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| He didn't need a game-winning buzzer-beater, but Joe Johnson hit a bunch of threes in the Nets' romp over the Hawks today in London |
When the latest point in a game any NBA team is losing at is in the 1st quarter, then it was probably a good day for that team. The Brooklyn Nets were down 25-24 with 1:53 left in the opening frame against the Hawks, but took the lead on one of Joe Johnson's six three-pointers and never looked back, going on to absolutely annihilate Atlanta in London. Brooklyn improved to 6-1 in 2014 with the win, and 16-22 overall.
Joe was on fire in the 1st half of this itineration of the NBA Global Games, the league's initiative to spread the popularity of both the NBA and basketball in general overseas. He scored 26 of his 29 total points for the game in the first two quarters, in which he drilled five long balls. One of his threes came right as the 2nd quarter ended, and extended Brooklyn's lead to 65-53, which essentially sealed off the win for Jason Kidd's team.
Johnson, against his former team, wasn't the only Net to go off in this one, though. Deron Williams (ankle) didn't make the trip across the pond, so Alan Anderson got the start at shooting guard and didn't disappoint, as he hit four threes and scored 14 points to add to the Nets' incredible scoring effort–they shot 58 percent as a team overall and 59 percent from three (16-of-27).
Every Net that played–Reggie Evans never got in–scored at least one basket, and some guys did much more than just that. Andray Blatche, who has a truly unmatched shot selection, dropped in 20 on 10-for-18 shooting and also grabbed 14 rebounds, an amount that more than doubled that of anyone else in the game. He did commit five turnovers, but with 'Dray, you have to take the good with the bad, and today/tonight (depending on the time zone) he provided a lot more good.
Pierce and Garnett played great, too. Paul was lighting it up from mid-range and three, hitting half of his 16 shots for 18 points, with six assists to boot. KG's classic 18-footer is rounding into midseason shape, as he hit a bunch of those en route to a 75 percent shooting performance and 12 points in 18 minutes. He didn't shoot well, but Jason Terry even looked decent, dishing out seven of the Nets' 38 assists.
Some other observations I had from the game: There really isn't much to say about this one other than that the Nets looked like a team in a much higher tier than that of the Hawks, who have a winning record, but were totally crushed today. Still smarting from their last game, a 16-point loss to the Raptors on Saturday in which the Nets blew a double-digit lead, Brooklyn came out with a ton of energy and blew its opponent right out of England and into Wales. Exactly what was needed from a team that still has a lot of work to do to get back into the playoff race…..I didn't mention him above, but Mirza Teletovic also entered the three-point fray, hitting all three of his attempts from deep. Boy, when Mirza's feeling it, his shot is a piece of art that doesn't miss the bottom of the net very often…..Brooklyn is now 2-0 against Atlanta this season, and although the Hawks miss Al Horford–who is out for the season with a pectoral tear–greatly, they are a solid team with a winning record. That means today's triumph is another great win for the Nets, who seem to be hitting their stride at an optimal time of the season…..Nets' assistant coach Joe Prunty serves as the head coach for Great Britain's national team, and was re-upped in that role a few days ago. Just another thing to point out.
Looking Ahead
The Nets head back to the US and have a few days off until they take on the Knicks, for the second time this season, in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee on Monday.
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