MrDollarBills wrote:LKIRNets wrote:That first quarter was a pain, most of it was there was no flow. I felt like Russell turned down some wing options but that happened b/c of that double screen when he turned over the ball cuz Porter shot up the middle on a poor angle that Harris ran. I feel Harris in that 1st half was using energy on D and was just off wit him and Crabbe and Dudley. Dinwiddie and DmC saved the ball movement in the 2nd quarter.
But what I did love is how Russell's defense is turning into Steph Curry. He's ripping that hand off pass now. The off ball screen n roll Wall tried to get that pass through and Dlo took it away and we got a 3 from that. Dinwiddie off ball D was great in the 3rd quarter. This is truly the first game Russell and Dinwiddie went off on the same unit on all facets of the game (48 pts, 17 assists, 5 steals) the 3 ball, the pick n' roll, the screen n' roll, the drive and kick, man defense, rebounding. They did it all and Napier + Kurucs continue to show they need mins. off that bench.
Good bounce back. Don't settle. Run the Clippers out of Barclays.
That first quarter was rough also because that starting line up is not a good idea. Russell was the only ball handler, Harris was off, and Crabbe/Dudley provide next to nothing.
Floor spacing is great but it doesn't mean much if you have guys that are shooting 28% from 3 and doing little else. I would insert Dinwiddie in the starting line up in the backcourt with Russell (they looked great together last night) and Kurucs in at stretch 4 and live with his rookie mistakes, he is way too productive to be sitting behind Dudley and he's a better shooter and rebounder. Re: Dinwiddie, starting him may crush his aspirations of 6th man of the year but its imperative that the team gets off to a good start, the margin for error is very slim for the Nets especially without LeVert.
The Nets would have been down big early on if not for Russell. He didn't settle for threes and the Wizards were taking away the 3 ball, so he went into the mid range and did his job. This was easily one of his best nights of the season and as a Net. When he makes his shots he's a huge difference maker. The thing Russell needs to figure out is how to impact the game when he isn't hitting. He got to the line 8 times last night. That should be his focus.
When crabbe starts hitting his shot that lineup is going to cook. harris and crabbe on catch and shoots are deadly when they are both going and crap on dudley all you want but until opposing PFs stop gaurding him out to the 3 point line he provides the space that Dlo/allen pick and roll needs.
Crabbe WILL get hot... its not an if its a when