The Nets manage to hold it together versus Lakers

Last night the Nets played the Lakers and to recap the game we are going to use a 3-2-1 style. Three observations, two questions, and one prediction. Some of the writers here at The BBall Index utilize this format to recap games, and they’re all wonderful. More specifically, if you haven’t checked any of Tom Piccolo’s 3-2-1 Knicks recaps, you’re really missing out.

Observations

1. This Was A D’Angelo Russell Microcosm

Russell is infuriating. He consistently flashes yet always leaves you wanting more. Every time he gets off to a hot start you know for sure there is an 0-for-6ish streak lurking around the corner. Russell started the game 6/10 from the field, including 3/5 from distance, for 15 points. This happened by the 9:17 mark of the second quarter.

Russell had 15 points with 33 minutes left in the game. For someone averaging 22 points per 36 minutes this year, you’d figure he could sleep walk his way into 30 points, or at a minimum 25.

Alas, Russell went 3/11 the rest of the way and finished with 22 points on 21 shot attempts. In the second half alone he shot 2/8. Russell has a nasty habit of falling too in love with his mid-range pull up. He also routinely misses layups that make you ask yourself “how can you miss that?” People miss layups, but the frequency of Russell doing so is odd.

This is borne out by our grading system. For his career Russell has a C- grade in finishing. He is also a career 57.9 percent shooter at the rim. He’s frustrating, but then he goes and does this.

powered by Advanced iFrame free. Get the Pro version on CodeCanyon.

A pull-up three was perhaps not what Kenny Atkinson wanted in that scenario, but Russell essentially put the game away.

Russell also finished with a career high 13 assists. At first you’re excited at the idea he accomplished a career high, but then you think “wait, how has he never gotten 15, 17 assists before?” He doesn’t exactly lack vision or touch.

powered by Advanced iFrame free. Get the Pro version on CodeCanyon.

2. Jarrett Allen Doesn’t Care About Your King

powered by Advanced iFrame free. Get the Pro version on CodeCanyon.

#AllBall

For his career Allen is grading out as an A- interior defender. On the season, Allen ranks 10th in defended field goal percentage within six feet of the basket, the 10th best mark in the league among players defending at least six such shots per night. He is also posting the 17th best block rate on the year.

It isn’t just blocks. Allen does a great job of disrupting opponents as they dive to the rim.

powered by Advanced iFrame free. Get the Pro version on CodeCanyon.

3. The Nets Didn’t Blow The End-of-Game

Brooklyn has been atrocious late in games this season. Their meltdown against the Thunder was epic. They tried really hard to gift the Raptors a victory in their December 7th meeting. In the last 45 seconds of the 4th quarter, Russell committed two turnovers when the game was tied. In overtime, Russell committed a turnover with 24 seconds to go, and the Nets leading by 1.

But there were no costly gaffes last night. Russell did turn the ball over with two minutes remaining and Brooklyn up six. After that the Nets went 2/4 from the field, including Russell’s three-pointer, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson went 3/4 from the line. On the other side the Lakers went 3/7 in the final two minutes, and Brooklyn held on to win by five.

The win pushed the Nets to a current league best six game winning streak.

Questions

1. Can The Nets Produce Assists?

Or even potential assists. Brooklyn doesn’t excel at assist rate, but they aren’t shy about passing. The Nets are 7th in the league in passes made per game. Despite the ball movement, the team is a disappointing 19th in assists per game, 19th in potential assists, 18th in secondary assists, and 19th in assist points created.

The Nets are fully capable of whipping the ball around to find an open shooter. It took them five seconds against the Lakers to create a wide open corner three.

powered by Advanced iFrame free. Get the Pro version on CodeCanyon.

Maybe the Lakers are more interested in preventing that shot if Joe Harris is receiving that pass instead of Rodions Kurucs. But that was a nice action out of their high pick n’ roll, resulting in an open corner three. For the team that wants to be Rockets East, the entire point of their offense is to get that shot.

Something isn’t adding up, and it’s more than guys just missing shots. The Nets are only 19th in potential assists despite throwing the 7th most passes per game. Does Atkinson have a solution to this problem?

2. Can Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Never Shoot 3s?

For his career RHJ is a 24.1% three-point shooter. If you aren’t going to hit threes at a high rate, you have to at least be a volume shooter with a decent reputation so the defense will guard you. For his career RHJ averages 1.2 three-point attempts per 36 minutes. Also, his form isn’t pretty.

powered by Advanced iFrame free. Get the Pro version on CodeCanyon.

That is quite a hitch in his shoulder blade, with a leg kick to boot (pun intended). I’ll always root for self improvement from players. RHJ should work hard to extend his range. But some of these can be legislated out of the game. RHJ missed a second three last night. It was a corner look with LeBron closing out hard, and 17 seconds left on the shot clock. That’s plenty of time to find a better shot.

(Bold) Prediction

The Nets will sniff around a Bradley Beal trade at the deadline.

We may never get public confirmation of this, considering how unlikely it is to transpire. At present, the Nets are outpacing the Wizards significantly in both point differential and net rating. They’re besting Washington in SRS as well. There is a plausible reality where we are close to the deadline and the Wizards have fallen out of it a fair amount, while the Brooklyn is in the middle of the race for the 8 seed.

Washington has made it known everyone is available at a certain price. The Nets have a combined $28 million of salary in the form of Allen Crabbe and Jared Dudley. Brooklyn also possesses a top 12 protected first round pick from Denver that is almost certain to convey this summer, barring a rash of unforeseen injuries to the Nuggets’ core.

One pick in the (likely high) 20’s plus a shorter financial commitment won’t get Beal. Crabbe has an $18.5 million player option for next season that he will almost assuredly exercise. Washington could conceivably stretch that $18.5 million to save about $12.3 million in space. It’s not a great idea, but nothing should be put past Ernie Grunfeld at this point.

But we have a theoretical start to the conversation. Brooklyn could also put their own pick in the deal, but may be reluctant to do so. On the other hand, they may view Beal as an important part of recruiting free agents in the summer of 2019. Adding Beal will likely push the Nets into the playoffs this year, and they will have oodles of cap space to add talent around him.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.