The Brooklyn Nets looked like they might be on their way to a blowout at halftime, but came back firing in the second half and made it a game against Philly. They even had the lead with under three minutes, but the Sixers went on a 11-1 run to end the game and Brooklyn went out with a fizzle on their final possession.
It was a disappointing loss for the Nets with Nic Claxton getting ejected and Mikal Bridges struggling some from the field. There was a questionable ejection for James Harden and a possible ejection for Joel Embiid in a game that was very chippy. The Locked on Nets guys talk about the game, the closing moments and the disappointment from the loss.
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Brooklyn took it to the 76ers these last two games and amped up the aggression and bodied up Joel Embid and took James harden out the equation completely.
Tyrese maxey rose up but Brooklyn put the 76er through a war tonight and took away their BS slow get to the free throw line strategy and made them play actual basketball…
But The Nets have everyone talking about their game whether it's good or bad this new core missing a lot of components brought it to a healthy 76er squad and made them earn it….
And Brooklyn got everyone watching tonight on how agressive their strong defense can be and Damian Lillard was in the crowd.
Lillard wasn't there to just be a spectator. He's made it known how much he respects Mikal Bridges and wants to play with him. Given Portland has been stuck in trying to win a title while a rebuild is staring them in the faces Brooklyn has the contracts (Spencer dinwiddie joe Harris cam Thomas and Dayron sharpe plus first round draft picks) to make a blockbuster deal to acquire Damian Lillard š„.
Having a Damian Lillard Mikal Bridges Cam Johnson Dorian Finney Smith and Nic Claxton rotation would be electric ā”ā”ā”…
And Dame would be surrounded by one of the best defensive squads in the league and could score at will š„š„š„..
Maybe instead of just waiting for Brooklyns time, it's Dame Time…. š
The positive thing going for Brooklyn future is Mikal Bridges Cam Johnson Dorian Finney Smith and Nic Claxton are hard workers who showed up the last month busted their buts to earn a sixth seed and put the 76er through an absolute battle…
Damian Lillard being there was not by accident. He highly respects Mikal Bridges game and wants to play with him. There seems to be a legitimate connection between Dame and Brooklyn. Dame wants to be part of something that can contend while Brooklyn has the defense and just need another all star bucket scorer… This could be a very mutual beneficial partnership if it happened…
A new Damian Lillard Mikal Bridges Cam Johnson Dorian Finney Smith and Nic Claxton core five could have a lot of upside and potential to be highly competitive if that's the direction Brooklyn went….
Dame coming š
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Free Cam
I don't understand why so many Nets fans are trying to moral victory this series, especially this game. Embiid had one of his worst games of the season, Harden wasn't dominating and then got thrown out. Sixers only scored 18 points in the 3rd quarter. There's absolutely no reason they should've lost this game.
In a perfect world everybody would've stayed and play until the end of regulation the referees took the game from the players as usual and made it about them
I know Joel falls a lot, but you have to understand that he is TRAINED to do that. Now he certainly flops his fair share, no denying it, but to keep the pressure off his feet and his knees he was taught to fall instead. That's a lot of the "falling when the wind blows" aspect of it. He certainly could have been ejected for kicking at Claxton
It was extremely irresponsible of Sean Marks to not sign a genuine center when it was highly likely Nets could meet a Phila or Bucks
You are doing moral victories now?
Seems like the game plan is "contain" Embiid. Yh you gotta do more than "contain" the best player of the opposite team to win the game. There are four other professional players
Nets were trying to injure our players and and the refs kept giving you calls to keep you in it. Get the brooms out.
mettle*
Iām not saying this should or shouldnāt happenā¦if the Nets trade for Dame it would be Ben Simmons and Cam Thomas. A lot of trade proposals thrown out there have me scratching my head for one reason or another, but this COULD make sense for both teams and the players involved IMO. Either the Nets are going to make a big move like this or they will take the long term approach that Adam discussed.
Couple things:
First I was at that game and the energy was insane. Iām sorry that was the most entertaining Nets game I have seen in a very long time and that includes when KD was on the team. Maybe itās because once KD and Kyrie left all the fake nets fans that used to fill the Barclays Center are now gone and what was left was actual nets fans, which was kind of refreshing. Honestly, like Iāve been saying in the last couple posts, I wasnāt really concerned whether they win or lose but what I did see was a David and Goliath mentality. You know a situation where a kid is getting bullied and they know this guys probably gonna beat their ass but they are gonna let that bully know. Hey youāre gonna be sorry for messing with me and they showed that fight that hey Iām not gonna be babied.
Second, Iāve built up even more respect for Claxton even though technically, he probably cost them the victory by getting himself kicked out of the game late but Doug is right He had to play that way in order to get in the head of Embiid and he did that for the majority the game he kept the mvp to like 14 points thatās ridiculous nobody does that. Claxton is 21 pounds of muscle from being an absolute stud on the defensive end. Does he have flaws offensively absolutely but I think you resolve that by finding another stretch big that can play with him at the 4 or 5 position, because I think claxton play either. Ben Simmons is not the answer because he canāt shoot the ball. But you really saw last night Claxton becoming the Nets dog and vocal leader and thatās what the Nets had missed for a long time a dog.
