Brooklyn Nets: D'Angelo Russell enters postseason on a roll

Brooklyn Nets All-Star D’Angelo Russell has been outstanding over the final 3 games of the regular season and enters the playoffs on a serious roll.

D’Angelo Russell of the Brooklyn Nets has to be feeling pretty good as he prepares to make his first foray into the NBA Playoffs.

Russell closed the season strong, leading the Nets to three straight victories, and was on fire from long range in the regular-season finale against the Miami Heat, leading Brooklyn to a 113-94 win with a 7-for-11 shooting display from 3-point range.

Russell had 21 points in just 20 minutes, adding five assists, seven rebounds and a steal in his short stint, while going 7-for-13 overall.

He was absolutely ridiculous to open the second half, canning four consecutive 3s to lead the Nets on a 12-2 run that blew the game wide open.

It started with this, with two defenders nearby that had absolutely no impact on Russell’s shot at all:

After hitting another 3 off a feed from Caris LeVert, Russell decided to do things himself the next trip up the floor:

Since that one went so well, Russell went for the heat check on Brooklyn’s next possession:

Four possessions, 12 points and a knockout punch thrown at the Heat.

Russell set a new career-high with his 81st appearance of the season and set new career-bests with 21.1 points and 7.0 assists per game. His 43.4 percent shooting and 36.9 percent on 7.8 attempts per game from 3-point range? Yep, the best of his career as well.

Over the last three games, Russell was on fire, averaging 22.0 points, 7.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in just 27.3 minutes per game while shooting 55.8 percent overall (on just 14.3 attempts) and hitting 11-of-19 (57.9 percent) from long range.

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Throw in Magic Johnson stepping down as president of the Los Angeles Lakers — Magic being the guy who not only traded Russell to Brooklyn, but trashed him for his leadership ability, or lack thereof, as Russell was heading out the door — and it’s been a heckuva week for DLo.

That didn’t stop Johnson from attempting to — again — justify the decision to dump Russell and draft Lonzo Ball, per the New York Post.

"“[We] had to give up a really talented young player in D’Angelo Russell. And congratulations to him making the [All-Star team].“Also, we saw D’Angelo mature. He wasn’t mature like he is now. He always had the talent to score, but he was immature. Now he’s grown up and that’s why he’s an All-Star.”"

The Nets couldn’t be happier to have Russell as their leader on the floor.

Russell closed the season red-hot and that is something the Nets will need if they hope to upset the Philadelphia 76ers in the opening round of the playoffs.

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He’s plenty mature enough to lead a team into the postseason, that much is certain.

Brooklyn Nets: D’Angelo Russell closes strong

By Phil Watson | Apr 11, 2019

Brooklyn Nets All-Star D’Angelo Russell has been outstanding over the final 3 games of the regular season and enters the playoffs on a serious roll.

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