Nets

Nets vs. Nuggets, 9:00 P.M. EST:
TBG Open Thread

Posted on: March 29th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

AP

Tonight: The 42-29 Brooklyn Nets, five games into their eight-game, 17-day road trip thanks to Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey taking over Barclays Center, take on the 49-24 Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The Nuggets have won 17 straight games at home and recently had a 15-game winning streak snapped. The Nets are 4-1 so far on the road trip, winning their past two games despite not having Joe Johnson -- albeit against inferior competition.

The BK Game Streak: Play "The BK Game Streak," where you can build a streak of wins along the betting line over the course of the season. Three prizes will be awarded at the end of the year, with first prize a $200 Amazon Gift Card. Log in with Facebook to get started, vote in the box above, and good luck!

Watch & Listen: Tonight's game is broadcast on YES Network. Ryan Ruocco and Jim Spanarkel are on the call. The game is also broadcast on ESPN. The game is radio simulcast on WFAN, and in Spanish on WADO.

Out: For Brooklyn, Joe Johnson is OUT for the third straight game as he rests his sore quad. Keith Bogans will again start in his place. The Nuggets are without point guard Ty Lawson, the team's offensive catalyst, and rely on the ageless Andre Miller to start in his place.

Starting Lineups:
Denver Nuggets: Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, Kosta Koufos (83 minutes, minutes, +/- +12.5 per 100 possessions)
Brooklyn Nets: Deron Williams, Keith Bogans, Gerald Wallace, Reggie Evans, Brook Lopez (60 minutes, +/- +22.9 per 100 possessions)

Advanced Statistics:
Denver Nuggets: 107.2 offensive rating (4th), 102.2 defensive rating (11th), 97.59 possessions per game (2nd)
Brooklyn Nets: 104.4 offensive rating (9th), 103.4 defensive rating (17th), 90.83 possessions per game (29th)

Go Nets!

TAGS: , ,
Nets

From The Mile High:
Can The Nets Steal One in Denver?

Posted on: March 29th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

Brook Lopez, Kosta Koufos, Ty Lawson

Rap Game Brook Lopez Face. (AP)

The 42-29 Brooklyn Nets have already guaranteed a record over. 500 this season, a .500 record on this road trip, a spot in the playoffs, and a career month for Reggie Evans. The next challenge for them: a tough 49-24 Denver Nuggets team, one that recently won 15 games in a row and has an outstanding 32-3 record in Denver. The Nuggets will be without starting point guard and speed demon Ty Lawson, which will hurt their chances, but similarly the Nets' Joe Johnson is doubtful after missing two straight games with a quad contusion.

Joining us to talk about the Denver Nuggets is the incomparable Matt Moore, senior NBA Blogger for CBS Sports and editor emeritus of Hardwood Paroxysm. Matt is notorious for both knowing everything about the NBA and absolutely nothing at the same time, and we argue often, because he argues often with everyone. One of the best NBA-related follows in the world.

Along with his Nuggets expertise, Moore recently conducted an interview with Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez, and he's given us a sneak peek of what to expect in the questions. Really outstanding.

And, as always: The BK Game Streak is up. Get to playin'.

Onward!

Devin: The Nuggets and Nets are probably as different stylistically as any two teams in the NBA. How do the Nuggets function on offense/defense, and how do they match up with Brooklyn?

Moore: ... MORE →

TAGS: , , , ,
Contests

Nets vs. Nuggets: The BK Game Streak!

Posted on: March 29th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

The Nets are in Denver tonight to take on the Denver Nuggets, and along with a shot to continue the good fortune on this road trip is a shot for your fortune too: another opportunity at The BK Game Streak and a chance to win a $200 Amazon Gift Card!

The game is as simple as it sounds:

1. The contest relies on a standard betting line for each game. (Note: you must be logged into Facebook to play.) To make your prediction, select YES or NO to agree or disagree. For example: today's line is "Denver will beat Brooklyn by 5 or more points." If you think Denver will win by five or more points, select "YES." If you think Denver will win by four or fewer points, or Brooklyn will pull off the upset, select "NO."

For the record: The Nuggets are 49-24, fourth in the Eastern Conference, and on a two-game losing streak after a 15-game winning streak that nobody noticed because the Miami Heat were in the midst of a 27-game winning streak. They will also be without star point guard Ty Lawson. The Nets are 42-29, fourth in the Eastern Conference, and are 4-1 on their Circus road trip. Nets shooting guard Joe Johnson is doubtful with a quad contusion.

