Nets Win 12th Straight at Home

philly.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 28th, 2014

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Cavaliers 97 Nets 108

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.

Knicks Routed By Suns in Phoenix

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Friday, March 28^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Phoenix Suns

Post Game Recap

For the second time on this west coast trip, the New York Knicks inexplicably no showed. This time it was against a team that had something to play for still in the Phoenix Suns, and the end result was a 112-88 massacre. The game was never really close, as the Suns got off to a scorching start and never let up on a Knicks team who just didn’t have it tonight on either end of the court. The Knicks once again lost out on a golden opportunity to close the gap between them and the Atlanta Hawks, now sitting two games behind them for eighth place in the Eastern Conference once again. The Knicks will be back on the court Sunday night against the Golden State Warriors.

Player of the Game: None

It is becoming a troubling trend that the Knicks are playing so poorly there is no player worth naming as the player of the game. It was a rough game for everyone on both ends of the court.

AP Photo/Matt York

-Positive

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

ourbksocial.com

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.

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.

Nets Road-Trip Concludes with Overtime Loss to Bobcats

sportsspyder.com

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.

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.

Knicks Have Solid Bounce Back Effort to Defeat Kings

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, March 26^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Sacramento Kings

Post Game Recap

Kelly L. Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks made it a lot more difficult than it had to be Wednesday night, but they were still able to pull out a much needed victory over the Sacramento Kings by the score of 107-99. The Knicks and Kings have a history of roller coaster games in Sacramento and tonight was no different. The Knicks led by as many as 24 points but the Kings were able to get it as close as three in the fourth quarter. Nonetheless it was a nice, and necessary, bounce back win as the win puts the Knicks three back in the loss column and two in the standings with 10 to play. The Knicks will continue their west coast trip Friday with a visit to the Phoenix Suns.

Player of the Game: J.R. Smith

Smith was huge for the Knicks tonight, as he caught fire right from the beginning and never slowed down. Smith tied the Knicks franchise record for three-pointers made in a game, draining nine of his 12 attempts from deep en route to 29 points. Smith made timely basket after timely basket in the fourth quarter for the Knicks to help them bring home the victory. When the Kings cut the lead to six with about 9:30 remaining Smith nailed a three pointer to get the lead back to nine. After they got it to four with about seven minutes remaining Smith knocked down yet another three. Finally, with just over four minutes remaining and the Kings on another run knocking the Knicks lead to just two, Smith knocked down his ninth and final three of the game to put the Knicks up five. Smith was very vocal after the Los Angeles Lakers game last night, and he came up big time for the Knicks, backing up everything he said. He also added four rebounds, four assists and a block to round out his stat line.

Erza Shaw/Getty Images

Match-up of the Game Recap:

The center match-up highlighted before the game was dominated tonight by DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins was unstoppable tonight as the Knicks had little answer to slowing him down. With Tyson Chandler dealing with foul trouble Cousins had his way offensively, dominating in the paint and showing off an impressive jump shot. Cousins finished the game with a monster stat line of 32 points, 15 rebounds, a season-high eight assists, two steals and two blocks. Chandler was hampered with foul trouble, but still managed to put up a respectable line with 10 points, eight rebounds and one block in only 29 minutes.

-Positives

Carmelo Anthony put up a solid effort tonight to help get the Knicks a victory. Anthony finished the game with a game-high 36 points on 12-21 from the field, knocking down 5-8 from three point range and all seven of his free throw attempts. Anthony added five rebounds in the process, to go along with two assists, one steal and one block. Anthony had a monster third quarter, scoring 12 points to make sure the Knicks did not have a repeat of the last two games to start the second half.

Seemingly every game this season the Knicks have been at a disadvantage at the point guard position, but tonight they caught a break with Isaiah Thomas being injured, and they were able to take advantage. Rookie and second round pick Ray McCallum got the start for the Kings tonight and the Knicks were able to rattle him early on. He got it going a bit in the second half, but it was too little too late for the Kings. On the other hand, Raymond Felton put together a strong game, handing out 10 assists with zero turnovers and pulling down seven rebounds.

The Knicks got much better results from their bench tonight. They were still outscored by the Kings bench, but they got positive contributions from the players who came into the game. Pablo Prigioni delivered seven assists in 16 minutes, while Iman Shumpert provided some solid defense and Tim Hardaway Jr. provided a dagger basket on the last possession. Cole Aldrich should also be applauded for being ready to play once Amar’e Stoudemire and Chandler got into foul trouble.

