Series Preview: Brooklyn Nets vs Toronto Raptors

nba.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

Eastern Conference Playoffs

Series Preview: Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

The Brooklyn Nets will be heading into the playoffs for the second consecutive season, as after a strong inaugural season in Brooklyn, the Nets loss a tough series to the Chicago Bulls. This postseason they will be looking for their first playoff series win as the Brooklyn Nets against the team they were chasing the whole season in the Atlantic Division, the Toronto Raptors.

Match-Up of the Series: Deron Williams vs. Kyle Lowry

In what has been a great season for the Toronto Raptors, one of the major contributors to that has been Kyle Lowry, who has had an All-Star worthy season. Lowry is one of the more complete all-around Point Guards in the NBA, as this season he is averaging 17.9 points, 7.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. Against the Nets this season Lowry has been very efficient and effective scoring in four games this season, as he is averaging 22 points on 50% shooting from the field. Deron Williams has certainly had a disappointing season for the Nets, as he is averaging just 14.3 points and 6.1 assists per game, but if the Nets are going to do anything in the playoffs they need Williams to step it up and that has to start against Lowry.

- Debut for DeMar

Raptors Shooting Guard DeMar DeRozan is having a season of firsts, as in February he made his first All-Star team, and now after a bunch of losing season will be making his playoff debut after playing the best basketball of his career so far. Nationally, DeRozan may not be a household name like some players, but this season DeRozan is averaging 22.7 points per game, which puts him in the Top 10 in scoring for the NBA this season. DeRozan will be given the chance to shine on the National stage in the postseason, and something big to watch and that could go a long way to deciding the series is whether he rises or falls to the biggest challenge of his NBA career.

- Youth vs. Experience

The experience differential is eye-pooping in the series between these two teams, as in total the Raptors roster has 156 games of playoff experience. In comparison Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have played in a combined 267 career playoff games. A major concern for the Raptors has to be that their playoff inexperience comes mostly from their starting lineup that has three starters that have never played in a playoff game. TThe two starters that have, Lowry and Amir Johnson have combined to play in 24 playoff games, but neither has started a playoff game.

- Center Dilemma

For most of the season size has bothered the Nets in large part due to the absence of Kevin Garnett, and Jason Kidd using a small lineup with Paul Pierce at the Power Forward position, and although the Nets avoided Joakim Noah and the Chicago Bulls, they will have to deal with Jonas Valanciunas. Valanciunas is playing very well in April, as he is averaging a double-double in eight games with 16.8 points and 11 rebounds per game. Against the Nets this season he has been solid averaging 10.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. A major question going into the playoff is what is the realistic expectation of what Garnett will be able to give the Nets? The amount of minutes Garnett will be playing is unknown and even if it is more than he has been since returning from the back spasms, there hasn’t been a whole of court time to see how effective he will be. If Garnett is ineffective or can’t play much, Kidd does have the luxury of going with Mason Plumlee and Andray Blatche off the bench.

Knicks Defeat Nets, Win Season Series 3-1

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Tuesday, April 15^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets

Post Game Recap

The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets finished up their disappointing season series Tuesday night, as the Knicks defeated the Nets 109-98. It was the third win in the series for the Knicks, who defeated the Nets by 30 and 29 points earlier in the season, while the Nets lone victory came by 23. There was plenty of players not suiting up tonight, and veterans who did played very little as both teams had nothing to really play for. The play resulted in a game that looked more like a preseason game than a regular season meeting. Both teams will be playing their regular season finales Wednesday night, as the Knicks will take on the Toronto Raptors, and the Nets will be going against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Knicks Perspective:

W2W4: New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets April 15, 2014

myfoxny.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 15^th, 2014

W2W4: New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets

Pre-Game News and Notes

The Brooklyn Nets will be hosting the New York Knicks in their final meeting of the season on Tuesday night in a game that looking at the schedule in the beginning of the season would have possibly been for the Atlantic Division, but with the Knicks out of the playoffs, it will be a game for in state bragging rights.

