three games.

Negatives:

It was a tough night for most Nets on the offensive end starting with Deron Williams, who had a bad game in the loss. Williams finished with just 10 points on four for 12 shooting, as he went zero for five from beyond the arc, and turned the ball over five times. In his match-up against Kyle Lowry, Williams lost in Game 4 badly, as Lowry scored 22 points.

Joe Johnson also had a tough time getting going on Sunday, as the Raptors threw lots of double-teams at Johnson, which forced the ball out of his hands. Johnson finished with just seven points on two for seven shooting, in what was easily his worst game of the series thus far.

Amir Johnson had his second good game in the series, as he is emerging as an x-factor for the Raptors, as in both games he has scored in double-digits they have won. Johnson finished with 17 points on seven for 11 shooting with five rebounds. Johnson did hurt his knee which will certainly be something to keep an eye on before Game 5. DeMar DeRozan started off hot like the Raptors in Game 4, although he did struggle in the second half after starting the game seven of 10 from the field, but he still finished with a game-high 24 points

Excluding Teletovic, Brooklyn’s bench had a poor night scoring the basketball, as Andray Blatche and Alan Anderson combined to go a dreadful two for 11 from the field. Off the bench for the Raptors it was yet again another good game from Patrick Patterson, who early had a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.

The experienced Nets missed a golden opportunity to take a 3-1 lead at home on Sunday, as the turnovers really piled up for Brooklyn. The turnover battle has been an advantage for the Nets in the first three games, but in Game 4 the Raptors only turned it over 10 times compared to the Nets 16, which was certainly a difference in Game 4.

Next up will be a few days of rest before a huge Game 5 with the series tied on Wednesday night in Toronto.

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Raptors Defeat Nets to Even Series

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 22nd, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors Game 2 Recap

Final Score: Nets 95 Raptors 100

The Brooklyn Nets after a big Game 1 win in Toronto fell a little short in Game 2 against the Toronto Raptors. In what was really a must win game for the young Raptors, not wanting to head to Brooklyn down two games in the series, but they avoided that and tied the series at a game a piece with the victory.

Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

Once again for the Nets their best player against the Raptors was Joe Johnson, who led the Nets in scoring in the Game 2 loss. Johnson finished with a team-high 18 points on seven for 13 shooting to go along with three rebounds and two assists. Most of Johnson’s damage came in the third quarter, as he scored 12 points in the Nets best quarter of the game. In the fourth quarter however Johnson did struggle against Landry Fields, in what was a change in the Raptors rotation that we will likely be seeing again in Game 3.

Positives:

Coming off the bench Mirza Teletovic was the first man in for Brooklyn, as Paul Pierce picked up two fouls very quickly in the first, but in extended minutes Teletovic played well. Teletovic was the only Net in double-figures off the bench, scoring 14 points on five for 11 shooting, which included him going three for six from beyond the arc.

After a difficult Game 1, Center Kevin Garnett bounced back with a much better performance on the offensive end in Game 2. Garnett finished with 13 points on five for six shooting with four rebounds in 19 minutes. Shaun Livingston also came through with a strong Game 2, as he finished with 12 points on four for eight shooting to go with five assists and three rebounds.

For the second straight game, Terrance Ross was completely shutdown, as the young Ross is having a difficult start to his playoff career. Ross scored just two points on one for eight shooting, and for the series now is just two for 12 with five points.

Negatives:

In his playoff debut, DeMar DeRozan looked a bit shell-shocked and nervous, but in Game 2 it looked like the DeRozan that was in the top 10 in the NBA in scoring. DeRozan finished with a game-high 30 points on nine for 21 shooting, and went an impressive 12 for 14 from the free throw line. In the fourth quarter DeRozan exploded for 17 points, which included some big baskets and clutch free throws to earn the victory.

nba.com

The big men in the Raptors starting lineup were great in Game 2, as Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas both dominated the Nets on the glass, helping them win the rebounding battle 52-30. Johnson finished just shy of a double-double with 16 points on eight for 10 shooting, and nine rebounds. Valanciunas had yet another big double-double, as he finished with 15 points on five for nine shooting to go along with a game-high 14 rebounds.

Similar to Game 1 the Raptors got big performances from their bench, as the small rotation is working well for the young Raptors. Greivis Vasquez did very well again, scoring 10 points on five for 10 shooting, with eight assists, and three rebounds. Patrick Patterson continued to be a scoring threat off the bench, as he finished with 12 points on five for nine shooting, and he also helped dominate the glass with nine rebounds. Fields may not have scored, but his defense against Johnson was a major factor in the fourth quarter.