Erza Shaw/Getty Images

-Negative

While the Knicks were able to pull the victory out tonight, they made it much more difficult than it had to be. Once again this team lacked the killer instinct to put away a team, as the Kings bounced back from a 24-point deficit they faced halfway through the third quarter. If not for the sharp shooting of Smith and timely baskets from players like Anthony and Hardaway Jr. this would have once again been an embarrassing and disaster of a loss for the Knicks.

W2W4: New York Knicks vs. Sacramento Kings; March 26th, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, March 26^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Sacramento Kings

Pre-Game News and Notes

The New York Knicks will look to bounce back from possibly their most embarrassing performance of the season Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings tonight. The Knicks were handled with ease by the Los Angeles Lakers, and will look to get back on track with only 11 games remaining on the season and their playoff hopes on life support. The Knicks will have revenge on their mind tonight as well to help add fuel to the fire, as the Kings won the first meeting this season at Madison Square Garden. Here are some keys to the game tonight.

Match-Up of the Game: Tyson Chandler vs. DeMarcus Cousins

cowbellkingdom.com

Chandler was non-existent in the game Tuesday night and will have to step his game up against the Kings and Cousins or else he will get embarrassed. Cousins is one of, if not the most, talented center in the NBA. He leads the Kings in points, rebounds, steals and blocks on the season, showing how great he is on both ends of the court. In the first match-up this season Cousins went for 19 points and 14 rebounds, even though he was unable to finish the game because of injury. Chandler had a strong game as well, going for 17 and 11. Cousins is prone to fouling, so if the Knicks can get Chandler involved in the offense through the pick-and-roll it could frustrate Cousins and get him in foul trouble.

-Player News and Notes

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Charlotte Bobcats March 26th, 2014

nba.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 26th, 2014

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs. Charlotte Bobcats

Pre Game News and Notes

The Brooklyn Nets after two straight overtime games will be heading to Charlotte to play against an Eastern Conference playoff hopeful in the Bobcats. The Nets are just 1.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division, and the Raptors will also be playing on Wednesday against the Celtics.

Match-Up of the Game: Al Jefferson vs. Mason Plumlee

In the last two games the Nets have been roughed up on the inside by opposing team’s big men, and on Wednesday they will be going against one of the best Centers the NBA has in Al Jefferson. Jefferson has come on in his first season with the Bobcats, as he is averaging 21.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. After the games that Samuel Dalembert and Anthony Davis put up the last two games, it seems that the Nets will have their hands full yet again against Jefferson, as it will be a tough night for Plumlee. Plumlee has been doing well filling in for Garnett, as in March he is averaging 7.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, but he is undersized and inexperienced to be asked to stop Jefferson.

- Really Banged Up

On the final game of their three-game road trip the Nets are all of a sudden very banged up with injuries, as yet again Kevin Garnett will be out with back spasms, and yet again Andrei Kirilenko will be out with a sprained ankle. In the loss to the Pelicans, Marcus Thornton was forced to leave the game early with a back injury, and didn’t seem overly optimistic that he would be able to play on Wednesday, but is listed as a game-time decision. On top of all the injuries, Deron Williams is also listed as a game-time decision, as he is battling an illness, which if he can’t go the Nets may find themselves very short-handed.

- Season Series

So far this season the Nets are up (2-1) in the season series against the Bobcats, and Wednesday gives the chance for the Nets to win a season series against a possible Eastern Conference playoff team. The Nets have won both games at home against the Bobcats, but in November were defeated in Charlotte 95-91. In that loss it was a very different looking Nets team, but with all the injuries and the uncertainty of Williams playing, the Nets will be in for a tough game against a hungry Bobcats team.

Knicks Embarrassed by Lakers To Start West Coast Trip

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Tuesday, March 25^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Post Game Recap

If fans of the New York Knicks thought that Sunday was disappointing, it hit a whole different level of low Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Lakers destroyed the listless Knicks 127-96. It was a frighten sight for the Knicks, who gave no effort and did not seem to care about what was happening in the game. It was an embarrassing performance for a team still in the playoff race. The Knicks playoff hopes are on life support and fading fast as the poor performances continue to pile up. The Knicks will have a quick turnaround as they will play the Sacramento Kings tomorrow night in the second night of the back-to-back.