- Season Series

The Knicks have bested the Nets twice this season already including once in the Barclay's Center, as they are up 2-1 this season, and with the Nets heading into the playoffs they would like to also not lose the season series to the team that they share the city with. So far this season their hasn’t been one good game between them, as in the first meeting the Knicks won by 30, followed by a 23-point Nets win, and then most recently a 29-point Knicks win on April 2^nd. The Knicks missing the playoffs and having such a disappointing season is good for the Brooklyn brand, but losing the season series would hurt that.

- Woodson's Future

Knicks Head Coach Mike Woodson will most likely be coaching one of his last games with the Knicks on Tuesday, as after the extremely disappointing season and a new president in Phil Jackson, Woodson is as good as gone. With just two games left for the Knicks and being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs it will be interesting to see how Woodson decides to handle his rotation, as he may go with his normal veterans to try and get a victory or possibly give some young players more playing time against Brooklyn.

- Center Audition

With just two games to go for the Nets, Jason Kidd has some decisions to make regarding what will be a smaller rotation come playoff time, as Mason Plumlee has forced his way into the fold with his great play of late. The Center position will without a doubt have Kevin Garnett starting, but it will be interesting to see if Kidd will have faith in the rookie Plumlee or go with Andray Blatche, who has also had a very good season. The smaller lineups with Paul Pierce or Mirza Teletovic have worked so well all season, so going away from that seems silly, but if the Nets do match-up against the Bulls having some healthy size at the Center position will be very helpful if Kidd decides to go with a bigger lineup.

Nets Snap Two-Game Losing Streak Against Magic

sports.yahoo.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 13^th, 2014

Orlando Magic vs Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Magic 88 Nets 97

The Brooklyn Nets were able to snap their two-game losing streak on Sunday, and also get some revenge on the Orlando Magic from a loss in Orlando recently. The win moves the Nets to (44-36) on the season, as now the Nets will just be scoreboard watching to see if they will be playing either the Toronto Raptors or Chicago Bulls in the first round.

Player of the Game: Mirza Teletovic

Coming off the bench, Teletovic scored a game-high 20 points in the win for Brooklyn, as he shot seven for 12 from the field, which included him going four for seven from beyond the arc. Teletovic also grabbed six rebounds in 29 minutes, as come playoff time Teletovic can be an X-factor for the Nets with his ability to stretch the floor from the Power Forward position.

Positives:

Mason Plumlee had yet another good game for the Nets, as lately Plumlee has been looking really good whether it is coming off the bench or in the starting lineup. In 26 minutes off the bench, Plumlee notched a double-double with 17 points on six for eight shooting, as he went five for eight from the free throw line, while grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.

Brooklyn's back court of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson both looked sharp on Sunday against Orlando, which is a good sign seeing both of them playing well at the same time heading into what will be a difficult first round match-up. Williams finished with 16 points on five for 10 shooting, which included him going four for seven from deep, with five assists and four steals. For Williams it was his 29^th straight game with at least one steal, which is the longest active streak in the NBA. Johnson finished with 17 points on six for 13 shooting, including going three for seven from beyond the arc. Johnson moved into second place on the franchise's single-season made three pointers list with 160 for the season, Williams is in first place with 169 last season.

Negatives:

In the third quarter the Nets and Paul Pierce suffered a bit of a scare, as it appeared he got yet another stinger after getting hit hard by Kyle O'Quinn. Pierce stayed on the bench instead of going to the locker room but he never returned. Kevin Garnett also had a bit of a scare as he was nearly flipped in the second quarter landing on his back, but he stayed in the game. Garnett however didn’t play particularly well, scoring just three points on one for three shooting from the field with five turnovers.

Next up for the Nets will be their final meeting with the rival New York Knicks on Tuesday night in the Barclay’s Center.

Nets Have Big Letdown in Orlando

sbnation.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 9th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Orlando Magic Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 111 Magic 115

The Brooklyn Nets coming off a great win against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night laid an egg on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic, losing 115-111. The loss moves the Nets to (43-35) on the season, which leaves them three games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division with four games to play, almost assuring that the Nets will be the fifth seed in the East.

Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

Easily the best player for the Nets in their losing effort on Wednesday was Joe Johnson, who for the second straight game led the Nets in scoring. Johnson finished with a game-high 31 points on 11 for 19 shooting. Johnson also added five assists and four rebounds to go along with his big scoring night, but it wasn’t enough to help the Nets get the win with three rotation players sitting, as with a chance to tie the game he had his three-point attempt blocked by Kyle O’Quinn.