Third I thought Dinwiddie played really really well despite one or two sequences I am offense. So so much for Doug and Adams theory the Dinwiddie cant have success against the Sixers. He clearly can and has throughout his career and the stats back that up. Also, letās not forget that Dinwiddie is also their second best two way player on the team behind bridges and is using up a ton of energy Also running around guarding the other teams second best player and he should be given credit for that as well.
Lastly, Cam Johnson, donāt get me wrong I like him as a player and what he brings in his role, but this seems to be turning out a little bit too similar to the situation The Nets were in
with Joe Harris became a free agent, and they gave him $80 million. Do we want to give a guy with limited offensive creation skills 18 million dollars a year who is already 27 going on 28? Does he need really fit the timeline here? He is the guy I want at 15 million per year but once it starts getting to 20 Iām suspect. His age and skill set do not scream 20 million plus to me.
I will re-status. There are three players on this roster that the nets should be married to for the foreseeable future through this rebuild rebuild. Bridges, Claxton, and Dinwiddie. I would add Cam Johnson if the price is right. Dinwiddie is on this list BECAUSE where exactly are you finding a two way point guard that averages 17 and 8 and plays fantastic defense and is 6ā6 for less than 20 million a season? If you can find it by all means let Dinwiddie go but for this rebuild and this team he is extremely valuable.
Such a devastating loss. Can't fault JV except for the fact that he didnt play sharpe once clax fouled out. DFS did nothing all game and sharpe could have rebounded and at least got some second chance points.
Lastly, gripe with not doubling maxey when he was red hot and embiid was hurt and not a threat once harden was ejected
I didn't see what Joel did to Nic til this morning. Ok Nic shouldn't have stepped over him but to kick him in the crotch in response was TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. He should have been ejected and Nic fouled in some way.
JV and Nets owners: YOU LET THE 76ers KNOW that any attack like that on your players is gonna land them in court. Nothing Harden or for that matter anyone else in the nba did compares to that kick. Doesn't matter who, you do NOT do that in life much less on court. Joel not being ejected pretty much nullifies any f*cking rules. Imho at this point I've lost respect for Embiid's accomplishments. It's gone to his head and he's just getting away with whatever. I wish you guys didn't have to deal with him anymore this year. He's more dangerous with that behavior being accepted.
Nets office/JV I would seriously consider doing a bench v bench game next because NOTHING is worth any of our guys getting hurt for a series we can't win this year but might next. I DO NOT trust embiid, his coach, or the refs to be safe for our guys right now.
It's like any other bully…you let them get away with it and it gives them permission. It's not worth it. F*ck them.
PS Shaq even agrees with me (regarding my comment way below)
To clarify what I said earlier bridges shouldnāt be untouchable. If portland comes to us and offers a package highlighted around shaedon sharpe, their pick this yr and tons of other picks we have to consider taking it. The reality is this nets team with bridges as the best player is not much better than the raptors with a demar derozan. Theyāre a nice team that will probably win 40-45 a yr and then get bumped in rd1 or 2. The nets have to avoid falling into middle gap in the nba where youāre good enough to make the playoffs but bad enough that youāll never chase a title.
Closing games is hard
You know what stat matters more than win/loss? Injured/not injured. We need to be uninjured for our bright new future. Over the years I've seen some physical and behavioral stuff the league needs to get a grasp on and moderate. After last night and other stuff that's happened recently, there's going to be some talk and some time that passes before this kind of problem is ironed out.
In the meantime, my spidey sense is ruffled: it doesn't feel safe. And besides we've got a new team to build up for next season.
Also, although I complain sometimes about subs etc… I don't know that there was anything JV could have for sure done about that with such a new group, injuries etc… Nothing foolproof anyhow. Fact is we need time and healthy bodies. And I don't have any opinions on whether our vet shooters can find a good groove… we didn't have time to figure that out. My overall vibe is, as I said, time and healthy guys. Respect, hard work, teamwork and character (whether other teams have it or not).
I think on what Ben's been through, the crap they got away with last night, and I think: draw the line in the sand. You can't control what other teams and coaches do, only what we do. Please err on the side of wisdom and perhaps in this moment's nba, caution.
It's like the entire organization and fanbase has followed the whiny crybaby energy the coach puts out there.
On another website, someone suggested Embiid get a two game penalty. That would at least make it safer to play them again. His size, attitude plus whatever this controversy does….
Whatever you do Nic do not torment this man, him being wrong doesn't mean a thing apparently. Preserve yourself.
embiid scores 14 harden gets ejected refs call every foul for you and yall still lose. Absolute trash. Dirty head coach cant win at basketball so he tries to play football. Sixers won the trade for the people that needed a reminder
Mikal would be a excellent second option like Scottie Pippen. The question is how do they get that kind of superstar talent without giving up too much. Maybe that player hasnāt been drafted yetš¤·š¾āāļø