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The BK Playoff Game, Round 3: Following the Spurs dominance

Posted on: May 21st, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

Marc Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, Matt Bonner

WENDIGOOOOOOOOOO (AP)

Each day that there's a playoff game, we'll have three things to watch in the NBA playoffs. Each note will be accompanied by a contest. We'll announce winners after each round. Here's today's three things to watch:

1) San Antonio's continued dominance. The San Antonio Spurs crushed the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, in a 105-83 laugher in San Antonio. The Spurs hit 14 three-pointers, shot 52.6% from the field, and never had a real threat from Memphis, who many anointed as the favorites in the series. Grizzlies starters shot just 40.9% from the field and didn't have a shot after going down 31-14 after one quarter. The Spurs have one of the most consistent, fluid offenses in the NBA, and Memphis -- who have both the defensive player of the year in Marc Gasol and one of the game's elite perimeter defenders in Tony Allen -- could do nothing to stop it. At home again in Game 2, will the Grizzlies make the necessary adjustments?

2) Zach Randolph. One of the aforementioned adjustments the Grizzlies have to make is getting Zach Randolph involved in the offense. Randolph turned in a terrible Game 1 performance, going just 1-8 from the field and finishing with just two points in 28 minutes of action. The Spurs stymied Randolph with a mixture of hard work and strategy -- pushing Randolph out of the paint and swarming him with defenders that could help off their man. If that analysis tells us anything, it's that Randolph can take advantage if his teammates show a bit more commitment to acting as a threat. Randolph averaged 16.1 points per 36 minutes this season and 19.7 per game in the first two rounds of the playoffs -- can he counter?

3) San Antonio's balance. The Spurs had five players score in double figures in a rout and Tim Duncan wasn't one of them. Manu Ginobili wasn't one of them, either. That should tell you all you need to know about San Antonio's balanced offensive approach, one that values the right shot over the top shooter. The Spurs have a bevy of offensive weapons, specifically with three-point shooters. When they're hitting, there's a lot of points to go around.

Nets hosting draft combine (Prospect List)

Posted on: May 21st, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

The Brooklyn Nets will host their annual draft combine in conjunction with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers tomorrow and Thursday at their practice facility in Rutherford, New Jersey. 44 players will attend the combine in four 11-player sessions (one at 9:30 A.M. each day, one at 11:15).

A full list of players and workout times (courtesy of the Nets) after the jump... MORE →

C.J. Watson Highlight Mix: Top 10 Plays

Posted on: May 21st, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

It's #QuietStormDay. Check out Brooklyn Nets guard C.J. Watson's top 10 plays of the 2012-13 season... MORE →

5 Brooklyn Nets Burning Offseason Questions

Posted on: May 21st, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

Mikhail Prokhorov

What's next for Mikhail Prokhorov's Brooklyn Nets? (AP)

After a first-round exit to a decimated Chicago Bulls team, the Brooklyn Nets have an eventful offseason ahead of them. Even though they don't have the cap room to sign any major free agents or add any salary in trades, they've got a lot of decisions to make that will significantly alter the future of the franchise.

It's a misconception that Nets general manager Billy King, freshly re-upped with a contract extension, has done his work and just needs to sit on his hands through 45-50 win seasons with the team's core. There's work to do, and I've taken a look at what I feel are the five biggest offseason questions -- and decisions -- the Nets need to make.

(Warning: tangential rant forthcoming)
One you won't see here: whether or not the Brooklyn Nets have some chance at acquiring Dwight Howard, who can be a free agent this season. The Nets would have to cut about $30 million* in salary without taking any salary back to even consider acquiring Howard. No team is taking on Joe Johnson's salary for draft picks. Stop it.

*-It's not entirely clear exactly how much they'd have to cut, since it all depends on what the "tax apron" is set at in July. It's expected to be around $75 million, which is where I've based my estimate.
(End tangential rant)

Anyway, the five biggest questions of the Brooklyn Nets offseason. Start below.
Start Here: 1 of 5

5 Brooklyn Nets Offseason Questions: #1: What to do with Andray Blatche.

Posted on: May 21st, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 2 Comments

 

Andray Blatche, Emeka Okafor

Andray Blatche shooting against his former team. (AP)


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5 Brooklyn Nets Offseason Questions: #2: What to do with Bojan Bogdanovic.

Posted on: May 21st, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 5 Comments

 

Marshon Brooks, Jordan Williams, Bojan Bogdanovic

Is Bojan Bogdanovic (right) the wing Brooklyn's been looking for? (AP)


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5 Brooklyn Nets Offseason Questions: #3: What to do with Kris Humphries.