Deron Williams coming off a strong Game 1 had a tough time getting it going in Game 2. Williams struggled to score 15 points on five for 15 shooting with only five assists. Paul Pierce also struggled to get it going after a clutch fourth quarter in Game 1. Pierce finished with only seven points on two for 11 shooting, as it took him until the fourth quarter to get his first field goal.

Next up for the Nets will be a few days off as the series shifts to Brooklyn for Game 3 on Friday night.

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Nets Take Game 1 in Toronto

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 19th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors Game 1 Recap

Final Score: Nets 94 Raptors 87

The Brooklyn Nets were able to head up north of the border to Toronto and take Game 1 against the young Raptors. The experience of the Nets was talked about a lot heading into this game, and with a loud crowd and shot clock issues, it certainly looked like that experience was the difference in the game.

Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

Throughout the game Joe Johnson was the Nets most consistent player on offense from start to finish, and nearly played the whole game, as Jason Kidd only gave him three minutes of rest. Johnson finished with 24 points on eight for 13 shooting, including going a perfect eight for eight from the free throw line. Johnson not only scored well for the Nets, he also led the team in rebounds with eight. He had four assists, and two steals as well to round up a great overall game.

Positives:

In the first half it was a very aggressive Deron Williams, who was looking to score early and often. In the first half Williams had 18 points on seven for 17 shooting from the field. The second half was a different story for Williams, as he went one of three from the field. Williams finished going eight of 20 from the field for 24 points, which tied him with Johnson for the game-high.

Down the stretch for Brooklyn, Paul Pierce was the man to rise to the occasion like he has so many times in his career with some huge shots that gave the Nets the victory. Heading into the fourth quarter Pierce had just six points, but in the three minutes he scored nine points on a four for four shooting. Pierce finished with 15 points on six for 13 shooting with four rebounds, and four assists, as it was a good playoff debut for Pierce in a Nets uniform.

Raptor’s All-Star DeMar DeRozan was nowhere to be found in the loss, as he forced a lot of shots, and looked very uncomfortable in his playoff debut. DeRozan finished with just 14 points, well below his season average, as he shot it very poorly from the field going just three for 13, and zero for four from beyond the arc.

Negatives:

Center Jonas Valanciunas got off to a big start early for the Raptors on his way to a monster game, as the Nets inability to stop opposing team’s big men was on full display Saturday. Valanciunas finished with a big double-double, scoring 17 points on seven for 13 shooting to go along with a game-high 18 rebounds. The young Center did have six turnovers, but had a positive impact for the Raptors in his playoff debut.

Kyle Lowry did not disappoint in his first playoff start, as after a great regular season from Lowry he did all he could in Game 1 to get his team the win. Lowry finished with a team-high 22 points on seven for eight shooting to go along with eight assists, seven rebounds, and two steals. The Point Guard battle was pretty even between Williams and Lowry, this time resulting in a win for Brooklyn.

In the Nets resurgence this season, a lot of that had to do with them being able to hit the three-point shot with their smaller lineup, but on Saturday they were awful from deep. As a team the Nets shot four for 24 from behind the arc. The bench was the major problem shooting it from there, as Mirza Teletovic went zero from five, Alan Anderson went zero for three, and Marcus Thornton went zero for three.

The Raptors bench on the other hand played had two good performances Greivis Vasquez and Patrick Patterson. Vasquez went five of 11 from the field for 18 points to go along with eight assists and four rebounds, and Patterson went four for eight from the field with nine points and five rebounds. Vasquez and Patterson’s good play helped the Raptors, as they outplayed Brooklyn’s bench.

Next up for the will be a few days off for both teams before Game 2 on Tuesday night in Toronto.

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Series Preview: Brooklyn Nets vs Toronto Raptors

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

Eastern Conference Playoffs

Series Preview: Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

The Brooklyn Nets will be heading into the playoffs for the second consecutive season, as after a strong inaugural season in Brooklyn, the Nets loss a tough series to the Chicago Bulls. This postseason they will be looking for their first playoff series win as the Brooklyn Nets against the team they were chasing the whole season in the Atlantic Division, the Toronto Raptors.