2. String together wins and try to get the longest streak of correct predictions before the end of the NBA regular season. Follow game results on the leaderboard on the right sidebar.

At the end of the season, we'll award three prizes to the players with the best three streaks: The Gold Net Trophy (longest streak) and a $200 Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to first place, the Silver Net Trophy (second-longest streak) and a $50 Amazon Gift Card to second place, and the Bronze Net Trophy (third-longest streak) $25 Amazon Gift Card and a Bronze Net Trophy to third place.

Read more rules for the contest here.

Good luck!

Nets

Mirza Teletovic Talks War, Love, Basketball, and Life with Alyonka Larionov

Posted on: March 29th, 2013 by Max Weisberg No Comments

 

In a fabulous interview with Barclays Center TV host Alyonka Larionov, Brooklyn Nets forward Mirza Teletovic talks about everything from the Bosnian War, basketball, his lack of playing time, his children, and life's essentials. The 27-year old rookie also talks about how adjusting to US life has been difficult at times, but that he will continue to stick with it and work harder to make things work.

As we've seen on previous episodes of "The Association," Teletovic talks about living through the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a child. He tells of how the war has not allowed him to take things for granted and how his father does not allow him to complain about anything in the present day. Teletovic, who married at 21, also talks about his family life, noting that his kids are still adjusting to this area.

On his lack of playing time, Teletovic seems to have a great understanding of why he has received little court-time this season. He says he often likes to put himself in head coach P.J. Carlesimo's shoes and understands that with NBA veterans such Reggie Evans and Kris Humphries playing the PF position, that it's hard to crack the rotation as a rookie.

TAGS: ,
Nets

While You Play 5-on-5, Reggie Evans Rebounds 2-on-2

Posted on: March 29th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

Reggie Evans

AP

Imagine you're playing 2-on-2 with a few friends in your local gym/playground/hoop/trash can to 16. (Or 14. Or 20. Or whatever your local rules are. But for this, let's imagine it's an even number.) Your team wins, and you scored 8 of your team's points. Pretty good, but your friend also scored 8, and assuming you shot roughly the same, it's safe to say you guys split the duties pretty evenly.

Now instead of a 2-on-2, imagine it's a 5-on-5. You still score 8 points, and the rest of your team combined scores 8 points too. Again assuming you're not dirt-roading the offense by needlessly chucking, that's a much different story -- there's a clear distinction between effectively how you scored and how everyone else did.

What does this have to do with Reggie Evans?... MORE →

TAGS: , ,
Nets

WATCH: Every One of Reggie Evans’s 22 Points & 26 (Or Was It 25?) Rebounds On His Career Night

Posted on: March 28th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

Watch every one of Reggie's career-high tying 22 points and career-high 26 rebounds, along with a bonus highlight or two, as he led the Brooklyn Nets in a 111-93 blowout victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on the best night of his career.... MORE →

TAGS: , , , ,
Nets

Unnamed Nets teammate wanted Reggie Evans benched, Evans responded with career month

Posted on: March 28th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 3 Comments

 

Reggie Evans, Blake Griffin

AP

Brooklyn Nets starting power forward Reggie Evans has been no stranger to criticism -- his otherworldly rebounding acumen and solid defensive understanding aside, Evans's offensive struggles have been well-documented here and elsewhere -- but it appears that criticism spread to the bench earlier this season, when a teammate asked Carlesimo to remove Evans from the game -- and Evans overheard... MORE →

TAGS: ,
Photos

Photo: Now above the main entrance at Barclays Center

Posted on: March 28th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 


Courtesy of my iPhone

TAGS: , , ,
Nets History

Former Nets forward O’Bannon’s lawsuit threatens NCAA’s economic model

Posted on: March 28th, 2013 by William Rausch No Comments

 

"There are millions and millions of dollars being made off the sweat and grind of the student athlete." - Ed O'Bannon (AP)

In two less-than-impressive NBA seasons with the then-New Jersey Nets and Dallas Mavericks in the late '90s, Ed O'Bannon scored only 634 points. But O'Bannon's impact on the sports world may prove to be far greater than two forgettable years in the Association: in 2009, the 6'8" former forward filed a lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the largest athletic enterprise on earth, and the suit is coming to a head now.