Positives:

In his second game back from the back spasms that cost him to miss 19 straight games, Kevin Garnett was very good in his 17 minutes of play. Garnett scored only five points on two for two shooting, but grabbed eight rebounds, and had six assists. A productive Garnett can be a huge weapon for the Nets come playoff time in what will be a difficult first round match-up.

After a huge game-winning block on LeBron James, Mason Plumlee was moved back to the bench with the return of Garnett, but Plumlee played extremely well coming in for Garnett. Plumlee finished with 16 points off the bench on seven for eight shooting to go along with five rebounds, but Plumlee did foul out in the fourth quarter.

Negatives:

Deron Williams really struggled on Wednesday coming off a poor game scoring against the Heat where he scored just eight points. Against Orlando, Williams scored 11 points on a horrendous three for 14 shooting day, which included going one for six from behind the three-point arc.

For the Magic off the bench a major factor in their second quarter domination was E’Twaun Moore. Moore scored 14 straight points in the second quarter, and finished with 17 points on a perfect six for six shooting day from the field, which included him going five for five from three-point range.

The Nets were far from 100% in this game, as Shaun Livingston was given the day off, Andray Blatche missed his second straight game with an illness, and Paul Pierce despite being five points shy of 25,000 sat out with a hip pointer.

Next up for the Nets will be a trip back to the Barclays Center where they have won 15 straight, and will look to make it 16 straight on Friday against the Hawks.

Nets Complete Season Sweep of Miami Heat

washingtonpost.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 8th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Miami Heat Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 88 Heat 87

The Brooklyn Nets were able to complete the season sweep of the Miami Heat, as with the victory on Tuesday night; the Nets have beaten the defending champions four times this season. The win moves the Nets to within two games of the Toronto Raptors for the Atlantic division’s top spot with five games left for each team.




Player of the Game: Marcus Thornton

For the Nets on Tuesday, it was one of their main bench players that stood out against the Heat, as Marcus Thornton in his 28 minutes of play made a big impact for Brooklyn. Thornton finished with 16 points on six for eight shooting, which included him going four for five from behind the arc. He also added six rebounds, and a game-high four steals to high the highest plus/minus of any player, going +8.

Positives:

Kevin Garnett was given the day off against Miami, which led to Mason Plumlee being moved back into the starting lineup, and late in the game he made the play that gave the Nets the win. In the final seconds with LeBron James looking for a game-winning dunk, Plumlee stepped in and made the play to stop James with a huge block that sent James into a frantic outburst looking for a foul. Besides the game-saving block, Plumlee led the Nets in rebounds with eight, and added eight points on four for six shooting with three blocks and one steal.

Scoring wise, Joe Johnson was the main gun for the Nets on Tuesday, as he scored a team-high 19 points on nine of 17 shooting from the field. Paul Pierce was the only other Nets starter in double figures, as he finished with 14 points on five for eight shooting. Pierce will be heading into Orlando five points shy of reaching 25,000 career points, which he will almost certainly reach on Wednesday. Coming off the bench besides the big game from Thornton, it was Mirza Teletovic who helped the bench scoring in the absence of Andray Blatche, as he scored 11 points on four for eight shooting.

The Heat were without Dwyane Wade, but still have another great player besides James in Chris Bosh, and the Nets did a very good job containing him. Bosh had a tough game scoring only 12 points on a poor five for 13 shooting day from the field, and for going against the small lineups of Brooklyn, Bosh only grabbed six rebounds.

Negatives:

Although James had his attempted game-winner stopped by Plumlee, he was very good during the game. James scored a game-high 29 points on nine for 16 from the field and 11 for 14 from the free throw line. When facing James, he does a lot more than just score, as grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, and dished out six assists in the losing effort.

Next up for the Nets will be the second half of a back to back against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Miami Heat April 8th, 2014

barclayscenter.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 8th, 2014

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs. Miami Heat

Pre-Game News and Notes

The Brooklyn Nets will be heading down to South Beach trailing the Toronto Raptors by 2.5 games in the Atlantic Division, as when it comes to playoff seeding it is looking more and more likely that the Nets are going to be the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference.