Match-Up of the Series: Deron Williams vs. Kyle Lowry

In what has been a great season for the Toronto Raptors, one of the major contributors to that has been Kyle Lowry, who has had an All-Star worthy season. Lowry is one of the more complete all-around Point Guards in the NBA, as this season he is averaging 17.9 points, 7.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. Against the Nets this season Lowry has been very efficient and effective scoring in four games this season, as he is averaging 22 points on 50% shooting from the field. Deron Williams has certainly had a disappointing season for the Nets, as he is averaging just 14.3 points and 6.1 assists per game, but if the Nets are going to do anything in the playoffs they need Williams to step it up and that has to start against Lowry.

nba.com

- Debut for DeMar

Raptors Shooting Guard DeMar DeRozan is having a season of firsts, as in February he made his first All-Star team, and now after a bunch of losing season will be making his playoff debut after playing the best basketball of his career so far. Nationally, DeRozan may not be a household name like some players, but this season DeRozan is averaging 22.7 points per game, which puts him in the Top 10 in scoring for the NBA this season. DeRozan will be given the chance to shine on the National stage in the postseason, and something big to watch and that could go a long way to deciding the series is whether he rises or falls to the biggest challenge of his NBA career.

- Youth vs. Experience

The experience differential is eye-pooping in the series between these two teams, as in total the Raptors roster has 156 games of playoff experience. In comparison Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have played in a combined 267 career playoff games. A major concern for the Raptors has to be that their playoff inexperience comes mostly from their starting lineup that has three starters that have never played in a playoff game. TThe two starters that have, Lowry and Amir Johnson have combined to play in 24 playoff games, but neither has started a playoff game.

- Center Dilemma

For most of the season size has bothered the Nets in large part due to the absence of Kevin Garnett, and Jason Kidd using a small lineup with Paul Pierce at the Power Forward position, and although the Nets avoided Joakim Noah and the Chicago Bulls, they will have to deal with Jonas Valanciunas. Valanciunas is playing very well in April, as he is averaging a double-double in eight games with 16.8 points and 11 rebounds per game. Against the Nets this season he has been solid averaging 10.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. A major question going into the playoff is what is the realistic expectation of what Garnett will be able to give the Nets? The amount of minutes Garnett will be playing is unknown and even if it is more than he has been since returning from the back spasms, there hasn’t been a whole of court time to see how effective he will be. If Garnett is ineffective or can’t play much, Kidd does have the luxury of going with Mason Plumlee and Andray Blatche off the bench.

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Nets Snap Two-Game Losing Streak Against Magic

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 13^th, 2014

Orlando Magic vs Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Magic 88 Nets 97

The Brooklyn Nets were able to snap their two-game losing streak on Sunday, and also get some revenge on the Orlando Magic from a loss in Orlando recently. The win moves the Nets to (44-36) on the season, as now the Nets will just be scoreboard watching to see if they will be playing either the Toronto Raptors or Chicago Bulls in the first round.

Player of the Game: Mirza Teletovic

Coming off the bench, Teletovic scored a game-high 20 points in the win for Brooklyn, as he shot seven for 12 from the field, which included him going four for seven from beyond the arc. Teletovic also grabbed six rebounds in 29 minutes, as come playoff time Teletovic can be an X-factor for the Nets with his ability to stretch the floor from the Power Forward position.

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Positives:

Mason Plumlee had yet another good game for the Nets, as lately Plumlee has been looking really good whether it is coming off the bench or in the starting lineup. In 26 minutes off the bench, Plumlee notched a double-double with 17 points on six for eight shooting, as he went five for eight from the free throw line, while grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.

Brooklyn's back court of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson both looked sharp on Sunday against Orlando, which is a good sign seeing both of them playing well at the same time heading into what will be a difficult first round match-up. Williams finished with 16 points on five for 10 shooting, which included him going four for seven from deep, with five assists and four steals. For Williams it was his 29^th straight game with at least one steal, which is the longest active streak in the NBA. Johnson finished with 17 points on six for 13 shooting, including going three for seven from beyond the arc. Johnson moved into second place on the franchise's single-season made three pointers list with 160 for the season, Williams is in first place with 169 last season.

Negatives:

In the third quarter the Nets and Paul Pierce suffered a bit of a scare, as it appeared he got yet another stinger after getting hit hard by Kyle O'Quinn. Pierce stayed on the bench instead of going to the locker room but he never returned. Kevin Garnett also had a bit of a scare as he was nearly flipped in the second quarter landing on his back, but he stayed in the game. Garnett however didn’t play particularly well, scoring just three points on one for three shooting from the field with five turnovers.

Next up for the Nets will be their final meeting with the rival New York Knicks on Tuesday night in the Barclay’s Center.

