Clippers vs. Nets Thoughts
These are the kind of games I live for, and the reason why I'm up at 4.30 am and without a healthy sleep schedule.
Going into this game, I had no idea what to expect. The Nets honestly tend to play like it's an All-Star Game, with lots of scoring and not much defense. This was especially the case against the Wizards, where they gave up 149 points, including 8 points in the last 10 secs of play. I liked the idea of KD at the 5 in the Nets version of a small-ball/death line-up. Still, they need someone else to either protect the paint or hold his own under the rim for extended periods. They're just too small, and they need to pick someone at the trade deadline or as a buyout player. It's not an original take, but the patented '7-seconds or less' offense run Nash and D'Antoni in Phoenix has found a new form in Brooklyn as '7-stops or less' defense.
n what seemed like a potential Finals Match-Up, I was still hyped to see how the Nets would look against the Clippers side who were atop the West (and with one of the best net ratings in the league) going into this encounter. And then the game started. Patrick Beverly was out with knee soreness, and Reggie Jackson didn't stand a chance against Kyrie. Nicolas Batum is beginning to look like the Swiss-Army Knife type of player who got a massive contract with the Hornets. Most importantly, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were clicking like the tandem that was promised.
It was close going into the 4th. The score was neck-and-neck until 5.43 was left to play, and Kyrie took off. He doesn't get hot like a Steph Curry or Klay Thompson, but when he's on a roll, it's impossible to stop him from getting to the rim and finishing. For someone who can't dunk (I think), he finishes at the rim like nobody else. He can changes direction mid-air and shift his body to get off a good look for him while still adding a little English as the ball rolls in.
And it wasn't just a Kyrie show. He, Harden, and KD were all able to get buckets late in the 4th to bring it home for the Nets. There was a seamlessness about how they've played. I enjoyed watching when they traded bucket after bucket to extend the gap between them and the Clippers. None of it was forced, and it all sprouted organically. Granted, they were aided by the Clippers' drop coverage when Kyrie had the ball at the top of the key, but this was just beautiful basketball. All of them were involved without it looking like a 'your-turn, my-turn' situation, and it showed just how potent the Nets offense could be when all three of them are on song
After my second coffee cup following this game, I started thinking about Kyrie's fit after Harden was traded to the Nets. I wasn't too sure about his role with the team, but this game proved that he can be a killer scorer without letting the ball stick to him for long periods. He can be the go-to bucket getter to bring the Nets back from troubled situations. It's a little like his play in Cleveland, which is a bit ironic considering why he left.
He can be a killer on the court without impeding on the 1-2 game between Durant and Harden. Taking over when those 2 are having a dry spell, and he can pull off a mini-run like he did in a game like this.
Does this mean that I think the Nets are the favorites to win the title? No. They still don't have the size to beat the Lakers or 76ers, nor the depth to beat the Clippers in a 7-game series. However, if Durant can sneakily pull off a 28-point game without breaking a sweat combined with the abilities of both Harden and Kyrie to go off for 40+ on any given night, who's to say that there's a team out there who can compete with their offensive firepower?
Will I change my mind on the Nets every other day? Yeah. But will I also enjoy watching them? Hell Yeah.