It’s the start of a new season for the Brooklyn Nets, and the first game was complete with highs and lows.
- Brooklyn Nets 117 (0-1)
- Boston Celtics 122 (1-0)
- NBA, Final, Box Score
- TD Garden, Boston, MA
Expectations aren’t high for this team. And it’s tough to condemn them because the Celtics are a great squad and better than most of the Eastern Conference. However, this game helped indicate what needs work.
(Before anything, I was thoroughly impressed by Brooklyn’s resilience and ability to trim down the Celtics’ 23-point fourth quarter lead.)
To start, Brooklyn’s defense is atrocious. Their rebounding is just as bad, and teams need more than offense to stay competitive. As the game progressed, their effort on the boards got better, which is a welcoming sign.
It wasn’t all bad, though. Justin Hamilton came to play–surprisingly–and had a very impressive double-double with 19 points and ten boards. Not only did he put up numbers, but he also took a shot from Jaylen Brown early in the game and bounced back quick.
Hey Jalen Brown: you can't dunk from the stands. A little closer next time.#Nets #BrooklynGrit @zach__cronin pic.twitter.com/9kykML9UUB
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) October 27, 2016
Bojan Bogdanovic was another guy who stood out, and he was Brooklyn’s leading scorer with 21 on 9/17 shooting.
The Brook Lopez/Jeremy Lin combination wasn’t as effective as fans anticipated, and Lopez ended Wednesday’s contest with just seven points and five rebounds. Lin, however, had a solid debut.
He dropped in 18 and dished out three dimes, and one of his buckets came after a beautiful pump fake on Al Horford.
How 'bout this beauty from Jeremy Lin? Celtics go flying in the air. #Nets #BrooklynGrit@zach__cronin pic.twitter.com/4ZOfuHFUkf
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) October 27, 2016
With 16 points, Joe Harris was the fourth-leading scorer and had a respectable all-around effort. To go along with his point total, the former Cavalier added four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Joe Harris continues to knock down 3s. Nets trail by four with just under four minutes to go in quarter.#Nets #BrooklynGrit @zach__cronin pic.twitter.com/bgdgdZveaB
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) October 26, 2016
Additional Takeaways
The Nets attempted a franchise-record 44 threes (34 percent conversion) Wednesday night, and it’s clear that this team is looking to go in a different direction.
Boston looked great. They moved the ball with fervor and their unselfishness was marvelous. Isaiah Thomas led with nine of the team’s 36 assists.
The Nets have an offense that’s better than expected, and the balance between motion offense and pick-and-roll was superb.
Without Jeremy Lin on the floor, the offense stagnates incredibly quick, so it’ll be intriguing to see how much Kenny Atkinson stretches out his playing time.
Sean Kilpatrick has the chance to be the second unit’s undisputed first option; he just needs to grab the opportunity.
Lopez’s use was interesting, and he seemed like he didn’t belong out there. Not much of an effort was made to find him in the post, and Luis Scola even started the second half in lieu of him.
Coach Atkinson: "Theres a lot to improve on. Tough team to defend. We'll get better defensively." #Nets pic.twitter.com/yvRaUPnVLR
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 27, 2016
Views from third quarter. @JLin7 from deep! #Nets https://t.co/uhoPRsVjbI
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 27, 2016
Count it 1️⃣-2️⃣-3️⃣ @YESNetwork pic.twitter.com/YrnIhAeiuL
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 27, 2016
Brook trey. #Nets pic.twitter.com/DpS0GvL7bA
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 27, 2016
With his 1st made 3-pointer tonight, @44bojan moves past Drazen Petrovic into 12th place on #Nets career 3-… https://t.co/MLBYKL2HDo
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 26, 2016
We are underway in Boston! pic.twitter.com/dypGBJ41kd
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 26, 2016
#BrooklynGrit activated. pic.twitter.com/3Tu16yZFow
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 26, 2016
Jaylen Brown is a smooth operator on the block! The rook makes this turnaround bank shot look easy: pic.twitter.com/VBQ7jTtNaA
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 27, 2016
Crowder pokes the ball away from his man and IT rewards him on the break: pic.twitter.com/gJGNUDqc5Z
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 27, 2016
Horford denies Lin for his FOURTH block of the game! No other player has blocked a single shot ? pic.twitter.com/Y6SeL6fiHu
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 27, 2016
Isaiah Thomas is making it easy for his teammates to score – just ask Al Horford: pic.twitter.com/dG1ldMXMZj
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 27, 2016
IT finds Rozier for his first bucket of the season! pic.twitter.com/C0PuiGVuVn
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 27, 2016