G8 Phoenix Suns (2-4) vs Brooklyn Nets (3-4) “Can the Suns Cure the Nets 2-Game Hangover after Cavs Win?”

Game Thread 366

After a huge 112-107 win against the Cavaliers, the Nets have not recovered from the hangover in two games blowout against the Knicks and the Nuggets (21 points and 14 points ). The good news is Coach Atkinson said the young players like Allen and D’Angelo were willing to listen.

Atkinson agreed. The Nets have young players growing into major roles, including D’Angelo Russell, Allen Crabbe and Caris LeVert, and they have accepted coaching eagerly. “Even the new guys, Allen and D’Angelo, it’s like, ‘Coach us,’” Atkinson said. “They want it, and that’s part of our culture. I’ve been in the NBA a long time, and there are some guys that are resistant. We don’t have that. We have guys who want to be coached and get better. We had a good back and forth. I think they feel a part of the process.”

But would they fix the lack of defense and ball movement in tonight’s game against the Suns? Or would the hangover continue for the three straight game? Not having Jarrett Allen (left foot strain) and Carroll is doubtful with ankle injury will hurt the Nets defense more.

Suns and Nets Woeful Defense

Both the Suns and the Nets have the (dis)honor to occupy the bottom two rank of NBA teams to give up the most points allowed at 117.2 and 118.2. The bad news for the Nets is the Suns have improved in the last 3 games to improve it to 105.7 while the Nets can only get to 112.7. The Nets also had 2-1 record under the interim coach Jay Triano after the Suns fired Earl Watson so the momentum is with the Suns. It would not matter that the Suns have 0-2 road record at the moment if the Nets keep allowing opponents to score at will. This game will come down to who wants to do the hard job of rebounding and defending more than the other.

ESPN Preview

NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets were curious how they would follow up their exciting win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The two games since Spencer Dinwiddie hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 43 seconds remaining against Cleveland did not go well. The Nets showed little energy in a blowout road loss Friday to the New York Knicks and then got run out of their own building in the third quarter Sunday by the Denver Nuggets.

After two disappointing showings, the Nets will try to bounce back Tuesday night when they host the Phoenix Suns.

Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson admitted he was concerned about a possible hangover from his team’s 112-107 win over the Cavaliers that improved the Nets to 3-0 at home.

His worries were justified.

The Nets (3-4) shot 40.5 percent and were dominated inside during a 107-86 loss to the Knicks.

Sunday might have been even worse. The Nets held a 14-point lead in the first half, gave up a 31-6 run in the third quarter by missing 14 of their first 16 shots and wound up with a 124-111 loss to the Nuggets.

“They made a run, and we called a couple of timeouts to try to get it back, but we just never responded,” Atkinson said. “Then we kind of wilted, and obviously we needed better leadership at that time. But it’s up to our young guys, too. It’s on them to learn from this and get better from it. But we didn’t respond at all.”

The Nets would like to correct their issues from the past two losses, especially with what lies ahead. After Tuesday, the Nets begin a five-game road trip, and they will play nine of their next 13 on the road.

…

 

Recent Posts
[rpwe limit=”4″ thumb=”true”]
By psalm234