Nets Offense Once Again Non-Existent In Loss to Bulls

sbnation.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 25th, 2013

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Game Three Recap

Final Score: Nets 76 Bulls 79

The Brooklyn Nets suffered their second straight playoff loss to the Chicago Bulls, and now trail in the best of seven series two games to one, as a combination of good Bulls defense and bad Nets offense has the Nets heading into a very important Game Four on Saturday afternoon.

Positives:

- For the second straight game there wasn’t many positives for the Brooklyn Nets, but Brook Lopez was one of the few Nets who did come thru with a nice game. Lopez scored a team-high 22 points on eight for 16 shooting, while grabbing nine rebounds, and blocking a ridiculous seven shots. As good, as Lopez was offensively he may have looked the best he did all season on the defensive end against All-Star Center Joakim Noah. Lopez held Noah to one point on zero for seven shooting, and although Noah is clearly hurt, it was an impressive job by Lopez.



- Joe Johnson was questionable coming into Game Three due to his planter fasciitis, but he started for the Nets and was the only Net besides Lopez to play well. Johnson scored 15 points on six for 14 shooting, and P.J. Carlesimo played him a team-high 41 minutes despite being questionable heading into the game.

Negatives:

- For the second straight game Nets Point Guard Deron Williams struggled for Brooklyn, and if Williams isn’t playing well point totals in the 70s can be expected against a good defensive team like the Bulls. Williams finished with 18 points, but it did not come easy, as he shot just five for 14 from the field. Williams also had just four assists, as it was not a very good game for the Nets main man.

- After a good Game One against the Bulls Gerald Wallace seems to have gone back to his regular season self, as it’s been two straight bad games from the Nets Small Forward. Wallace scored just five points on two for eight shooting, which included him going one for five from behind the three-point line. 

- The bench really struggled for Brooklyn in the loss too, as the combo of Andray Blatche and C.J. Watson, who both scored very well in the first two games both struggled badly in Game Three. Blatche scored seven points on three for nine shooting in 21 minutes, and Watson scored just two points on one for eight shooting. It is also note worthy that Taj Gibson posterized Kris Humphries in the second quarter, which was quite the slam-dunk by Gibson.