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Nets Have Big Letdown in Orlando

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 9th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Orlando Magic Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 111 Magic 115

sbnation.com

The Brooklyn Nets coming off a great win against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night laid an egg on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic, losing 115-111. The loss moves the Nets to (43-35) on the season, which leaves them three games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division with four games to play, almost assuring that the Nets will be the fifth seed in the East.

Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

Easily the best player for the Nets in their losing effort on Wednesday was Joe Johnson, who for the second straight game led the Nets in scoring. Johnson finished with a game-high 31 points on 11 for 19 shooting. Johnson also added five assists and four rebounds to go along with his big scoring night, but it wasn’t enough to help the Nets get the win with three rotation players sitting, as with a chance to tie the game he had his three-point attempt blocked by Kyle O’Quinn.

Positives:

In his second game back from the back spasms that cost him to miss 19 straight games, Kevin Garnett was very good in his 17 minutes of play. Garnett scored only five points on two for two shooting, but grabbed eight rebounds, and had six assists. A productive Garnett can be a huge weapon for the Nets come playoff time in what will be a difficult first round match-up.

After a huge game-winning block on LeBron James, Mason Plumlee was moved back to the bench with the return of Garnett, but Plumlee played extremely well coming in for Garnett. Plumlee finished with 16 points off the bench on seven for eight shooting to go along with five rebounds, but Plumlee did foul out in the fourth quarter.

Negatives:

Deron Williams really struggled on Wednesday coming off a poor game scoring against the Heat where he scored just eight points. Against Orlando, Williams scored 11 points on a horrendous three for 14 shooting day, which included going one for six from behind the three-point arc.

For the Magic off the bench a major factor in their second quarter domination was E’Twaun Moore. Moore scored 14 straight points in the second quarter, and finished with 17 points on a perfect six for six shooting day from the field, which included him going five for five from three-point range.

The Nets were far from 100% in this game, as Shaun Livingston was given the day off, Andray Blatche missed his second straight game with an illness, and Paul Pierce despite being five points shy of 25,000 sat out with a hip pointer.

Next up for the Nets will be a trip back to the Barclays Center where they have won 15 straight, and will look to make it 16 straight on Friday against the Hawks.

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Nets Hold on to Victory in Philadelphia

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 5^th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs Philadelphia 76ers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 105 76ers 101

The Brooklyn Nets were able to win the second half of a back to back against the horrible Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night, and with the win moved the Nets to (42-34) on the season. The victory keeps the Nets 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division with six games left on the schedule.

Player of the Game: Deron Williams

In the win on Saturday, it was Deron Williams who helped lead the Nets to the road victory against the woeful 76ers. Williams scored a team-high 19 points on six for 11 shooting with nine assists and four rebounds. Williams also tied a Nets franchise record, as he was able to swipe a steal in his 26^th consecutive game. In the fourth quarter with the lead falling apart, Williams had a big four-point play to help the Nets hold on to the win.

Positives:

On Saturday night the biggest positive for the Nets was the return of their Center Kevin Garnett, who had been out with back spasms for the previous 19 games. In his return, Garnett played very good against the 76ers, which was probably the best opponent for anyone to get rid of rust against. He finished with 10 points on five for six shooting with four rebounds, one steal, and one block in 13 minutes. With his 10 points, Garnett also passed Alex English for 14^th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Biggest thing for the Nets and Garnett moving forward will be how many minutes the medical staff thinks he can play for the rest of the regular season, and eventually the playoffs.

espn.go.com

Due to the return of Garnett, it moved Mason Plumlee back to the bench, but Plumlee still saw a good amount of court time, and played well in his new role. Plumlee finished with 16 points on eight for 10 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds in 23 minutes. The combination of Garnett and Plumlee makes the Nets Center situation look a lot better heading into the playoff then it did with just Plumlee as the starter.

Scoring wise the Nets were pretty well balanced with six players in double-digits, as besides Williams Garnett and Plumlee, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson and Andray Blatche also had 10 or more points. Pierce finished with 11 points on five for 10 shooting in addition to his five rebounds and four assists. Johnson added 12 points on four for nine shooting, and Blatche scored 10 on four for eight shooting in just 11 minutes.

Negatives:

the second half wasn’t very good for Brooklyn after they heading into halftime with a 15-point lead, as the 76ers outscored them in the third quarter by three points, and the in the fourth by eight points. Jason Kidd decided to never bring Garnett, Pierce or Johnson back into the game, which was a questionable decision with the 76ers mounting a comeback, but Williams and the bench got it done to hold on to the win.

