Brooklyn Nets: 3 questions looking ahead to must-win Game 4

3. Can Nets find Harris some looks?

Joe Harris had a strong Game 1 for the Brooklyn Nets in their Eastern Conference First Round series with the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and getting the Nets going early by hitting three 3s in the first quarter.

The problem for the Nets has been that Harris hasn’t made a 3 since the first quarter of Game 1, going a combined 0-of-6 from deep and 3-for-11 overall in the last two games.

It’s the first time all season that Harris has gone consecutive games without making a 3-pointer. In fact, it hadn’t happened since a three-game drought from Jan. 6-10, 2017, during Harris’ first season in Brooklyn.

Whether it’s because the Nets have been so heavily oriented toward exploiting Philadelphia’s poor pick-and-roll defense or because they’re content to settle into a lot of isolation sets, Brooklyn hasn’t done a good job getting Harris open off screens.

J.J. Redick did solid work keeping with Harris in Game 3, but one thing that was lacking in the offense were the stagger-screen sets Brooklyn has had success with.

Getting Harris clean looks from 3 opens up so much for the Nets offensively. It stretches the defense out, makes help defenders have to be on the lookout for Harris attempting to burn an aggressive closeout with a drive and generally creates more space for everyone else.

When Harris isn’t getting touches and getting involved with the offense, it’s a sign things have stagnated. When that happens, Brooklyn is forced to settle for contested jumpers or drives and even the 3-point looks are with hands in the face.

That, in turn, leads to the Nets going 8-for-39 from deep, as they did in Game 3.

Brooklyn’s ball-handlers have had success attacking the 76ers off the bounce, but they’ll have that much more room to work with if the Nets can get Harris back into the groove.