Despite an underwhelming NBA career, O'Bannon had a studly college run  in Bruin Blue. The UCLA star won the 1995 John R. Wooden Award -- basketball's version of the Heisman -- en route to a national championship and NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors.  Now that it's NCAA Tournament time, Dave D'Alessandro of the Newark Star Ledger caught up with the 9th overall pick from the 1995 draft to discuss his NBA days, life as a car salesman, and challenging the economic system of a multi-billion dollar industry.... MORE →

TAGS: , , ,
Video

Video: Armor’s Willie Reed hits buzzer beater for D-League Play of the Day

Posted on: March 28th, 2013 by William Rausch No Comments

 

With Tyshawn Taylor and Tornike Shengelia to the big club Brooklyn Nets yesterday, it was time for another Springfield Armor player to earn D-League Play of the Day honors against the Canton Charge last night.

Through the first 47 minutes and 57.3 seconds of the game, Willie Reed AKA #CallWillieUp hadn't been living up to the recent stellar play that earned him D-League Performer of the Week after averaging 20 points, 17.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks over three games in the middle of March. Before the final offensive series, the 6'10" forward out of St. Louis only had 11 points and five rebounds.

Then this happened. With 2.7 seconds remaining and the game tied at 108, Reed caught a semi-Hail Mary inbound pass from former Net Ben Uzoh and hit a fade away teardrop from the left mid-corner that went through the net with 0.1 seconds remaining to give the Armor the 110-108 win in their final home game of the season.

The Armor, who have been eliminated from playoff contention with an 18-27 record, will finish up the D-League regular season with five games on the road.

Read More: Crab Dribbles - - D-League Play of the Day: Willie Reed's amzing game-winning jumper 

TAGS: , ,
Nets

Nets-Blazers: Advanced Box & Final Thoughts: The Reggie Evans Game, The Rotation, Deron Williams, & More

Posted on: March 28th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

Check out the advanced box score from last night's 111-93 Brooklyn Nets slaughterhouse here.

Some final thoughts:

  • I've already expounded on how unreal Reggie Evans was last night, but just a cursory look at the numbers: 37.8% total rebound percentage (40.6% on NBA.com -- they're slightly different because of how the two sites calculate possessions), about four times the league average. Over 35% both on offensive AND defensive rebounds. He had more rebounds than the entire Trail Blazers team in the first half (14-13) and nearly led them after three quarters (21 to the Blazers' 22). It was his seventh 20-rebound game this season but also his season-high in assists and the seventh time he recorded more assists than turnovers.

    So add it all up: A career high in rebounds, a season high in assists, a season high in points that tied his career high, and his highest field goal percentage with more than 7 attempts in a game? Yup, I'm comfortable saying that this was the best game of Reggie Evans's career. The only shame is that he wasn't around to do it in front of the fans in Brooklyn. Guess he'll have to do it again.

  • Deron Williams had his quietest post-All Star Game performance yet, Joe Johnson didn't play, and the Nets blew out their opponent by the first quarter. So that happened.

  • Though the road trip is only a minor indication, it appears that Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo has settled on a rotation, and Mirza Teletovic -- who only entered the game in the fourth quarter, long after garbage time had kicked in -- is not in it. Although the numbers will change when Joe Johnson returns and Reggie Evans doesn't have the night of his life, you can figure how the Nets will use their minutes going forward: 35ish for Johnson & Williams, 30 for Lopez, 25-29 for Wallace & Evans, 15-20 for Blatche/Watson/Bogans, closer to 10-15 for Humphries/Brooks, and filling in the blanks with Stackhouse/Teletovic.

  • Another day, another 11 points on 7 field goal attempts and three corner threes for Keith Bogans. I'm not saying but I'm just saying.

  • It looks like Gerald Wallace finally threw some trash in the trash can. Since he called himself out for his complete inability to make a layup, Wallace has shot 70.6% in the restricted area and half of his attempts from within five feet. He's still maddeningly unable to hit three-pointers above the corners, but baby steps, right?

  • Bears repeating: the Nets got 74 points in the paint last night, all from within five feet, and attempted more than double their season average from that area. 37 field goals on 58 attempts when your season average is 25.9 attempts per game? Solid way to win a game.

  • I'll close on a pace note: the Nets average the second-slowest pace in the NBA, humming around 90 possessions per game, but last night's game was closer to 95, according to NBA.com's estimate, and that's even considering the ridiculous amount of second chances they had to extend possessions. It's a pace that would rank them 13th in the NBA. Maybe they are good when they run a bit more.
    TAGS: , , , , ,
    • Fans

    #Nets might make some noise in the playoffs b.” Blowout Over Blazers on Twitter

    Posted on: March 28th, 2013 by William Rausch No Comments

     

    Warm-Ups

    The Game Starts Now... MORE →

    TAGS: , ,