Brooklyn Nets fall to Suns failing yet another early season litmus test

The Nets ended up unable to incorporate the streaking Suns

New off a Thanksgiving eve bludgeoning above the Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets welcomed the Phoenix Suns to city. Arguably the hottest team in basketball, the Suns came into Saturday night’s contest winners of fifteen straight video games including a resounding earn against the Knicks 24 hours prior.

With a modest 4-video game successful streak of their possess, the Nets had a probability to truly make a splash with a large early-period earn and knock off a streaking Suns team. Sad to say, that would not be the case as Phoenix would guide wire to wire for a 113-107 earn, completing their Borough Sweep of each the Knicks and Nets.

From the leap, and all through much of the video game, it appeared as if the Nets ended up the kinds on the next 50 % of a again-to-again and Phoenix ended up the kinds on two times relaxation. Phoenix swiftly grabbed management of the video game in the first quarter with a 21-8 operate. Spearheading the first-quarter assault for the Suns was Devin Booker (thirty details) who dropped 16 details in the frame.

Turnovers would be the prevailing theme of the night time for Brooklyn as it was 1 of the sloppier performances of the period. Brooklyn’s 8 first-quarter turnovers served spark the Suns’ scorching start out and the ongoing careless engage in to start out the next would support in Phoenix building a twenty-place first-50 % guide.

Brooklyn employed a fifteen- operate above a six-minute span to pull inside 5. On the other hand, a Chris Paul (22 details, 8 rebounds, 5 helps) 3-pointer and buzzer-beater layup stored it at a double-digit halftime guide.

The Nets would really shoot a much better proportion than Phoenix in the first 50 % as effectively as guide in the rebounding fight, having said that, their fifteen turnovers to Phoenix’s 5 would verify to be the large difference.

The next 50 % again saw Phoenix construct up a guide thanks to the Nets’ turnover troubles. The Suns would also get some separation in the next 50 % by searching LaMarcus Aldridge in the decide and roll on offense. Aldridge’s lack of ability to engage in in the change against guards that thrive on the perimeter and mid-variety may possibly verify to be a issue for Brooklyn through a opportunity playoff operate.

Significantly like the first 50 %, the Nets would again make a operate to get them again in the video game. Brooklyn would use a 19-2 spurt to lower the guide to as minor as seven with just above two minutes remaining.

Patty Mills had a probability to lower the guide to 4 but skipped a corner 3 on again-to-again possessions. A shot clock-beating idea-in by Jae Crowder with a minute remaining proved to be the dagger as the Suns would hang on for the six-place earn.

Foremost the charge for Brooklyn as always was Kevin Durant (39 details, nine rebounds, seven helps) who did all he could to hold the Nets in the video game. Even with Bruce Brown returning, DeAndre’ Bembry was still slotted into the starting off lineup and proved to be a nice offensive surprise pouring in 18 details.

Defensively, Bembry had himself a good video game as effectively. Apart from pulling down nine boards, he gave guys like Booker and Paul suits all night time anytime he was matched up against them. He even had two nice steals on Booker in the fourth quarter.

As great of a video game as a position-participant like Bembry had, it was a wrestle for Brooklyn’s other celebrity in James Harden. Whilst he did finish the video game with a triple-double (twelve details, 13 rebounds and fourteen helps) it was 1 of Harden’s worst performances in new video games. Harden struggled mightily all night time each with his shooting (four-for-fifteen) and with turnovers. Of Brooklyn’s twenty team turnovers, Harden had seven of them.

Several of all those turnovers ended up careless and came at inopportune occasions, possibly sparking a scoring operate for Phoenix or killing momentum for the Nets. Even with tiny glimpses, the Nets and their fans still look to be ready for Harden to return to sort or at least give extra dependable outings.

Saturday night time was a probability for the Nets to verify they are the authentic offer and not just the product or service of a fairly mild plan. Sad to say, it was a different unsuccessful litmus test. All six of their losses this period have come against teams above .five hundred with 4 of all those teams staying in the prime 3 of every conference (Warriors, Suns, Bulls, Warmth).

The Nets have naturally been hindered by accidents of late and on the period as a total. They’re lacking their most effective sharpshooter in Joe Harris and most effective change defender in Nic Claxton. And of training course, are lacking a large piece in Kyrie Irving.

It’s crystal clear this Nets team is still attempting to locate out who they are as a team and carve out an identification. They aren’t the offensive juggernaut they ended up a calendar year in the past and even nevertheless their protection has improved, they aren’t defensive stalwarts. With an lack of ability to just operate teams out of the gymnasium just about every night time the Nets can not afford to falter in the hustle stats section.

The dazzling location for the Nets nevertheless is that this is not their closing sort. In reality, it’s nowhere near it after guys get balanced and rotations/roles get extra solidified.

A matchup with the crosstown rival Knicks is following up on the docket for Brooklyn. It’s a different team attempting to determine themselves out as effectively.