Player of the Game: None

For the second consecutive game the Knicks do not have a player of the game. It was a total team embarrassment from top to bottom, players and coaching staff.

Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports

Match-up of the Game Recap:

J.R. Smith and Nick Young didn’t have the match-up anticipated at the start of the game, partially because the Knicks were blown out after the first quarter. Like all of his teammates, Smith was unable to get anything going consistently in the game. Young on the other hand had to going, pouring in 20 points in only 19 minutes. Young, like the Lakers, ran away with this match-up tonight.

-Positives

After starting the game 0-6, Carmelo Anthony was able to finish stronger, ending the game 10-21 for 29 points. Anthony added nine rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block to round out his stat line for the night.

The first quarter was the only bright spot for the Knicks. Anthony struggled but they were still able to take a 22-14 lead into the second quarter. The 14 points allowed were a season low for the Knicks, as they looked to be well on their way to a much needed victory.

-Negative

The remaining three quarters were a nightmare for the Knicks. After allowing a season-low 14 points, they allowed a franchise-high 51 in the third quarter. That is also a record for points in a quarter for the Lakers, which is shocking because this is quite possibly the worst Laker team in franchise history. The Lakers poured it on after the first quarter, scoring 113 points in quarters 2-4. They really lit the Knicks up from deep, knocking down 18-28 from the three point line.

Harry How/Getty Images

The Knicks bench was pounded tonight. When they were matched up with the Lakers bench to start the second quarter things got out of hand quick and the Lakers started rolling. The Knicks bench scored 21 points combined, 17 from Tim Hardaway Jr. On the contrary, the Lakers bench poured in 82. Xavier Henry scored 22, Young had 20 and Kent Bazemore had 18 to lead the onslaught.

It was scary how poor the Knicks defense was after the first quarter. They showed no heart or effort, leading to a blowout and yet another embarrassing loss. Hardaway Jr. continues to get torched nightly, as he has failed to even pick up the basics of defense in the NBA 60+ games into his rookie season. Tyson Chandler did nothing to protect the paint, as the Lakers scored 40 in there with little to no resistance.  It was an embarrassing performance all-around for the Knicks on the defensive end. They got dominated by essentially a D-League team and players who haven’t played in a very long time. Chris Kaman, who hasn’t even talked to his coach in three weeks, was inserted into the lineup tonight with Pau Gasol out, and scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

The team should have to find their own way to Sacramento for the game tomorrow and some people should be left in California for the remainder of the season. They have had golden opportunities to move up in the standings and close the gap with the Atlanta Hawks but have squandered all of them. The Knicks have played heartless and low IQ basketball for the better part of the six quarters and do not deserve a playoff spot. It is hard to imagine this is the same team that beat the Indiana Pacers last week at Madison Square Garden, creating as positive of vibes the team has had all season, and that is all gone now.

W2W4: New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers; March 25th, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Tuesday, March 25^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Pre-Game News and Notes

espn.go.com

The New York Knicks will look to bounce back from a devastating loss Sunday to the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. They will be opening up a five-game road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers and will look to get back on track with only 12 games remaining in the regular season. Here are some keys to tonight’s game for the Knicks to pull out a victory.

Match-up of the Game: J.R. Smith vs. Nick Young

The two enigmatic shooting guards have similar styles; they can shoot you into a victory as quickly as they shoot you out of one. This could possibly be the worst team in Lakers franchise history but Young delivers excitement for the fans almost as much as he delivers headaches. It sounds a lot like Smith, who has done the same for Knicks faithful this season. Both players will be matched up against each other through the night, and whoever plays better will give their team an edge. Both Smith and Young can be considered x-factors in the game tonight.

-Player News and Notes

There haven’t been any positive updates on Kenyon Martin or Andrea Bargnani for the Knicks. The only news coming from the Knicks is that neither player is close to retuning. It is safe to say the Knicks should not be counting on Martin or Bargnani for any contributions in the stretch run of the season.

For the Lakers, they will be without Pau Gasol again. Gasol has been in and out of the lineup all season, having one of the more difficult seasons in his career. With Gasol sidelined, Chris Kaman is expected to be inserted into the starting lineup. Xavier Henry should be back in the lineup for the Lakers tonight, giving them a little boost on the perimeter offensively.

