Toronto Raptors – The Brooklyn Game

Bench

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The Importance of Keeping Things in Perspective

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Nets waive Bennett, sign Acy to 10-day contract

By Elizabeth Swinton

Korver

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First place Cavaliers take on last place Nets

By Adam Hayes

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

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Nets

Lin looks to upset former team as Nets chase redemption against Charlotte

By Andrew Hughes

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Nets

Nets must face James, Irving, and Love before Christmastime traditions

By Jerry Kane

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Nets

Nets-Warriors, just like a car crash you can’t look away from

By Benny Nadeau

23. Toronto Raptors, $35,650,000 DeMarre Carroll, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan

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And the nightmare week begins… now

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Nets

The Reclamation of Anthony Bennett

By Benny Nadeau

(AP Photo/Luis Scola)

Nets

TBG Player Preview 2016-2017: Luis Scola

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(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Nets

TBG Player Previews 2016-2017: Anthony Bennett

By Michael Gorwtiz

Mike Fratello Ian Eagle

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The Best of Devin Kharpertian

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Nets

Report: Nets sign Anthony Bennett to two-year deal

By Benny Nadeau

Brooklyn Nets interim head coach Tony Brown gestures in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in New York. In Brown's first game as interim head coach, the Spurs defeated the Nets 106-79. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Nets

Woj: Tony Brown to become lead assistant for the Washington Wizards

By Benny Nadeau

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Nets

Begley: Nets to work out Anthony Bennett

By Benny Nadeau

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Nets

Was this the worst season in Nets history?

By Devin Kharpertian

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