Mark Cuban, impersonating a rattlesnake. (AP)
Dallas Mavericks
Devin KharpertianDallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is no stranger to transparency when it comes to his feelings about other teams (or referees), and when asked about the Brooklyn Nets, he reiterated that he feels blessed that his team, unlike the Nets, is not in such a precarious financial position.... MORE →
Devin Kharpertian
The Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks have one of the more awkwardly formed rivalries in basketball: the two only play twice per year, but are connected at the free agency hip because of Deron Williams's decision to spurn Dallas and re-sign with Brooklyn for a maximum five years and $98 million. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who never met a quote he didn't like, noted to reporters before Wednesday night's Mavericks-Nets game (while working out) that Deron Williams was "old, old, old news," and that he was pleased with the Mavericks' flexibility going forward without a maximum contract like Williams bogging their future down.
Brooklyn Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo heard about Cuban's insistence that the Mavericks were better off without Williams, and had some choice words in return... MORE →
P.J. Carlesimo (AP)
Brooklyn Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo heard about Cuban's insistence that the Mavericks were better off without Williams, and had some choice words in return... MORE →
Devin Kharpertian
Check out the advanced box score from last night's 113-96 Nets victory over the Mavericks here.
A few takeaways from last night's game:
- First and foremost: Check out these two shot charts.
Pretty similar, right? The first is Lopez's shot chart in his game last season in Dallas, when he put up 38 points in a 93-92 victory. The second is Lopez's short chart from last night's game in Dallas. Lopez took care of offensive business in nearly the exact same fashion: hanging around the rim, shooting just one or two jumpers, and dismantling Dallas's interior defense with cuts to the basket and post-ups that Chris Kaman didn't know how to defend. Too bad they won't face off in the playoffs.
- Similarly encouraging: Lopez's 11 rebounds, 18% rebound rate, and seven big offensive rebounds. The Nets and Mavericks shot nearly identically from the field -- 50.6% from Brooklyn, 50% from Dallas -- but the Nets picked up nine more field goal attempts, many thanks to those second chances created by Lopez.
- I've said it in this space before, but it bears repeating: Deron Williams being great is starting to get mundane and I love it. He got a bit lucky hitting consecutive midrange jumpers in the fourth quarter, but Branch Rickey once said that luck is the residue of design. So, solid design, Deron Williams. A 31-point game in his hometown, a continued trend upward of shots at or near the rim, and another solid game from beyond the arc? Good start to this road trip.
- Mark Cuban's struggle face is now my new favorite face:
I do not have the ability to make GIFs. I'm counting on you, internet.
- Another exciting thing: the Nets were down 10 after the first quarter and won by 17. That type of comeback never happened in previous years. You could often tell the direction of a Nets game after the first 12 minutes, and if they went down 10 last season after one they'd basically pack it up. Not anymore.
- Worth noting that the Mavericks attacked Lopez and Blatche inside -- as most teams do -- but shot a below-average mark from within five feet (14/26). Usually I think that Lopez is a good man defender in the post but struggles on help; last night I thought the opposite was true.
- Andray Blatche scored 14 points, all in the second quarter on perfect 6-6 shooting, because Andray Blatche is an indescribable maniac. He hit a fadeaway over Dirk Nowitzki and the space-time continuum began to rip.
- Mirza Teletovic and MarShon Brooks were the first two players off the bench (with Keith Bogans), played about a two-minute stretch in the first quarter... and then sat until garbage time. Neither player did anything of consequence in either stretch.
- The Big 3 of Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, and Brook Lopez was a +13 in seven minutes when they shared the floor with Role Star Hip Hop and three-point/defensive wing specialist Keith Bogans. I'M JUST SAYING.
- Reggie Evans rebounded 42% of all live rebounds and 66% of all defensive rebounds available when he was on the floor. The league average is 10%. Yawn.
Devin Kharpertian
Warm-Ups
Pretty good little spring break so far. Time for Nets/Mavs. Look for me behind Mavs basket. twitter.com/GeoffGiauque/s…
— Geoff Giauque (@GeoffGiauque) March 20, 2013
Time to thwart the #Mavs. Show @mcuban why @deronwilliams chose the #Nets! #LetsGoNets #BKN #BKNvsDAL
— Justin Steinman (@JutSteinman) March 20, 2013
Mavs gonna beat them bums known as the nets
— Sikk (@Yung_Messiah) March 20, 2013
Devin Kharpertian
After the Brooklyn Nets downed the Dallas Mavericks 113-96, led by Brook Lopez's 38 points and 11 rebounds, Brook Lopez earned the coveted "lean down to try to hear what YES Network sideline reporter Sarah Kustok is asking after the game" award. Vince Carter, recognizing Lopez's greatness, couldn't let him make it easy. Watch:
Devin Kharpertian
Grade the Game At Any Time!
Tonight: The 39-28 Brooklyn Nets travel to home-area of star point guard Deron Williams to take on the 32-35 Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Nets are on the second game of their eight-game road trip after blowing out the Detroit Pistons 119-82 in Detroit Monday night, while the Mavericks kick off a six-game homestand after beating the Hawks in Atlanta 127-113 Monday.
