Brooklyn Nets 10-4 when AK47 plays, 8-2 since his return

[Novocaine]

Me, weeks ago to a thread titled "who deserves the Nets blame?"

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1283691&p=37516270#p37516270

What deserves the Net blame is a better question and it's that exact thing I've been on since pre-season: this team needs A LOT of minutes of Andrei Kirilenko at the 4 and a lot of minutes to a speedier backcourt player in the rotation.

Their current line-up/rotation is simply too SLOW. Garnett and Lopez is a dreadful defensive combo in extended minutes especially when they already have relatively slow players on the backcourt. People need to stop living 10 years ago, it's the same phenomenon that lead people to believe Asik/Howard would simply outplay any small-ball combinations, to recall a discussion I've had here recently (or who didn't understand Odom was the Lakers starting PF prior to be traded and essential to make that team work).

[bdp31770]

Garnett and Lopez is a dreadful defensive combo in extended minutes especially when they already have relatively slow players on the backcourt.

Just as important as Kirilenko returning, has been Garnett moving to center, where he is much better suited to play now. I don't know why he hates it so much, seeing as he was shooting about 40% as a power forward and about 60% as a center.

[Trader_Joe]

Garnett and Lopez is a dreadful defensive combo in extended minutes especially when they already have relatively slow players on the backcourt.

Just as important as Kirilenko returning, has been Garnett moving to center, where he is much better suited to play now. I don't know why he hates it so much, seeing as he was shooting about 40% as a power forward and about 60% as a center.

From the Brooklyn game...

His impact on the defensive end is almost too big for statistics to grasp, but let’s give it a shot: since January 1st, the Nets have allowed opponents to score 107.2 points per 100 possessions with Garnett off the floor, and 87.9 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor.

I fear stating the numbers doesn’t quantify how ridiculous they are, so let’s make some comparisons. Indiana’s league-best defense allows teams to score 92.8 points per 100 possessions. The Garnett-led Nets in 2014 are nearly a full five points better than that. Utah’s league-worst defense clocks in at around 107.6 points per 100 possessions, just a hair below the Garnett-benched Nets.

In sum: with Kevin Garnett on the floor, the Nets make the league’s best defense look average. With Garnett off the floor, the Nets look like the league’s worst defense. It’s that significant.

In 2014, the Nets allow 47.5 percent shooting on 17.8 attempts per 48 minutes in the restricted area with Garnett on the floor, and 58.7 percent shooting on 25.9 attempts per 48 minutes in the restricted area with him off. The difference is staggering.

Also...


8-1 in 2014.
W- NY, OKC, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta x2, GS, Cleveland
L - @ TOR (back to back after Miami double OT win, didn't get to Toronto until 4am, no D.Will or KG (or Lopez), still up 10 late in the 3rd before an utter collapse.

Biggest reasons IMO

a. JJ's stellar play
b. Livingston starting
c. KG at C and hitting his jumper more
d. AK's presence
e. The team simply finding chemistry over time
f. Small ball
g. Kidd's player development and management.
(Teletovic was given a chance and is thriving, Plumlee has been groomed well, PP coming off the bench post injury and being selfless which rubbed off on D.Will coming off the bench now, Livingston having his best season ever, Blatche's vacation/suspension which woke him up)

[Inevitable]

Brooklyn is the real 3rd seed in the East.

[Trader_Joe]

Brooklyn is the real 3rd seed in the East.

They are playing like it right now, but not sure they will be.

Toronto has been playing well, has a 2 game lead and could improve in trade.
Washington also can make a case with their back court, bigs and the fact they have assets to get better as well.
BK doesn't have the assets to get better.

Chicago has been playing very well and always manage to win during the regular season.

I think they over take Atlanta, but I'm not sure about the other three.
Nets supposedly have the 2nd easiest schedule going forward, but also have the most games and the oldest team.

[isekii]

Honestly as long as Brooklyn makes the playoffs which is 99.9% possible. They'll be fine.
Continue limiting starters minutes while getting great wins = recipe for success in the post season.

[Novocaine]

Garnett and Lopez is a dreadful defensive combo in extended minutes especially when they already have relatively slow players on the backcourt.

Just as important as Kirilenko returning, has been Garnett moving to center, where he is much better suited to play now. I don't know why he hates it so much, seeing as he was shooting about 40% as a power forward and about 60% as a center.

Yeah, that was my point.

Garnett has been much better at the 5 than at the 4, especially defensively but also offensively, for some years now. Since he returned from the knee injury.