Nothin' But Nets
Fansided

Brooklyn Nets: 4 playoff takeaways from victory over Milwaukee Bucks

By Collin Helwig

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 06: Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots a lay up in the first half Jarrett Allen #31 of the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum on April 06, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 06: Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots a lay up in the first half Jarrett Allen #31 of the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum on April 06, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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D.J. Wilson #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots over Rodions Kurucs #00 of the Brooklyn Nets (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /

4. Ball Movement

With essentially no star player or bonafide number one option, the Nets clearly lacked anyone deserving anything resembling an isolation role offensively, except potentially Jamal Crawford before he left the game with a hamstring injury. But resulting from what at first seemed like serious potential handicap for the team, the Nets neglected to make any singular player a focal point, playing more freely from an offensive angle and establishing the necessary ball movement to help them go toe-to-toe with the league’s winningest team.

Freely whipping the ball around to each other, the Nets put up an astonishing 73 first half points against the NBA’s highest-rated defensive team. Also helping them pour in 23 3-pointers, which tied for the most by a Nets team all season, Brooklyn’s passing helped them free up opportunities for shooters with ease as they continued to run their offense far more fluently than during their first two games by noticeable levels. Chiozza certainly deserves credit with his ability to drive and kick, but Jacque Vaughn deserves a nod as well, having restructured the Nets properly to play without any true offensive threat.

Now make no mistake, this does not endorse a future for the Nets which fails to include LeVert, Harris, or Allen during any future games agains the Bucks or anyone else. Instead, Brooklyn might aim to just apply these tendencies illustrated by their Buck-slaying squad while playing with their typical starters present. Although he continues to dazzle with his isolation plays, LeVert might want to spread the ball out more, trust his teammates, and opt against playing “hero ball” from time to time. Harris already appears as a likely candidate to benefit from this, as nobody on the team shoots from beyond the arc better than him.

As we all know, some nights shooters pipe up with heat, and other nights they endure devastating cold streaks. Against the Bucks, almost the entire team stayed hot from deep, but the next time around, things might turn south instead. Due to this, LeVert’s ability to create his own shot still comes with incredible value. But engaging offensively this way should operate as only a second-tier option for the team, only implemented if the team’s ball-movement and/or shooting fails to work effectively.