The Nets continued their surge despite being hurt. With a win last night over the Knicks, Brooklyn is now 19-5 in their last 24 games, tied for the best record in the league since December 7th. However, the injuries are beginning to pile up for the Nets. Spencer Dinwiddie missed last night’s game due to a thumb injury, and is now poised miss 3-6 weeks. That is a huge loss for Brooklyn. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson left the game with a rather nasty cut above his eye.

Dinwiddie, and perhaps Hollis-Jefferson, will join Caris LeVert, Allen Crabbe, and Jared Dudley in street clothes. As a result, the team recently signed Alan Williams to a two-way contract, called Theo Pinson up to the big club, and signed Mitchell Creek to a 10 day contract. The Nets need bodies.

The thinness showed in the first 17 minutes against New York. Midway through the second, Brooklyn trailed the Knicks by 11 at home. The 10-36 (at the time) Knicks, who rank 27th in net rating and 27th in point differential.

Brooklyn scrapped their way back into the game, eventually building a 17 point lead with 3:33 left to go in the game, before winning by 10. It was a team effort as D’Angelo Russell had an on off night by his as-of-late standards.

Observations

1. Finin’ for Pinson

No one stepped up in this game more than Pinson. Pinson, who has logged double digit minutes in a game four times all season, had 19 points and 8 rebounds, and hit three of five three-point attempts.

Pinson shot with confidence and displayed hustle and smarts.

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Scoring an efficient 19 points (11 shot attempts) isn’t likely to be sustainable. However, in the absence of other key rotation players, Pinson is going to get minutes. The Nets are going to need him to bring energy and smart basketball to their lineups to weather the storm.

2. One-and-Done, Not Just for College Kids

Last night the Nets went to their zone defense out of a timeout. The Nets broadcast crew mentioned who coach Atkinson likes the zone defense because it does a better job stopping the opposing team’s play design. On the flip side, however, Atkinson loathes how many three point attempts the zone concedes. Well, here is the play following that timeout with the Nets in their zone defense.

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Right. On. Cue. Allonzo Trier splashed an open corner triple, and Brooklyn immediately scrapped the zone defense.

3. The Game Was Won at the Line

Both teams shot poorly from the floor. The Nets shot 40.5% from the field on 84 attempts, and 27.3% from three on 33 attempts. Similarly, the Knicks shot 42.5% on 87 attempts from the field, and 25.8% from distance on 31 attempts. The difference was free throws.

While both teams shot a similar percentage from the charity stripe (68%.1 to 65.4%, advantage Nets), Brooklyn won this game with sheer volume. The Nets got to the line 47 times in this game, almost double New York’s 26 attempts.

The leader in this space was Shabazz Napier. Napier got to the line 12 times, hitting 11 attempts. That alone covers the margin of victory. Napier is so quick the Knicks really just had no answer for him when he would attack the basket.

Questions

1. How to Handle the Dinwiddie Loss?

The biggest question facing the Nets right now is how Dinwiddie’s minutes will be adjudicated? Dinwiddie is the best shot creator on the team, and has put up some clutch performances this season. He was having a 6th man of the year worthy season. You can’t simply replace that, and coupled with the LeVert injury this really stings.

2. Who Steps Up?

Piggy backing off the first question, who is going to step up? Russell is going to feel a heavier offensive burden, but he cannot do it alone. Joe Harris is a wonderful shot taker, but not shot creator. DeMarre Carroll is having a down year. Rodions Kurucs is a pleasant surprise, but are his contributions viable the rest of the season? Jarrett Allen has not developed any form of low-post game.

A lot will fall on Napier, and he has done well lately, but in a more limited capacity. It’s going to take a team effort, but then again that’s what the Nets are all about.

Prediction

The Honey Moon is Over

As magical as this run has been, the Nets have been punching above their weight. Despite the league leading record since December 7th, Brooklyn is 11th in net rating over the same time period. During the 19-5 streak, the Nets are 9-0 in games decided by 6 points (two possessions) or less.

Brooklyn has 32 games remaining. 7 of the Nets next 12 games are at Celtics, at Spurs, hosting Bucks, hosting Nuggets, at Raptors, hosting Blazers, and hosting Spurs. Brooklyn’s final 13 game stretch is a slate of the Thunder, Jazz, Clippers, Kings, Lakers, Blazers, 76ers, Celtics, Bucks, Raptors, Bucks, Pacers, and Heat.

That is grueling. There is no gimme, lay up, or projected sub .500 unit. The Nets are looking at 80% odds of making the playoffs right now, but continuing to win at this rate seems to be untenable.

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