Brooklyn Nets: Player grades from another homecourt loss to Cavaliers
By Phil Watson
Brooklyn Nets. JARRETT ALLEN. C-. 32 MIN, 9 PTS, 4-for-7 (1-for-2), 3 REB. 1 AST, 1 PF, 1 TO, 1 BLK, +9. C
Jarrett Allen did some good things Monday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, converting a nice alley-oop from Spencer Dinwiddie for a monster jam and hitting his first 3-pointer since opening night.
But he also got thoroughly dominated by Tristan Thompson — a veteran, yes, but certainly not a top-tier NBA center. Thompson had 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds and pushed Allen pretty much anywhere Thompson wanted the kid to go.
Allen had been 0-for-12 from 3-point range since hitting his final attempt against the Detroit Pistons in the opener before knocking down his first corner 3 attempt on Monday. He’s got good form and a nice touch, but his release can still get a little sideways.
He will have his hands full Wednesday against big, aggressive Steven Adams of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Here’s hoping he can step it up again after a couple of off nights in a row.
B-. 32 MIN, 18 PTS, 6-for-14 (4-for-11), 3 REB (1 ORB), 4 AST, 5 PF, 1 STL, 1 TO, +8. SG. Brooklyn Nets. SPENCER DINWIDDIE
Spencer Dinwiddie played almost exclusively off the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers and did some good things offensively with four 3-pointers, while moving the ball more readily than he has of late.
But defensively, he had some breakdowns that hurt the Nets. He got caught losing his man on the weak side while following the ball on three different occasions, all of which resulted in points.
On the final basket by Alec Burks, Dinwiddie was a bit slow to respond when Burks got past Allen Crabbe.
It was a tough decision — you don’t ideally want to leave Rodney Hood open for a 3-pointer on a kick out, but you also don’t want to give Burks — dangerous off the bounce — an open lane.
Dinwiddie got caught in between and Burks easily split the two defenders for the game-winning dunk.