-No Time for Letdown

The previous two games for the Knicks have been a microcosm of their season. They failed to put together a full game, resulting in an almost disastrous loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Friday and an embarrassing loss Sunday to the Cavaliers after being up by 15 at halftime. Tonight the Knicks cannot afford another letdown and need to take advantage of the opportunity given to them. The Atlanta Hawks lost again last night, leaving the door open for the Knicks to cut into their lead for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks need to put together a full game on both ends of the court. It is imperative they get off to a good start on this west coast trip.

-Carmelo Getting On Track

The Knicks ultimately will go only as far as Carmelo Anthony can carry them. Unfortunately, Sunday he was unable to bring them to victory. Anthony started the game 6-7 from the field but missed 11 of his next 13 attempts, finishing the game 8-20. Tonight Anthony needs to shoot more efficiently and lead the Knicks offensively. The Lakers have no player capable of slowing down Anthony on paper, so getting off to a fast start would be nice. Anthony had a strong game in the first meeting with the Lakers, pouring in 35 points. An effort, near or matching, tonight from Anthony would go a long way in the Knicks getting a victory.

-Rebounding Battle

With no Gasol, the Lakers will rely on a perimeter attack to take down the Knicks. The Knicks have very little post game even when healthy, and let it fly from the perimeter as much as any team in the NBA. In the first meeting, both teams shot extremely well from the perimeter, combining for 22 three point makes on 49 attempts. Where the game was won was in the paint, where the Knicks outrebounded the Lakers 45-35. Without Gasol the Lakers will be thinner up front, and the Knicks must take advantage of the Lakers being without their best player. 

Poor Third Quarter Leads to Nets Loss in New Orleans

sportsspyder.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 24th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. New Orleans Pelicans Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 104 Pelicans 109

The Brooklyn Nets coming off an overtime victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday found themselves in the same situation on Monday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, but this time they were unable to pull off a second straight overtime win in as many days. The loss moves the Net to (37-32) on the season, which is two games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Player of the Game: Deron Williams

Coming off a relatively quiet night on Sunday, Deron Williams was very good against the Pelicans on Monday evening. Williams scored 23 points on eight for 17 shooting with eight rebounds and five assists in what was an all around good game. Williams was able to get one steal, which makes it 19 straight games that Williams has got a steal, the longest streak of any player in the NBA.

Positives:

Paul Pierce was the Nets leading scorer on Monday night, as Pierce had 24 points on seven for 16 shooting. Pierce was firing away from three-point range, as he took 11 shots from behind the arc, and hit four of them. In the third quarter he did appear to do something to his right shoulder again, which is the one that has been giving him issues the last few weeks, so that will be something to keep an eye on.

Off the bench for Brooklyn they were able to get some good production from their big men in Mirza Teletovic and Andray Blatche. Teletovic scored nine points on three for seven shooting and Blatche scored 12 points on three for eight shooting with five rebounds.

Negatives:

After a big night for Samuel Dalembert on Sunday night it had to be expected that Anthony Davis would put up a monster game, and he didn’t disappoint. Davis finished with 24 points on nine for 17 shooting to go along with 14 rebounds and three blocks. The size and skill of Davis was just simply too much for the small Nets lineup to handle on Monday.

Davis wasn’t the only one to have a big game against Brooklyn, as Tyreke Evans came out of nowhere with his best game of the season. Evans scored a game-high 33 points on 13 for 19 shooting. Evans did more than just score, as he had 10 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. The only downside to a terrific night from Evans was the fact that he did turn the ball over seven times.

Next up for the Nets will be another road game, as they will be heading to Charlotte to play Al Jefferson and the Bobcats.

Nets Pull Off Overtime Victory in Dallas

espn.go.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 23rd, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Dallas Mavericks Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 107 Mavericks 104

The Brooklyn Nets were able to turn their momentum that they have been riding at the Barclays Center into a huge road win against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night. The overtime win has given the Nets a (37-31) record on the season, but with the Toronto Raptors coming back to beat the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday afternoon they are still 1.5 games behind them in the Atlantic Division.