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W2W4: Detroit Pistons vs Brooklyn Nets April 4th, 2014

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 4th, 2014

W2W4: Detroit Pistons vs. Brooklyn Nets

Pre-Game News and Notes

barclayscenter.com

The Brooklyn Nets will be back at the Barclays Center looking to bounce back from an embarrassing loss on Wednesday night in Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. Brooklyn is currently 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division, and will be looking for some help on Friday from the Pacers, who will be in Toronto.

Match-Up of the Game: Brandon Jennings vs. Deron Williams

The match-up of the game for the Brooklyn Nets has to be at the Point Guard position, as the Nets small lineup will no doubt have their hands full with the monster front court of the Pistons; it puts pressure on Williams to have to outplaying Jennings, and control tempo. In the three games that Jennings has played against Brooklyn this season, despite a poor shooting percentage his stats are pretty good. In the three wins the Pistons have this season against the Nets; Jennings is averaging 16 points, 7.7 assists, and five rebounds per game. Williams has missed one of the losses to the Pistons, but in two games his assist numbers are down at just 4.5 per game, but he is averaging 16 points which is a bit above his season average.

- Rebound

In the Nets three losses to the Pistons this season it has been the frontcourt of the Pistons that have really hurt Brooklyn, as they have been able to dominate the painted area. In the three games, the Pistons are out-rebounding the Nets by 10.3 per game, and out-scoring them in the paint by and average of 23.3 points, which is ridiculous. Andre Drummond has been the main problem for the Nets, as in the last two games the up and coming young Center is averaging 19 points and 17.5 rebounds per game. Kevin Garnett will be missing his 19th straight game so Plumlee will once again be asked to shoulder the load at the Center position.


- Series Sweep

Detroit will be looking for an impressive season series sweep against the Nets, after what has been a disappointing season for a team that had to think with all its off-season moves and a weak Eastern Conference that they would be in the playoffs. Pulling off the sweep will be no easy task however with the Nets at home being backed by a 14-game home winning streak. If the Pistons can pull of the sweep it will be the first time since the 2007-08 season that they did, as that year they won all three games against the then New Jersey Nets.

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Nets Win 12th Straight at Home

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 28th, 2014

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Cavaliers 97 Nets 108

philly.com

The Brooklyn Nets were able to return home to the Barclays Center after an extremely tough road-trip that the Nets had to play three overtime games. On Friday they were able to avoid a fourth straight overtime game, and extended their winning streak at home to 12 games with the victory against the Cavaliers. The win moves the Nets to (39-33) on the season, and keeps them 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division, as the Raptors defeated the Celtics on Friday as well.

Player of the Game: Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce was the Nets best scorer on Friday in the win, as he only had to play 20 minutes, but had a huge impact on the game. In his limited time Pierce led all scorers with a game-high 22 points on five for six shooting from the three-point line, and going a perfect seven for seven from the free throw line. Pierce scored 17 of the 22 points in the first quarter, and all of Pierce’s points came in the first half. He also was able to extend his 100 three-pointers made in a season to 14 straight seasons a remarkable feat for Pierce.

Positives:

Brooklyn’s starting lineup did a pretty good job along with Pierce having a great game in the easy win. Joe Johnson was also very efficient shooting the basketball, as he went six of eight from the field, which included him going two for three from three-point range to extend his streak of a game with a three-pointer made to 20 straight, in route to him scoring 14 points. Deron Williams played well too, as in 26 minutes he scored 13 points on five for 10 shooting to go along with five assists, two rebounds, and two steals.

Shaun Livingston was the do it all guy for Brooklyn on Friday, as he led the team with 34 minutes and also had the highest +/- of any player going +28. Livingston finished with just eight points, but was efficient going four for five from the field, and like in a lot of games this season it was more than just scoring for Livingston. Along with the eight points, Livingston added eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

In the battle of the bench’s, Brooklyn had the advantage going into the game, and it showed on the court. The Cavaliers bench only combined for 18 points compared to the 48 points for the Nets. Alan Anderson was the leading scorer for the Nets off the bench, as he scored 13 points on six for 10 shooting. Andray Blatche was also in double figures, as he scored 10 points on four for five shooting.

On the road-trip the Nets really struggle to defend opposing team’s frontcourts and rebound, but on Friday the Nets did a much better on the glass, as they out-rebounded the Cavaliers 41-35. Mirza Teletovic was the Nets best player on the glass, as he grabbed 10 rebounds in 28 minutes. Mason Plumlee also did pretty well rebounding, grabbing seven in 20 minutes.

