Nets Cruise Past 76ers

NetsDaily.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 9th, 2013

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: 76ers 83 Nets 104

The Brooklyn Nets were able to get their second straight win, as the season is coming to a close, and by beating the Philadelphia 76ers the Nets now have a three game lead on the Chicago Bulls for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, which will give Brooklyn home court in the first round of the playoffs.

Positives:

- All-Star Center Brook Lopez led the way for the Nets in this one, with a big game, as Brooklyn’s front court dominated the 76ers all game. Lopez had a game-high 29 points on 13 for 22 shooting, with 11 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Lopez has been scoring very well in his last 10 games, as he is averaging 23.3 points per game on over 50% shooting in that stretch.



- The other starter in Brooklyn’s frontcourt, Power Forward Reggie Evans also had a monster game like Lopez in the win. Evans scored 17 points on six for 10 shooting, with 24 rebounds, and three steals. For Evans this game was the NBA best ninth time he was able to grab more than 20 rebounds in a game. Evans had a double-double in the first quarter, which is the first time a player has done that in a game since Dwight Howard did it against the Miami Heat in 2011.

- The bench unit got a lot of playing time in the blowout win, which meant a good amount of minutes for MarShon Brooks, who played a very good game off the bench. In 25 minutes Brooks scored a bench leading 11 points on four for eight shooting, with seven rebounds. Brooks was also the only bench player on the Nets with a positive +/-.

- Overall as a team the Nets did a very good not turning the ball over something that has been a problem most of the year, and has gotten the Nets into trouble against the better teams in the league. On Tuesday the Nets only turned it over 10 times, with the starting five only turning it over five times. If the Nets want to do something in the playoffs protecting the ball will be a big part of that, as giving teams easy baskets off turnover is not a formula to win in the playoffs.

Negatives:

- In a 21 point win there isn’t a lot that goes wrong for the team, but the Nets did have problems shooting the ball from behind the three-point line. Brooklyn only went five for 20 from deep, which is a low 25%. C.J. Watson was the one player who struggled the most from deep, as he went zero for four, and just one for eight in what was a tough game for Watson.

Next up for the Nets will be the Boston Celtics on Wednesday in Boston, but a good thing was that most starters for Brooklyn will be semi rested on the back to back due to not having to play a lot in the blowout win on Tuesday.