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Nets: Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and Caris LeVert’s struggles masked by Game 2 ending

By Adam Weinrib

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #9 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates a three point shot against the Toronto Raptors during the fourth quarter in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 19, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #9 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates a three point shot against the Toronto Raptors during the fourth quarter in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 19, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Game 2 will be remembered by the Nets gaffe as time expired. But the story was Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and Caris LeVert.

The Bubble Nets narrative giveth, and it taketh away.

Brookyn’s depleted roster leads the postseason in hustle, unselfishness, and unpredictability — after all, good things happen when you work hard, and they happen more often when you outwork your opponent.

Sometimes, you have to get a little lucky, too. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot is a good shooter, but occasionally throughout these playoffs, he’s been a flamethrower. Caris LeVert is an exceptional scorer and distributor, but he’s not a champion’s No. 1 option. Often, throughout the month of August, you didn’t have to squint to make him resemble one, though.

The Brooklyn Nets dropped their second consecutive postseason contest on Wednesday, and it would be natural for fans to blame the defeat on a bungled final possession, down three. The real culprit, though, was TLC coming back down to earth, and LeVert looking like a stressed-out leader trying to do a bit too much.

It’s a tough final image to digest, but it was only what sealed Brooklyn’s fate, not what said fate was predicated upon.

After all, this wouldn’t even have been close if LeVert and Luwawu-Cabarrot had recaptured their magic one more time.

Under the gun, TLC went 3-of-10 from range in 36 minutes, the defense swarming when they’d previously sagged; he went 6-of-9 off the bench in Game 1. With the pressure on, LeVert followed a 5-of-14 effort with an unacceptable 5-of-22.

He still racked up 11 assists. He just needed to channel his Portland performance and preach efficiency. It didn’t happen, or really approach becoming reality.

In 2020-21, these two Nets will revert back to supplementary pieces, and a tragic final possession such as this will likely loom much larger, with a heightened weight of great expectations.

For now, while the ending will remain indelible, contributors reverting after superhero leaps forward will remain the root cause of Wednesday’s loss.