Brooklyn Nets: Patrick Beverley caught mocking Jeff Green after injury
By Mike Luciano
The Brooklyn Nets proved that they can take down a team as talented as the Los Angeles Clippers without the services of Kevin Durant.
James Harden and Kyrie Irving held off a furious comeback from Kawhi Leonard and Patrick Beverley to pick up their fifth consecutive win during their West Coast swing.
One of the few sour notes on the evening was the fact that veteran big man Jeff Green had to leave the game in the waning minutes, as a hard screen from Beverley injured Green’s shoulder.
Beverley has a reputation as a tough defensive player, but this hit almost bordered on the dirty side. Beverley charged right into the back of Green’s shoulder.
Green was so incensed after the injury that he kicked over a Gatorade cooler in frustration. Beverley, for his part, didn’t seem too bothered about the whole incident. In fact, he started making fun of Green.
Cameras caught Beverley mocking how Green was writhing in pain on the floor. Nets fans likely don’t have the best opinion of Beverley after their matchups this season, and this certainly did not help matters.
Patrick Beverley should be fined for his behavior vs the Nets.
Oddly enough, Green’s injury might’ve been what ended up giving the Nets a win due to some very unusual circumstances. With DeAndre Jordan forced into action after Brooklyn’s plan to close out the game with the small ball lineup was ruined, it was the former Clipper who tipped in a Kyrie Irving miss that eventually gave the Nets the win.
Head coach Steve Nash, who also had to reckon with losing guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot due to injury earlier in the game, claims that Green is still being monitored and a determination on his availability will be made after that.
Green hasn’t missed a game for the Nets this season, and the 34-year-old has started 15 games in 2020-21. He’s averaging 9.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, all the while shooting 50% from the floor and 42% from 3-point range. Losing him would be a huge blow for a Nets team that is already struggling to find quality big men.
There’s nothing wrong with playing hard in pursuit of a win, but there is something wrong with flying directly into a defenseless player’s shoulder. Beverley deserves praise for his hard work, but a play like this resulting in a potentially serious injury isn’t the best look for him, especially after Harden had some words for him earlier in the game following an unnecessary foul.