Player of the Game: Marcus Thornton

Coming off the bench for the Nets was the difference maker in the comeback victory; as Marcus Thornton continues to make the trade that Billy King did at the trade deadline a great one for the Nets. Thornton didn’t lead the Nets in scoring, but was their most efficient scorer in 24 minutes of play, as he scored 20 points on seven for 11 shooting, which included him going four of seven from behind the three-point line. Thornton also did a great job helping out on the glass, as he tied for the team-lead in rebounds for the game with seven.

Positives:

Scoring was a real struggle for the Nets on Sunday in the win, especially in the starting lineup, but Joe Johnson was able to come through with a good game shooting from the field. Johnson led the Nets with 22 points on eight for 16 shooting in 37 minutes of play. Johnson came up big in the clutch for the Nets, as he had the game tying lay-up with less than 10 seconds to go, and then in overtime scored six of his 22 points to help lock up the win.

On defense the Nets really stepped up against one of the better offensive teams the NBA has to offer, which included them really shutting down the future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki was held to easily one of his worst games of the season, as he scored just 10 points on a surprisingly bad two for 12 shooting. Nowitzki wasn’t alone in the Mavericks shooting woes, as their bench really struggled as well. Two former Nets in Devin Harris and Vince Carter both shot the ball poorly against their former team off the bench. Harris went four of 15 from the field with just 11 points, and Carter shot four of 13 from the field with 12 points.

Negatives:

The Nets small lineup was noticeable against the Mavericks with their two starting seven footers in Nowitzki and Samuel Dalembert, as Dalembert was able to produce a big double-double and was a major factor on the defensive end. He finished with 12 points on four for five shooting to go along with 15 rebounds and seven blocked shots. This was defiantly a game where the Kevin Garnett injury hurt the Nets, and why they need him back.

Shooting Guard Monta Ellis was the main gun for the Mavericks on Sunday night with basically everyone else on the team struggling. Ellis finished with a game-high 31 points on 11 for 24 shooting. In overtime Ellis hit two three-pointers, which along with some Nets missed free throws gave Ellis a chance to tie it u if he was able to make three straight, but he couldn’t pull off buzzer beater.

Next up for the Nets will be the second half of a back to back against the red hot Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.

Knicks Playoff Hopes Delivered Big Blow With Embarrassing Home Loss to Cavaliers

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

AFP Photo/Don Emmert

The New York Knicks playoff hopes suffered a big blow Sunday night, as they suffered an embarrassing loss at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 106-100. A 15-point halftime lead was not enough for the Knicks, as they imploded in the second half and reverted back to playing how they did prior to their eight-game winning streak. It was a heart breaking loss for the Knicks as the Atlanta Hawks had lost earlier in the day to the Toronto Raptors, presenting an outstanding opportunity for the Knicks to climb closer to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The loss tonight ends the Knicks winning streak at eight, with their next game being the start of their west coast trip Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

Player of the Game: None

W2W4: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks; March 23rd, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Sunday, March 23^rd, 2014

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks

Pre-Game News and Notes

The New York Knicks will look to continue their winning streak Sunday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are coming off of a semi-disaster from Friday night, as the bench squandered a 15-point lead in less than four minutes. The Knicks have to come in and handle business tonight against a Cavaliers team that has faded from the playoff race, losing their last four games. Here are some things to keep an eye on for tonight.

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Player News and Notes:

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Dallas Mavericks March 23rd, 2014

oursocialbk.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 23rd, 2014

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs. Dallas Mavericks

Pre-Game News and Notes

The Brooklyn Nets will be heading down to Texas to face off against the Dallas Mavericks, as the Nets look to keep their winning streak alive. The Nets after a win against the Celtics hold a record of (36-31) on the season, which puts them 1.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Match-Up of the Game: Dirk Nowitzki vs. Paul Pierce

Tonight Paul Pierce will have his hands full in Dallas going against Dirk Nowitzki, as tonight will be a challenge for the Nets small lineup. Nowitzki is having a very good season, leading the Mavericks in points per game with 21.5 points. He is one of the best shooters the league has ever seen for being a seven-footer, as he is shooting 49% from the field and 39% from three-point range. A big key for the Pierce will also be avoiding foul trouble against Nowitzki, as he shoots 91% from the line, and is very good at getting there. One positive for the disadvantage for Pierce on the defense end will be him on the offense end if the Mavericks decide to keep Nowitzki on Pierce. In the victory against the Mavericks in Brooklyn, the Nets did a good job on Nowitzki holding him to 18 points on a 33% shooting night.