Next up for the Nets will be a home game on Sunday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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W2W4: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Brooklyn Nets March 28th, 2014

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 28th, 2014

W2W4: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets

Pre-Game News and Notes

After a very difficulty three-game road trip for the Nets that included three overtime games, they will be back at the Barclays Center for a Friday night showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Heading into Friday the Nets are 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division, and the Raptors will also be in action Friday playing at home against the Celtics.

ourbksocial.com

Match-Up of the Game: Jarrett Jack vs. Deron Williams

The Cavaliers have been without their best player in Kyrie Irving, but Jarrett Jack has picked his game up in his absence. In the last three games Jack is averaging just over 20 points per game, as Williams will have his hands full at the Point Guard position even without the All-Star Irving. In the last two game Williams has been very good on his own in two overtime losses, as against the Pelicans he scored 23 and then against the Bobcats he scored 29 points. Both players are talented and playing well in their last few games, so it should be fun to watch Jack and Williams’ battle on Friday.

- Playing Spoiler

In the Cavaliers mild three-game winning streak they have been able to play a bit of spoiler lately. The first game of their winning streak came in a huge come from behind win against the New York Knicks, who are trying to get the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The second win was even more impressive as they were able to take down the Raptors, who the Nets have been chasing for months. The Nets have been red hot in the Barclays Center, but it wouldn’t be wise to overlook the Cavaliers.


- Defending the Big Men

Without Kevin Garnett the defending opposing team’s frontcourts have been a disaster for the Nets and their small lineups. On Friday the Cavaliers have two pretty good ones they’ll be using in Spencer Hawes and Anderson Varejao. Hawes and Varejao are two very different players, but both can hurt the Nets in different ways. Hawes is the more offensive minded Center, as he can really stretch out a defense with his ability to hit three-pointers. Varejao on the other hand is more of a blue collar player that will be fighting for every rebound, which maybe more troublesome for the Nets, as they struggle badly to rebound the basketball. Skill wise Hawes and Varejao aren’t near Anthony Davis or Al Jefferson who the Nets have played recently, but both of them excel in certain departments, which could hurt the Nets in the frontcourt.

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Nets Road-Trip Concludes with Overtime Loss to Bobcats

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 27th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Charlotte Bobcats Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 111 Bobcats 116

For the third straight game on their road-trip the Nets played an overtime game, but like Monday against the Pelicans the Nets came up short in the extra session. The loss moves the Nets (37-33) on the season, which is 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Player of the Game: Deron Williams

The availability of Deron Williams was questionable heading into Wednesday’s game, as Williams was feeling under the weather, but Williams was able to play very well in the overtime loss. Williams was able to score a team-high 29 points on 11 for 21 shooting, which included him going five of 11 from three point range. 18 of Williams’ 29 points came in the first quarter that the Nets were able to win 28-24. Williams was also able to extend his steal streak to 20 games with one steal to go along with seven assists and four rebounds.

Positives:

Brooklyn’s bench was able to give them some good production without one of their main guns in Marcus Thornton, who was out with a back injury. Mirza Teletovic was able to pick up the scoring the Nets were missing without Thornton, as Teletovic scored 22 points off the bench on six of 12 from three-point range to go along with his four free throws, as Teletovic didn’t register an attempted shot inside the three-point line. Alan Anderson was also in double figures, as he notched 10 points on three of eight shooting.

Joe Johnson was able to help Williams with the scoring load in the starting lineup, but it was only those two in double figures. Johnson finished with 18 points on seven for 16 shooting with five rebounds and three assists. Johnson went four of seven from three-point range, as the Nets as a team were firing away going 17 for 37 from deep, and in the last two games have attempted a franchise record 77 three-point attempts.

Negatives:

As expected the Nets had no answer at all for Bobcats Center Al Jefferson, who put together a monster game. Jefferson finished with a game-high 35 points on 15 for 27 shooting to go along with 15 rebounds, as for the third straight game the Nets have given up a big double-double to an opposing teams big man. The need for Kevin Garnett to get healthy is becoming more and more apparent.

sportsspyder.com

Jefferson wasn’t the only player to hurt the Nets, as they got some good guard play from Kemba Walker and Chris Douglas-Roberts. Walker scored 20 points on eight for 21 shooting to go along with 12 assists, five rebounds, and one steal in 45 minutes. Former Net, Douglas-Roberts provided a boost off the Bobcats bench with 16 points on six for 14 shooting with five rebounds.

Next up for the Nets will be a home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the Nets will look to keep their great play at the Barclays Center going.

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