- Sweep

Brooklyn has been very good against the Heat this season, as they are 3-0 facing the defending champions, but with the Heat fighting for the first seed in the Eastern Conference, this maybe the toughest game to beat the Heat. Since the big three of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade have came together only the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics have defeated the Heat three times in a season, and the Nets will look to be the first to beat the Big 3 four times in a season.

- 25k

Paul Pierce has a very good chance on Tuesday night to reach elite company in NBA history, as he is just 19 points shy of 25,000 career points. Pierce has been a main reason for the Nets great play against the Heat this season, as Pierce is averaging 23.7 points per game on 53.8 percent from the field. Pierce always seems to step up his play when playing against James, so if Pierce has a good game he may help the Nets win a big game in Miami, and join Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, and teammate Kevin Garnett as the fourth active player to reach 25,000 points.

- Rest for KG

After returning to the Nets on Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers, Garnett will be resting against the Heat. Garnett played good in his return to the Nets after missing 19 straight games, as in 13 minutes he scored 10 points on five for six shooting. With Garnett out again, Mason Plumlee will slide back into the starting lineup after having a good game off the bench in what will be his normal role come playoff time. With the playoffs right around the corner and the Nets seemingly stuck in the 5th seed, it will be interesting to see if Jason Kidd elects to rest some of his players coming into playoff time.

Nets Hold on to Victory in Philadelphia

espn.go.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 5^th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs Philadelphia 76ers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 105 76ers 101

The Brooklyn Nets were able to win the second half of a back to back against the horrible Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night, and with the win moved the Nets to (42-34) on the season. The victory keeps the Nets 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division with six games left on the schedule.

Player of the Game: Deron Williams

In the win on Saturday, it was Deron Williams who helped lead the Nets to the road victory against the woeful 76ers. Williams scored a team-high 19 points on six for 11 shooting with nine assists and four rebounds. Williams also tied a Nets franchise record, as he was able to swipe a steal in his 26^th consecutive game. In the fourth quarter with the lead falling apart, Williams had a big four-point play to help the Nets hold on to the win.

Positives:

On Saturday night the biggest positive for the Nets was the return of their Center Kevin Garnett, who had been out with back spasms for the previous 19 games. In his return, Garnett played very good against the 76ers, which was probably the best opponent for anyone to get rid of rust against. He finished with 10 points on five for six shooting with four rebounds, one steal, and one block in 13 minutes. With his 10 points, Garnett also passed Alex English for 14^th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Biggest thing for the Nets and Garnett moving forward will be how many minutes the medical staff thinks he can play for the rest of the regular season, and eventually the playoffs.

Due to the return of Garnett, it moved Mason Plumlee back to the bench, but Plumlee still saw a good amount of court time, and played well in his new role. Plumlee finished with 16 points on eight for 10 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds in 23 minutes. The combination of Garnett and Plumlee makes the Nets Center situation look a lot better heading into the playoff then it did with just Plumlee as the starter.

Scoring wise the Nets were pretty well balanced with six players in double-digits, as besides Williams Garnett and Plumlee, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson and Andray Blatche also had 10 or more points. Pierce finished with 11 points on five for 10 shooting in addition to his five rebounds and four assists. Johnson added 12 points on four for nine shooting, and Blatche scored 10 on four for eight shooting in just 11 minutes.

Negatives:

the second half wasn’t very good for Brooklyn after they heading into halftime with a 15-point lead, as the 76ers outscored them in the third quarter by three points, and the in the fourth by eight points. Jason Kidd decided to never bring Garnett, Pierce or Johnson back into the game, which was a questionable decision with the 76ers mounting a comeback, but Williams and the bench got it done to hold on to the win.

W2W4: Detroit Pistons vs Brooklyn Nets April 4th, 2014

barclayscenter.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 4th, 2014

W2W4: Detroit Pistons vs. Brooklyn Nets

Pre-Game News and Notes

The Brooklyn Nets will be back at the Barclays Center looking to bounce back from an embarrassing loss on Wednesday night in Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. Brooklyn is currently 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division, and will be looking for some help on Friday from the Pacers, who will be in Toronto.

