Brooklyn Nets: Player grades from a tough night in Detroit

This grade is reminiscent of the kid in school who has a great first semester and a so-so second one.

Allen couldn’t have played much better in the first half, when he finished with 15 points, six rebounds, three blocks and his second obliteration of Blake Griffin in nine days.

Yeah … yeah, it’s worth another look:

Allen even nailed a couple of smooth-looking corner 3s in that first half.

But after the break, the Pistons changed some strategies at both ends and Allen didn’t respond terribly well to the adjustments.

Offensively, the Pistons moved Andre Drummond out to challenge Allen on the perimeter, which gummed up the screen-and-roll opportunities and forced the Nets to have to make 3-point shots (Narrator: They did not.)

Defensively, Detroit’s plan was to have Griffin ride Jared Dudley like a rented mule, backing him into the paint over and over. Allen picked up four fouls in just seven minutes in the third quarter as he was too often hesitant to commit to either staying back with Drummond or helping on Griffin.

He who hesitates does not often get good results in the NBA and Allen’s second half was a microcosm of that.

By hedging late on Griffin, there was no rotation behind him to account for Drummond on the offensive glass and the All-Star big man feasted, with six offensive boards just in the second half en route to a 24-point, 20-rebound performance.

Allen was limited to just two shots after halftime, making one, and he did block one more shot after the break.

But it was very much a tale of two halves for Allen.

If you had “D’Angelo Russell won’t play in the fourth quarter” on your parlay Wednesday night, well, you’re just lying.

Of all the unexpected developments that could have occurred Wednesday night, coach Kenny Atkinson opting to leave Russell glued to his chair for the final 12 minutes would have been at or near the top of the list.

But with Spencer Dinwiddie hot and Russell having a tough time with his shot, Russell played the part of spectator down the stretch.

He did some nice things passing the ball in the first half with three assists and no turnovers, but — like most of the team — Russell’s play got very ragged at the beginning of the second half.

Two quick turnovers was part of the fuel behind Detroit’s 22-9 burst over the first five or so minutes after intermission as they surged ahead by as much as 13 points.

Anomaly or changing of the guard (literally)? It’s too soon to tell, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.