The Nets defeated the Knicks 113-109 on Friday night at the Barclays Center. Here are five thoughts from the game.
Ball Movement
Coaches often say, the ball has energy and needs to be moved all around the floor.
It’s true, when the ball is moving everyone feels involved and it is difficult for the defense because they have to account for multiple scenarios that could result from actions off of ball movement.
The Nets offense is a work in progress and it is fascinating to watch.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson likes the ball moving around and giving up good shots for great ones. Makes sense.
That approach is often very successful and the Nets have improved as a team over the past few seasons playing that style.
They now have one of the best isolation players in the world as their starting point guard. The challenge for the rest of the Nets is to not stand around and watch Kyrie Irving go one on one.
To be fair, Kyrie isn’t calling his own number every time he has the ball. He gives it up early in the clock and is more than a willing passer. He’s also very confident in his ability to get to his spots on the floor and make shots.
The Nets had 15 assists at halftime and a 13 point lead. They finished the game with only 21 assists and escaped with a narrow victory.
Some of that was the Knicks increased defensive intensity, some of it was the Nets still adjusting to playing with each other. This is only the third game (one preseason) the full team has played together.
As Kyrie Irving said postgame, “this is game two of 82. 80 more to go.”
Atkinson took note of the team’s decline in ball movement in the second half and addressed it postgame.
Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson on the team’s ball movement in the second half. The @BrooklynNets beat the @nyknicks 113-109 #NBA #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/vGD30QnnlN
— Jarod Hector (@jshector) October 26, 2019
Caris LeVert initiating the offense
This was a curious night for LeVert. He got into early foul trouble and seemed to have some trouble adjusting defensively to how the game was being officiated. He played just over a minute in the 4th quarter and finished with 12 points and 4 assists. But he had 6 turnovers.
After the game Atkinson was asked about LeVert’s lack of playing time down the stretch of a close and game and he said, “we just felt more comfortable with Spencer tonight.”
This is a big season for LeVert. The Nets success in many ways will hinge on his ability to be the player we saw in the playoffs last season. What separates all-star caliber players from starters in this league is consistency. It’s early, but LeVert needs to show that.
Being paired in the backcourt with Kyrie is also a challenge as LeVert adjusts to Kyrie’s style. But I like LeVert initiating the offense with Kyrie off ball. LeVert has good size at 6’6” and is an above average athlete. He can get to the rim, and if he can improve his pick and roll game, this backcourt can be a nightmare to defend.
Jarrett Allen
It’s only two games into the season so let’s not get crazy about Jarrett Allen. But what is concerning are the areas in which he is struggling.
If you look at the box score you’ll see he grabbed 11 rebounds in 25 minutes of action. Not a bad rebound rate. But if you watched the game your eyes told you something different.
On several plays in the game, he had established defensive rebound position and he was too easily knocked off his spot by a Knicks player. If Allen isn’t gobbling up a majority of the available rebounds, what else is he giving you?
He was not great defensively. On a crucial play late in the game, Julius Randle got by him on a spin move and would’ve tied the game had he not fumbled the ball off his own foot.
Offensively he’s still having trouble catching and finishing in traffic, and he doesn’t shoot at a high enough percentage at the rim.
On a team with Kyrie, LeVert and Dinwiddie he’s going to get his chances on lobs at the rim. He needs to be better at catching and finishing. It’s as simple as that.
Lobs and rim runs are a part of his pregame routine.
This was Jarrett Allen pregame last night. He’s one of my thoughts from last night’s Nets win over the Knicks. Column coming soon…#NBA #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/5jEhZWzFXJ
— Jarod Hector (@jshector) October 26, 2019
After the game Allen was asked about his early offensive struggles.
Nets @_bigjayy_ after the team’s win over the Knicks on his early offensive struggles. Shouts to my guy @Blacketologist on the question. #NBA #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/52oEUL8D8q
— Jarod Hector (@jshector) October 26, 2019
The second unit…
They were much better on Friday night than they were in the season opener on Wednesday.
As a unit they were +18 and 7-13 from three. Rodions Kurucs found a bit of a groove and DeAndre Jordan was good on the glass grabbing 11 rebounds.
Atkinson and his staff will continue to tinker with combinations.
Spencer Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan connected on a few lobs. Those two should be a nice combo in spots this season.
Rivalry
Friday night was the first of four games in the “Battle of the Boroughs” or “Battle for NYC.” For their part the players talk it down. But it definitely means something to them.
Kyrie said the Nets will own this city earlier on Friday. Though he wanted no parts of a rivalry talk in his postgame comments.
The game was also chippy and got physical at points. Knicks agitators Marcus Morris Sr. and Bobby Portis got into some of the Nets players and looked to gain an edge.
During one play in the first half Portis attempted to wrestle the ball away from Kyrie and Taurean Prince ran over to defend his point guard.
Kyrie Irving is ready to take on Julius Randle and Bobby Portis for bragging rights in New York. #Knicks #Nets #NBA #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/iNQ6qWDLvg
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 26, 2019
Then there was the crowd.
It was a home game for Brooklyn, but there were a lot of Knicks fans in the building. Enough to hear loud boos for Kyrie at times, and a real buzz when the Knicks made their comeback in the fourth quarter.