Brooklyn Nets: 3 takeaways from perfect ending in finale against Heat
By Phil Watson
1. If there is such a thing as momentum, Brooklyn has it
It was just a week ago that things were looking bleak for the Brooklyn Nets. A homecourt loss to the Toronto Raptors was their fourth defeat in five games and dropped the Nets below the .500 mark at 39-40.
More. 10 best Nets from 1996-2006. light
A tough weekend back-to-back on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers loomed, as did the very real possibility that for as well as the Nets played from early December on, they could miss the playoffs.
Brooklyn’s response was pure gold.
The Nets swept that road back-to-back — their first 2-0 road back-to-back since April 2014 — and closed the season with three straight wins, clinched their first winning record in five years at 42-40 and are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
While late-season results should always be viewed through a prism of what was at stake for either or both teams, the Nets’ defensive resurgence since the All-Star break culminated in the team holding its final two opponents to less than 100 points — the first time all season the Nets have turned that trick.
It was the first time Brooklyn has held two straight opponents to less than 100 points since doing so in three consecutive games from Jan. 1-6, 2018.
Brooklyn’s defensive rating of 106.8 since the All-Star break is fourth-best in the NBA over that span and by closing with three straight wins, the Nets finished the unofficial second half of the season with a 12-11 record after going 30-29 before the break.
The Nets will head to Philadelphia for the first round of the playoffs, where the 76ers are dealing with another potential injury problem to oft-injured All-NBA center Joel Embiid.
Philadelphia general manager Elton Brand let it slip that Embiid, dealing with a balky left knee, might not be ready for Game 1 this weekend.
Sixers GM Elton Brand on Joel Embiid, who has been dealing with a knee ailment & will end up missing 15 games since the All-Star break for load management: "I'm optimistic he'll be ready for this weekend."
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) April 10, 2019
Reporter: Is there a chance that he won't be?
EB: "It's possible."
Given that Embiid has averaged about 75 points and 50 rebounds per game (seemingly, the real numbers are 30.0 points and 14.3 boards) against the Nets, that can’t be anything but a plus as Brooklyn looks to steal one of the first two games at Philadelphia to grab homecourt advantage.