Match-Up of the Game: Brandon Jennings vs. Deron Williams

The match-up of the game for the Brooklyn Nets has to be at the Point Guard position, as the Nets small lineup will no doubt have their hands full with the monster front court of the Pistons; it puts pressure on Williams to have to outplaying Jennings, and control tempo. In the three games that Jennings has played against Brooklyn this season, despite a poor shooting percentage his stats are pretty good. In the three wins the Pistons have this season against the Nets; Jennings is averaging 16 points, 7.7 assists, and five rebounds per game. Williams has missed one of the losses to the Pistons, but in two games his assist numbers are down at just 4.5 per game, but he is averaging 16 points which is a bit above his season average.

- Rebound

In the Nets three losses to the Pistons this season it has been the frontcourt of the Pistons that have really hurt Brooklyn, as they have been able to dominate the painted area. In the three games, the Pistons are out-rebounding the Nets by 10.3 per game, and out-scoring them in the paint by and average of 23.3 points, which is ridiculous. Andre Drummond has been the main problem for the Nets, as in the last two games the up and coming young Center is averaging 19 points and 17.5 rebounds per game. Kevin Garnett will be missing his 19th straight game so Plumlee will once again be asked to shoulder the load at the Center position.


- Series Sweep

Detroit will be looking for an impressive season series sweep against the Nets, after what has been a disappointing season for a team that had to think with all its off-season moves and a weak Eastern Conference that they would be in the playoffs. Pulling off the sweep will be no easy task however with the Nets at home being backed by a 14-game home winning streak. If the Pistons can pull of the sweep it will be the first time since the 2007-08 season that they did, as that year they won all three games against the then New Jersey Nets.

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.

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.

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.

Nets Make It 11 Straight Wins at Home

espn.go.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 21st, 2014

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Celtics 98 Nets 114

The Brooklyn Nets sporting their nice alternative blue and grey jerseys were able to pick up their 11th straight victory at the Barclays Center on Friday night against the Boston Celtics. The win moves the Nets to just 1.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors with a (36-31) record, as the Oklahoma City Thunder helped the Nets out by beating the Raptors in double overtime behind 51 points from Kevin Durant. 

Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

In the blowout win for the Nets their starters didn’t have to play much, but when Joe Johnson was on the court he was on fire. Johnson played the most of any starter, playing 30 minutes, which led to him having a team-high 27 points on 10 for 16 shooting, including going an outstanding six of eight from three-point range. Johnson added four assists and two rebounds to go along with his big scoring performance.

W2W4: Phoenix Suns vs Brooklyn Nets March 17th, 2014

barclayscenter.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 17th, 2014

W2W4: Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets

Pre Game News and Notes

The Brooklyn Nets will be back home after a tough loss to the Wizards in Washington on Saturday night, as on Monday they will be hosting one of the biggest surprises in the NBA in the Phoenix Suns, who are coming off a win against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. The Nets head into Monday’s game with a (33-31) record, which is 3.5 games behind the Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Match-Up of the Game: Goran Dragic vs. Deron Williams

The Suns were supposed to be NBA’s worst teams this year, but with the great play from their Point Guard Goran Dragic, they are looking like a possible playoff team. Dragic is coming into Monday’s game averaging 20.5 points, 6.1 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. For Deron Williams he will have his hands full with Dragic, as Williams has struggled a lot in the last two games besides one clutch shot in Miami. In the loss to the Wizards, who have a great Point Guard in John Wall, Williams shot just four of 14 from the field.

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Washington Wizards March 15th, 2014

barclayscenter.com

 By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 15^th, 2014

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Washington Wizards

The Brooklyn Nets will be heading to Washington to face the Wizards on Saturday night, as the Nets are riding a hot streak after beating the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat this week so far. The Nets are now (34-30) on the season, which is 3.5 games behind the Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Match-Up of the Game: John Wall vs Deron Williams

Easily the most fun match-up to watch in this game will be the Point Guard one, as it will feature two very good ones in John Wall and Deron Williams. Wall is having a great season for the Wizards, as with his great play he was well deserving of his All-Star Game selection this season. In the two Wizards victories over the Nets this season, Wall has averaged a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists per game to go along with five rebounds and 2.5 steals, as he has been great. Williams is coming off a down game against the Heat, but did hit a clutch shot late, so he will look to carry that big moments momentum into a solid game against the Wizards. This season Wall has outplayed Williams by a considerable amount, as Williams is just averaging 14 points and 6.4 assists per game.

