Maybe the single-most frustrating aspect of this uber-frustrating Nets season is the fact that Brooklyn, after a shocking 100-97 road win over the Celtics on Saturday afternoon, is just 7-9 in games in which they held a double-digit lead. That’s not a mistake; Lionel Hollins’ team has a losing record on the year when it, at one point, is up by 10 or more points. Crazy.
But, as annoying as that may be, in their first game of 2016, the Nets tried to buck that trend with a crazy win over Boston, which Brooklyn was up by as much as 13 points late in the third quarter. Of course, without Jarrett Jack who left the game following a painful non-contact knee injury in the second half, Brooklyn limped to the finish line and gave the Celtics multiple chances to tie the game — and even take the lead — in the final minutes of regulation. However, unlike in the games against the Mavericks and Magic, the Nets were able to hold on for a huge and much-needed win.
Right from the opening tip, the Nets made a point of getting Brook Lopez (who ended with a season-high 30 points to go with 13 rebounds) involved early on offense. He roasted Amir Johnson (and Jared Sullinger) down low as the game took an up-tempo format which resulted in 60 first quarter points (the Nets led 31-29 after one). Jarrett Jack also had five first quarter assists in a very strong offensive 12 minutes for Brooklyn but a very weak defensive 12 minutes.
The Nets continued their strong play into the second quarter and, even with reserves in, was able to build a 48-40 advantage by the midway point of the frame. Willie Reed (with just a little Andrea Bargnani) was very impressive on the glass and at the rim defensively as he actually played a few minutes with Brook also on the floor, which proved to be an effective pairing.
However, Brooklyn then went cold, not scoring for over five minutes as the Celtics scored nine unanswered points to take the lead. The Nets finished the half with nine points in under two minutes, though, so they went into the break ahead 56-55. It was a shaky frame because Lionel Hollins chose to bench his key players who had two fouls — like Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young — and instead relied on a mostly bench lineup that did not work in the slightest.
Coming out of the half, the Nets looked like a completely different team. Boston was unable to get many good shots off while Brooklyn made shots, ran nice offensive sets and even locked down the defensive boards, which were a major problem area in the first half. They outscored the Celtics 25-16 in the frame (to go up 81-71 into the fourth) as Joe Johnson (yes, that one!) and Bojan Bogdanovic got hot from the field, making a couple of threes. Also, Brook continued to dominate the paint at both ends of the floor.
A Jared Sullinger flagrant foul on Lopez just a few minutes into the quarter really seemed to kickstart the Nets, who turned that possession (and additional free throws) into five points as part of a larger 9-0 run that helped to put distance between them and the Celtics. However, on a fastbreak drive a few minutes later, Jarrett Jack buckled his knee in ugly, non-contact fashion and had to leave the game, putting a damper on the Nets’ good play. He wouldn’t return and was diagnosed with a right knee sprain, but will have an MRI done tomorrow. It was a tough play to watch and probably will sideline Jarrett for awhile, which is the last thing the injury-plagued Nets need.
Jack’s absence clearly hurt Brooklyn in the fourth quarter, which was essentially a 12-minute turnover-filled slog for the road team. The Nets lost all offensive rhythm with Brook and Thaddeus on the bench, so Hollins had to sub them in after just 2.5 minutes since Boston scored seven of the quarter’s first nine points. The Celtics tied the score at 83 with five straight points after that and it appeared as if the trademark Brooklyn fourth quarter collapse was on.
But, after a Brooklyn timeout, a three-point play from Lopez gave the Nets the lead back and after an Evan Turner jumper brought the Celtics within a point, three unanswered baskets from Lopez (two) and Wayne Ellington put Brooklyn up seven. Yet, the Celtics kept coming back, and found themselves down just four a few minutes later after an Isaiah Thomas three and only three with 39 ticks left on a Jae Crowder three-point play.
A Brook Lopez dunk on a perfectly executed full court press break by the Nets put them up 100-95 but, after a Crowder missed three, another Shane Larkin (in for Jack) turnover gave Boston the ball right back. Crowder decided to pass up an open dunk to find Thomas, who missed a three which was put back by Evan Turner to make it a one-possession game again. Of course, the Nets then committed another turnover so Jonas Jerebko had a chance to send the game to overtime with a three. He missed, and the rebound was tapped back out to Marcus Smart, who ran out of time before he could attempt to extend the game. It was a crazy, and sloppy, end-of-game sequence by the Nets but they ended up getting the job done and are now 10-23.
Some other observations I had from the game: Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young both posted double-doubles again and each were very good on both offense and defense, but the X-factor today was Joe Johnson, who scored 20 points and finally looked like his trademark self. Joe knocked down countless jumpers in key moments during the second half and was the calming presence down the stretch for a Nets team that desperately needs stability and a reliable scorer during its late-game swoons….Bojan added 13 and also made some big shots — and rebounds (he had six) — but the Nets didn’t get much from their bench as Larkin had his worst game of the season. He clearly pressed during the fourth quarter with Jack out and his poor decision-making nearly cost the Nets a win….Willie Reed has incredible potential as a shot-blocker and interior scorer, but he took a few 10-footers today (he split the pair) that looked decent off the hands. If he can consistently make those, his value on offense can skyrocket as he’s hard enough to defend at the rim, but could be a terror in stretching the floor….Once again, even with the win, the Nets almost gave away a game that they led by double digits at one points. It’s fine when you get the W, but it’s a trend that has to stop, especially because it’s hard enough for this team to compete most nights.
Looking Ahead: These two teams do it again on Monday night in Brooklyn.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