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 Mike Fratello are on the call. The game is also broadcast on ESPN. The game is radio simulcast on WFAN, and in Spanish on WADO.
More on tonight's game, including injuries and stats, after the jump... MORE →
Devin Kharpertian
Deron Williams & the Brooklyn Nets travel to Dallas for the only time this season. (AP)
The 39-28 Brooklyn Nets are in game two of their eight-game, 17-day circus road trip, tonight in Dallas to take on the 32-35 Dallas Mavericks. This is the second time the Nets and Mavericks will face off, the first a 98-90 Mavericks victory in Brooklyn fueled by efficient 20-point games from both Vince Carter and Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavericks have fallen out of the competitive picture entirely after winning a title two years ago against the Miami Heat, but they've still got one of the best coaches in the league and one of the greatest European players in history.
This is the first time Deron Williams is playing a game in Dallas -- he went to high school in The Colony, a Dallas suburb -- since Williams decided to re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets this offseason.
Joining me to help me learn just what this Mavericks team is all about is Ian Levy, mastermind behind Hickory High, where he does cool stuff like visualize efficiency and the Four Factors, and contributor to ESPN TrueHoop Affiliate Dallas Mavericks Blog Thet Woman Game The Two Man Game. Ian's one of the best analytic writers we have, so give his stuff a read.
And, as always: The BK Game Streak is up. Get to playin'.
Onward!
Devin: Two of the Nets' biggest weaknesses are defending teams that run a lot and defending teams with finely-tuned offenses. Are the Mavericks one of these teams?
Ian Levy:... MORE →
Devin Kharpertian
The Nets are on the road for game two of their eight-game, 17-day Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey circus trip, and you know what that means... time to build your streak to win a $200 Amazon Gift Card by picking the correct line in The BK Game Streak!
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 "Dallas will beat Brooklyn straight up." If you think the Mavericks will beat Brooklyn tonight, select "YES." If you think the Nets will win their second straight on the road, select "NO."
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!
Mark Ginocchio
Since Devin handed me the keys to the TBG car today, you all had to expect a Ginocchio trademark “rant” after tonight’s game. In other words if you came here for more intellectual statistical analysis, you’re going to be disappointed.
For one, it’s difficult to be too intellectual over another Brooklyn Nets loss that resembles so many others than preceded it. Another third quarter collapse that saw a struggling Mavericks team that’s more or less playing out the rest of its season right now open up a 20 point lead against the Nets. A stagnant offense that produced 19 turnovers, including an unsightly 7 from Deron Williams. And another set of random rotations from head coach PJ Carlesimo (though it’s hard to kill the coach when the entire team takes the third quarter off).
... MORE →
Mark Ginocchio
P.J. Carlesimo COACH
Maybe took too long to go to Mizra Teletovic (again), but hard to blame the coach when the players routinely takes entire quarters of basketball off.
Deron Williams POINT GUARD
The 17 first half points were nice, but the 7 turnovers were killers. Reminiscent of 2011-12 DWill. Carried the load offensively, but at the expense of ball control.
Joe Johnson SHOOTING GUARD
Looked rusty. Started to find his stroke after the first quarter, but disappeared for stretches and was on the bench in crunch time.
Gerald Wallace SMALL FORWARD
The guy who used to stuff a stat sheet finished with 7 points and 3 rebounds. I think Nets fans would gladly take the guy who came over for the stretch run over the player currently impersonating Gerald Wallace.
Kris Humphries POWER FORWARD
Grabbed some rebounds early (6) but failed to distinguish himself again and Mizra was the PF of choice down the stretch.
Brook Lopez CENTER
There's still something "off" with Brook since the ASG, but a solid night where he flirted with a double-double (19 points, 9 rebounds).
Andray Blatche POWER FORWARD
:::In falsetto singing voice::: "Roller Coastah! Of Dray!" Second quarter scoring barrage interspersed with some boneheaded turnovers and missed defensive assignments.
Keith Bogans SHOOTING GUARD
Was in the crunch time rotation, but only had 3 points to show for it. Missed a trey off a pretty feed from Mizra in the fourth quarter that would have blown the lid off the Barclays if it had gone in.
Reggie Evans POWER FORWARD
11 rebounds, two missed shots at the rim. Might be the only player in the NBA who's rebounding rate % exceeds his shooting percentage.
Mirza Teletovic POWER FORWARD
Was a spark in the fourth quarter run that almost brought the Nets all the way back, and more importantly, looked like he belonged and wasn't a liability down the stretch. But does Mizra = page views? Important members of the 4th estate need to know!
C.J. Watson POINT GUARD
Also helped to fuel the fourth quarter comeback attempt and played some key minutes for the rusty Joe Johnson down the stretch.
Players
I done seen hell .. so it's nothing anybody can so to hurt me .. I'm takin all shots like it's nothing ...
20 hours ago "When you ballin everybody want a part .. But even your shadow gunna leave you when it's dark"
24 hours ago#NETS
THE BK GAME STAFF
I wrote about the five biggest questions/decisions the Nets have to figure out this offseason: http://t.co/xAOVMbPQTE
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