Deron Williams – The Brooklyn Game

Atkinson

How Atkinson built a modern offense for the Brooklyn Nets, both for now and the future

By Charles Maniego

Bench

Nets

The Importance of Keeping Things in Perspective

By Benny Nadeau

Howard

Nets

Hopeless Nets look to stave off Hawks at home

By Andrew Hughes

1. Joe Johnson (3 seasons, 231 games) Joe Johnson has been close to very good, and for the Brooklyn Nets, that’s enough to be the best. Throughout injuries and moping and 141 wins and low-impact playoff runs and four coaches and general disappointment, Joe has been the main reason that it’s not that bad here. While his stats have been as pedestrian as his name—15.5 points on 43% shooting, 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 steals per game—he has been the closest thing to a superstar the Brooklyn Nets have had for the most cumulative minutes. Deron Williams had a few games, Brook Lopez had a few games, Paul Pierce had his moments, Andray Blatche a few quarters. But Joe Johnson looked the part more often than anyone else. He was the most important player in the Brooklyn Nets' only playoff series win to date, where he beat up on Toronto's young wings like an older brother dominating pool basketball on a summer afternoon. He had the stretch of games in January 2014, starting with the OKC nail-biter that kickstarted Jason Kidd’s redemption run and prevented that second season from becoming too much of a disaster. In general, preventing the Nets from completely falling off has been Joe Jesus' main role. And for the most part, he's succeeded. The Brooklyn Nets are the Large Hadron Collider. I’m not sure what their purpose is, but the people involved claim they are important, and catastrophe always seems imminent. But Joe has been standing by, making sure every decimal point is in the right spot and everyone is wearing their safety goggles. Joe also hit a bunch of clutch shots after arriving in Brooklyn, cementing himself as the guy who kept getting the ball at the end of games. This is surely an anachronistic way to measure achievement (and a fairly nihilistic long-term strategy on the court), but it also says something positive about how the team has perceived Joe's talent and nerves. The guy who keeps getting asked to take the most important shots at the end of games is some sort of superlative, whatever that may be. While not the most advanced way of thinking, this gives Joe some "I know it when I see it" level of superstardom. And with the Brooklyn Nets' lack of actual superstardom, degrees matter. Spiritually, Joe Johnson has been the Nets true mascot—even before the Nets shipped the BrooklyKnight off to the big practice gymnasium in the sky. Coming to the Nets, Joe was couched in a stratospheric contract, six All-Star appearances and the promise of being the second half of a blue chip backcourt. This pedigree positioned him as a gaudy piece of Brooklyn's business model, but Joe ain’t gaudy. Despite his garish contract and any brash claims made by the Nets, Joe has been nothing but an efficient, consistent, blue-collar employee of the Brooklyn franchise. And this has been enough to make him the best player in Brooklyn franchise history. -Andrew Gnerre

Nets

Joe Johnson returns to Brooklyn, will receive video tribute tonight

By Jerry Kane

Bojan Bogdanovic Per-Game Statistics: 79 G, 39 GS, 26.8 MIN, 11.2 PTS, 3.2 REB, 1.3 AST, 0.4 STL, 0.1 BLK, 1.5 TOV, .433 FG%, .382 3PT%, .833 FT%, .519 eFG%, .550 TS%, 10.7 PER After a strong second half to close the 2014-15 season, many fans felt optimistic that Bogdanovic would take the next step forward in his NBA career. Whatever the reason was (sophomore slump, Lionel Hollins’s system, waning confidence), the second year Bosnian was very disappointing during the first half of the season. Certainly his performance improved post All-Star break, but there were still inconsistencies in his offensive game and limitations on the defensive side of the court that make you wonder if can truly be a cornerstone piece of a competitive team. For every 20-point output (or the 44-point explosion against Philadelphia) there seems to be a 2-12 dud just waiting to happen. At 26 years old, maybe this is just who he is as a player -- an inconsistent, streaky shooter. -Jonathan Griggs

Nets

Nets-Sixers — what else is there to say?

By Jesse Picarello

Booker Hollis-Jefferson

Nets

The ABCs of Thanksgiving

By Benny Nadeau

Jeremy Lin

Nets

On and off the court, Jeremy Lin is the right leader for the Nets

By Benny Nadeau

Nets signings

Nets

2016-2017 Brooklyn Nets Season Preview: Up From Below

By Benny Nadeau

brook lopez

Nets

TBG Player Preview 2016-2017: Brook Lopez

By Benny Nadeau

Atkinson

Nets

Mazzeo: Atkinson was key component in Nets landing Lin

By Benny Nadeau

Jeremy Lin

Nets

TBG Player Previews 2016-2017: Jeremy Lin

By Ryan Carbain

Nets Magic Basketball

Nets

TBG Player Previews 2016-2017: Jorge Gutiérrez

By Andrew Hughes

Jeremy Lin

Nets

Nine Thoughts To Keep Your Spirits Up Heading Into The 2016-17 Nets Season

By Jaymz Clements

Nets Magic Basketball

Nets

Woj: Nets sign Jorge Gutierrez to training camp deal

By Benny Nadeau

Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) reacts after a foul call in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Nets

TBG’s Far Too Early Fantasy Basketball Cheat Sheet

By Simon Harrex

Landon Donovan

Nets

Landon Donovan, Julius Erving, and the unretirement

By Benny Nadeau

News from Around NYC

A affordable housing lottery is open at 1026 Third Avenue in Lenox Hill.

Affordable housing lottery opens in Lenox Hill with $960 studios

luna park cyclone

Coney Island’s Luna Park to offer free rides, egg creams to celebrate summer season opening on March 29

10 Family-Friendly Hiking Trails In and Around NYC This Spring

New York Family

10 Family-Friendly Hiking Trails In and Around NYC This Spring

Untitled design

Schneps Podcasts

Shaping the Future of Higher Education: A Conversation with Dr. Susan Burns, President of the University of Mount Saint Vincent