Nets Get Huge Victory Against Raptors

nydailynews.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 10th, 2014

Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Raptors 97 Nets 101

The Brooklyn Nets despite being banged up were able to maybe what will end up being one of their most important wins of the season on Monday night against the Toronto Raptors. The win ties the season series at (2-2), and moves the Nets to (32-30) on the season, which is now just three games behind the Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Player of the Game: Deron Williams

Nets Point Guard Deron Williams helped lead them to a victory with a solid game. Williams finished with 18 points on six for 13 shooting, while going a nice four for seven from three-point range, and he dished out five assists. In the second half Williams really got it going scoring 12 of his 18 points, as he led the Nets in second half scoring. In March so far Williams has been very efficient shooting the ball, as he is shooting 47% from the field, and 40% from behind the arc.

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics March 7th, 2014

barclayscenter.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 7^th, 2014

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics

The Brooklyn Nets will be heading up to Boston to play against the Celtics on Friday night, as the Nets will look to stay above the .500 mark against a struggling Celtics team. With their (30-29) record the Nets are sitting three games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

- No Return for KG

Kevin Garnett has missed the last three games with back spasms and wont be available for the Nets on Friday night against his former team the Celtics. Rookie Mason Plumlee will be making the start yet again in place of Garnett. Plumlee hasnt played bad in the starting role, as the athletic, energitic Plumlee is averaging five points and a little more than five rebounds per game in the absence of Garnett. Joe Johnson is listed as questionable for Friday, as he is a bit under the weather. Even against the Celtics its tough to head into a game without possibly two of your normal starting lineup.

Pierce Leads Nets To Victory Over Bobcats

espn.go.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

February 12th, 2014

Charlotte Bobcats vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Bobcats 89 Nets 105 

The Brooklyn Nets were able to pickup a nice win at home against the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night in their home game before the All-Star break and the upcoming Circus road-trip. The win moves the Nets to (24-26) on the season, and are still three games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Player of the Game: Paul Pierce

Easily the best player for the Nets in their victory on Wednesday night was Paul Pierce, who in just 22 minutes left his mark on the game. Pierce had a game-high 25 points behind a great night shooting the basketball, going nine for 11, which included him going a perfect five for five from three-point range. Pierce scored 14 of his 25 points in the third quarter, as the Nets put away the Bobcats in the third, outscoring them 35-19. Pierce also had the highest +/- on the Nets going +26, as when he was on the court not much went wrong for Brooklyn.

W2W4: Charlotte Bobcats vs Brooklyn Nets 2-12

barclayscenter.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

February 12^th, 2014

W2W4: Charlotte Bobcats vs Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets will be hosting the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night, as it will be the Nets final game at home before the All-Star Break. The Nets will be heading into Wednesday's game with a (23-26) record, which is three games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

- Small Lineup vs Big Al

The main goal for the Nets in this one will be the tough task of trying to stop one of the leagues best Centers in Al Jefferson. Jefferson was the Bobcats big pickup in the off-season, and he has lived up to the big contract he received. This season Jefferson is averaging 20.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game, and in January and February he is averaging more than 23 points per game. Getting the task of guard Jefferson will be Kevin Garnett to start, then Andray Blatche and Mason Plumlee coming off the bench.

Bench Carries Nets Past Pelicans

sportspyder.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

February 9^th, 2014

New Orleans Pelicans vs Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Pelicans 81 Nets 93

The Brooklyn Nets behind a great first half were able to knock off the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday evening. The victory over the Pelicans moves the Nets to (23-26) on the season, which put them just 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Player of the Game: Mason Plumlee

Rookie Mason Plumlee had his best game as a pro on Sunday night, as the young big man brought a lot of energy for the Nets off the bench. Plumlee had a career-high 22 points on eight for 10 shooting, while doing a pretty good job getting to the free throw line nine times, where he hit six free throws. In addition to the career-high scoring night, Plumlee tied his season-best 13 rebounds too. Plumlee was the recipient to Jason Terry's 5,000^th career assists on an alley oop. Plumlee was also a factor on the defensive end, as he recorded two blocks, one being a ferocious swat off a Jeff Withy shot, and also had three steals to round out the best game of his career thus far.