Played like All-Star Deron in the first half – probed the lane a time or two, but more importantly continued to hit outside shots. Looked like a different player after suffering a right quad contusion on a collision with Suns point guard Goran Dragic early in the third quarter; his effectiveness hampered and return questionable, D-Will nonetheless returned to the game and the team didn’t suffer for it.
The Nets iso’d him one too many times to kick off the third quarter, but they got through it. Didn’t appear to feel any ill effects from his unnamed illness as he rained some big threes and floaters in the fourth quarter to turn this game from a close contest into a blowout.
Went down early and hard on a rough fall going up for a dunk. Since the foul was not a flagrant and someone else took his free throws, Wallace was ineligible to return. X-rays came back negative, and Wallace was diagnosed with bruised ribs. Honorary A+.
Not a real grade, I just want to note that he was not on the injury report, was nowhere to be found, and then was suddenly listed as out as the game began with a sore left ankle. He did not make an appearance on the bench or in the arena during the game, though a source with the Nets confirmed that he had been in the arena prior to the start.
Played a terrible first half — outplayed handily by Marcin Gortat. Made up for it shortly into the second with some nice defensive plays and a surprising post move early on; Lopez normally goes for the hook once he gets to the middle of the lane, but instead spun back towards the baseline and hit a layup around Gortat’s outstretched arm. Nice move we don’t often see from Brook. Once it was clear that looking for Lopez in the post wasn’t working, the Nets eschewed him as a primary offensive option, and he got a few easy buckets off putbacks.
Played with an intensity and purpose in the third quarter, helping the Nets erase a deficit and extend a lead with an absurd jumper and some nifty drives to the basket.
We no longer have to say Free MarShon. He’s been freed. Some great plays from him tonight, attacking the lane, controlling his dribble, hitting open spot-up shots, and one beautiful pass in the middle of the fourth quarter, finding Joe Johnson in the corner for an open 3 when he could have forced a tough layup. This is a new MarShon Brooks, in that it’s the old MarShon Brooks, growing up again.
A terrible effort from the free throw line, masked by yet another Rodmanesque rebounding effort. He’s even getting chip shots at the rim now too! #NBABallot
TOKO LOCOOOOOOOOOOOO