Posted on: May 21st, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 2 Comments

 

Will Kris Humphries (left) still be in Brooklyn next season? (AP)


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5 Brooklyn Nets Offseason Questions: #4: What to do in the NBA Draft.

Posted on: May 21st, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 5 Comments

 


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5 Brooklyn Nets Offseason Questions: #5: Finding the next Brooklyn Nets Coach.

Posted on: May 21st, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 4 Comments

 

Who will take over for P.J. Carlesimo in the driver's seat? (AP)


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Highlight Reel: Watch Gerald Wallace Crash Into Everything With Reckless Abandon

Posted on: May 20th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

In honor of Brooklyn's inaugural season, we're rolling out analysis, highlights, and more on each Brooklyn Nets player, one per day. Welcome to Gerald Wallace Day, AKA #CrashBack.

It's no accident that Gerald Wallace's nickname is Crash. Wallace treats his body like a temple, if the purpose of a temple was to take an aluminum bat and smash it to pieces in the name of making a proper basketball play. No player exemplified frantic kinetic energy more than Wallace on a nightly basis, and we at The Brooklyn Game salute Wallace's unending commitment to playing his way. Be very afraid of sitting in the front row for Nets games with Gerald Wallace around.

With that said... Please take care of yourself, Gerald Wallace.

Brook Lopez: Winning is all that matters

Posted on: May 18th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

brook lopez mickey mouse disney shirt

Shirt game Brook Lopez.

Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez put together a career year this season on both ends of the floor. He averaged 19.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game on 52.1% shooting, recorded a PER that ranked fifth in the league, and committed to a stauncher defensive effort than in any of his previous seasons. Lopez earned the first All-Star appearance of his career this season, was Brooklyn's best player during the playoffs, and his overall production this season will likely earn him his first appearance on an All-NBA team.

I, in a wonderful bout with homerism, suggested the first team, but Lopez himself shrugs off those comparisons.

"It's not really personal – there's not much left personally," Lopez told Ben Couch of the Brooklyn Nets. "It's just a matter of winning. That's the bottom line. I think that really separates the best of the best in the league from the rest."

Lopez certainly can't slouch this offseason. He's got a lot of work to do to improve his overall game, most notably continuing his evolution on the defensive end and improving his non-scoring offense. But this year was the first step towards that peak. Next step: leading a team past the first round.

Read More: Brooklyn Nets -- Brook Lopez's Game Grows in Brooklyn

Nets will work out prospect Jamaal Franklin

Posted on: May 18th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 2 Comments

 

Jamaal Franklin

Jamaal Franklin (AP)

Franklin, a 6'5" junior guard from San Diego State, averaged 16.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game this past season, shooting 40.4% from the field. He measured out at 191 pounds with a huge wingspan of 6'11.25", but only shot 27.9% from beyond the three-point line this season.

Here's what DraftExpress had to say about his game in April:

While playing primarily as a jack-of-all-trades combo forward for the Aztecs, Franklin projects to be a shooting guard at the NBA level, with good size for the position at 6'5”, to go along with a solid build and what appears to be a long wingspan. He also stacks up very well athletically, and should have an easier time than most NBA rookies adjusting to the NBA game from a physical standpoint.

Playing as San Diego State's primary playmaker and shot-creator, Franklin carried a large load for the Aztecs as a junior, and he displayed tremendous versatility, leading the team in scoring, assists, rebounds, and steals per game.

His best asset, however, may be his outstanding motor, as he appears to be a great competitor, playing with major intensity and toughness on both ends of the floor.

This is on display on the offensive end, as he always seems to be in attack-mode, using his quick first step and aggressiveness to make his way towards the basket in transition and in the half-court, where he's able to finish effectively at the rim and get to the free throw line at a high rate.

Despite his strong scoring instincts and ability to create off the bounce, Franklin struggles to score efficiently (48 2P%, 28% 3P% as a junior), as he too often settles for long range jumpers and difficult shot attempts. He also turns the ball over a high rate (4 times per-40), as his aggressive mentality causes him to over-penetrate and get a bit out of control at times.

Some of this may be attributed to a large burden he carried for the Aztecs offensively, but he'll need to play more within himself and show better decision-making in order to find a role at the NBA level, where he'd likely be more of an opportunistic scorer.

DraftExpress has Franklin projected as the 21st pick in the draft. The Nets pick 22nd.