April 26,2015, Queens, NY The Atlanta Hawks were welcomed to “Brook Land” (as in Brook Lopez) yesterday as the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Hawks yesterday afternoon at Barclays Center, 91-83, putting the series within arms reach at 2-1 (in favor of Atlanta). The next game is on Monday, same “Bat Place” (Barclays Center), different “Bat Channel” (WWOR and NBA TV), and different “Bat Time” (7 p.m. ET).
Triple-double has a new meaning for the Brooklyn Nets. Brook Lopez: 22 points, 13 rebounds; Thaddeus Young: 18 points, 11 rebounds; and Joe Johnson: 16 points, 10 rebounds. The aforementioned just didn’t fill up the stat sheet, they contributed meaningfully to the Nets win
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Here are the essential stats. Field Goal Percentage: Nets 38.6% (32/90), Hawks 35.6% (32/90); 3-point shots: Nets 7/22, Hawks 6/30; Free Throws: Nets 80% (20/25), Hawks 77% (13/17); Rebounds: Nets 52, Hawks 51; and Points in the Paint: Nets 30, Hawks 50. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 19 points and Alan Anderson added 8 points. Deron Williams scored 3 points and dished out 6 assists in 26 minutes. Not good. However, some of the Hawks were equally pitiful. Al Horford shot 3 for 12 scoring only 7 points. Jeff Teague 4 for 13 scoring 12 points. Kyle Korver scored 2 points on 1/8 shooting. The bright spots for the Hawks were Paul Millsap who scored 18 points and snared 17 rebounds, and DeMarre Carroll who scored 22 points.
The Nets jumped out to an 11-2 lead, sending a message to the Hawks that being in “The House that Brook Built” brings out the best in them (Nets). The Nets closed out the quarter on a 9-0 run, and the lead ballooned to 31-16. In the second quarter, the Nets scored only 16 points to the Hawks 24, but still maintained a lead of 47-40 at the half. The third quarter proved to be troublesome for the Nets. The Hawks, who were down by as many as 15 points, went ahead 60-58 at the 4:10 mark in the quarter. The Nets recaptured the lead and had a 67-62 advantage going into the final quarter. The Nets outscored the Hawks 24-21 in the fourth and went on to win handily by protecting home court.
Coach Lionel Hollins used a 9-player rotation and depended heavily on Jarrett Jack in the latter stages of the game due to Deron Williams ineptness and seeming lack of enthusiasm. If the Nets are to win the series, they will need for Williams to show up, not just physically, but emotionally. He is blessed with the same talents as the elite point guards in The Association but is in need of a “mojo” or “swagger” transfusion.
However, the key to the Nets winning the series resides in their anchor, big man, center–Brook Lopez. Welcome to Brook-Land.
Professor Clifford Benton can be reached at cliffb@puresportsny.com.