W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Cleveland Cavaliers April 16th, 2014

ourbksocial.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 16, 2014

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Cleveland Cavaliers

Pre-Game News and Notes

The Brooklyn Nets coming off a loss to the New York Knicks at home will be heading to Cleveland for the final game of the regular season against the Cavaliers. The Nets are now (44-37) on the season and will be either the fifth or sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, which will send them to either Chicago or Toronto.

- Limping In

Brooklyn has been playing great in the calender year of 2014, but heading into the playoffs the Nets don’t seem to be firing on all cylinders in the final games leading into the playoffs. In April the Nets have had four very bad losses, which could have been the difference between them starting a playoff series at home or on the road, as wins may have put pressure on the Raptors or Bulls. They lost four games to teams under .500 including the Knicks twice, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Orlando Magic. Three of those losses have come in the Nets last four games, as Rookie Head Coach Jason Kidd is trying to manage a veteran team for the first time heading into the playoffs.

- Scenarios

Wednesday is the final day of the regular season, and for the Nets it will let them know where they will be traveling to and what seed they will have. A Nets win against the Cavaliers or a Washington Wizards loss to the Boston Celtics will give the Nets the fifth seed, but a Nets loss and Wizards win will put the Nets in the sixth spot, as the Wizards own the tie-breaker. The battle for the third and fourth seed between the Raptors and Bulls can be decided rather easily if the Raptors beat the Knicks they will be the third seed, but a Raptors loss and Bulls win against the Charlotte Bobcats will give the Bulls the third seed. The Nets this season are 1-2 against the Bulls and 2-2 against the Raptors, and it seems like a popular consensus that the Nets much rather play the inexperienced Raptors in the first round than the Bulls, who knocked them out of the playoffs last season, and pose many more problems with their big lineup.

- Bothering the Waiter

If Brooklyn would like to go into the playoffs on a positive note, they would be smart to try and slow down Dion Waiters, who since moving into the starting lineup has been playing very well for the Cavaliers, and has also played very well against the Nets this season. Since moving into the starting lineup, Waiters has averaged 21.4 points per game in his last 14, and playing against the Nets this season he is averaging 19 points per game. Luol Deng will not be playing against the Nets with a sore back, so there should be some extra shots for Waiters to grab on Wednesday.

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:

Nets Win and Force Game 7 Against Bulls

sports.yahoo.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 2nd, 2013

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Game 6

Final Score: Nets 95 Bulls 92

The Brooklyn Nets were able to win their first game in Chicago this season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time than with their backs against the wall facing elimination in the playoffs. The win moves the series back to Brooklyn for a win or go home Game 7 on Saturday night, in what should be a great game at the Barclays Center.

Positives:

- The Nets on offense were surprisingly well balanced, with five players including four starters scoring more than 15 points, which is something that hasn’t happened much at all this season. Deron Williams with Kirk Hinrich missing the game with a calf injury was able to notch his 22nd postseason double-double. Williams finished with 17 points on five for 12 shooting, and dished out 11 assists. The three-point shot wasn’t great for Williams in this one however, as he went just one for four from deep.

Nets Offense Disappears in Game Two Loss to Bulls

usatoday.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 22nd, 2013

Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Bulls 90 Nets 82

For the Nets Game Two was the polar opposite of Game One in the series against the Bulls, and that led to Brooklyn’s first loss of the Postseason. Splitting the series at home now means the Bulls have the home court advantage over the Nets. 

Positives:

- In what was a very bad loss for the Nets there wasn’t many bright spots, but Brook Lopez did play a good game, and kept the Nets in it with most players in the starting lineup struggling with their shots. Lopez finished with a game-high 21 points on seven for 14 shooting to go along with five rebounds, and three blocks.

Nets Win First Playoff Game in Brooklyn Over Bulls

espn.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 20th, 2013

Game One Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Bulls 89 Nets 106

The Brooklyn Nets were able to take game one of the series with the Bulls in convincing fashion at the Barclays Center. Brooklyn fans came out for the “Brooklyn Blackout”, and gave the building a good playoff atmosphere in the win. Next game for Brooklyn will be on Monday night, and Joakim Noah who suited up for the Bulls on Saturday night but only played 13 minutes is expected to play in Game Two.

Positives:

- As its been for most of the second half of the season the Nets were led by Point Guard Deron Williams in the Game One win. Williams finished with a team-high 22 points on nine for 15 shooting, which included going two for three from behind the three-point line. Williams also added seven assists, and three steals to round up what was a very good first Playoff game on the Nets.

Nets Lose to Depleted Bulls

newyork.cbslocal.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 4th, 2013

Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Bulls 92 Nets 90

The Brooklyn Nets after coming off a successful circus road trip suffered a tough loss in their first game back in the Barclays Center to a depleted Bulls team, which was missing a lot of players. The loss means that the Bulls are just 1.5 games behind the Nets for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, and home court for the first round.

Positives:

- Point Guard Deron Williams led the way for Brooklyn in this one, as he continues to play at an extremely high level in the second half of the season, but despite a monster double-double for Williams it wasn’t enough to get the Nets the win. Williams finished with a game-high 30 points on nine for 16 shooting, and hit 10 free throws to go along with his 10 assists. Most of Williams’ damage came in the second half, where he scored 20 of his 30 points.