GT: Nets @ Mavericks 12/7/2021 7:30pm (YES

[Sharcm1]

Gonna give Steve Nash some credit here:

1) the challenge on the Harden strip of Luka. That was honestly the end of the game right there

I dont love this challenge. i mean, its not a bad challenge. but your challenge a play where we dont get possesion (jump ball), we dont take points off the board (no a shooting foul) we dont take a 6th foul off a star (harden had 4 fouls) and we would have had 0 timeouts if we lost... additionally, it was a 50-50 call.

theres 50 seconds left, so worth the gamble given there probably wont be a challengeable play the rest of the game. but the end result was the mavs still had possesion as they won the tip.

2) using the Harden/Mills/Durant/Johnson/Claxton line up down the stretch. That was maximum length and able to switch on everything. Look at the point disparity in the 4th. We shut Dallas down.

Almost all of dallas points down the stretch where exploiting mills being on the floor and brooklyns "switch all" defense. Luka abused mills possession after possesion either with a bucket or getting to the rim forcing help and passing for a wide open shot. dont switch mills or dont have mills on the floor there.

I thought the nets were over the limit by then. I could be wrong. Also it was a momentum thing and that’s why it was great challenge.

[MrDollarBills]

what does everyone think about KD's minutes? Durant is insisting on playing as much as he can so this isn't entirely on Nash. KD is forcing the issue.

[Hello Brooklyn]

what does everyone think about KD's minutes? Durant is insisting on playing as much as he can so this isn't entirely on Nash. KD is forcing the issue.

I don't like it. But our offense is so bad we need to do it.

KD looks like hes in amazing shape and wants to do it. I don't mind it.

If we had Kyrie or Harden was his old self I don't think KD plays this much.

[MGrand15]

what does everyone think about KD's minutes? Durant is insisting on playing as much as he can so this isn't entirely on Nash. KD is forcing the issue.

I'm not a fan for obvious health reasons.

It's even more annoying because it feels like we do it when the team plays badly or Nash does a bad job coaching. It's like extra punishment. The guys play garbage ball in the 3rd so now KD has to play 42 minutes.

I do have a ton of respect for KD though and his mindset with it. To his credit, I think after playing 48+ minutes in the playoffs versus the Bucks - this type of load is nothing. He seems to know how to manage the game without putting too much stress on his body. He looked like the freshest guy out there.

I don't mind doing it some games but it's happening way too often.

[NetsJets]

I honestly expected us to lose this game. Way for our guys to fight back. Harden was hitting the same shots he was missing against the Bulls that’s the difference. Claxton gave us some quality minutes off the bench.

[3pt_chucker]

what does everyone think about KD's minutes? Durant is insisting on playing as much as he can so this isn't entirely on Nash. KD is forcing the issue.

It's still early in the season. There is plenty of time in the season for him to get rest. Right now the team is still figuring out a lot of things, so it's important for him and KD to play big mins.

I'd be worried post all star break if he's still avg 40+ mins and not getting games off.

[NetsWorld]

what does everyone think about KD's minutes? Durant is insisting on playing as much as he can so this isn't entirely on Nash. KD is forcing the issue.

It's still early in the season. There is plenty of time in the season for him to get rest. Right now the team is still figuring out a lot of things, so it's important for him and KD to play big mins.

I'd be worried post all star break if he's still avg 40+ mins and not getting games off.

I think one of two things happens by then, Kyrie comes back eventually fresh and KD takes time off or two, Marks tinkers the roster a bit for a deep postseason run in hopes of holding that Larry O'Brian trophy.

[Papi_swav]

there was a report today that said Luka got up to 260 to start the season and Zion was at like 330

Man they wasn't lying. This generation is lazy af

Crazy thing is Luka is coming off of the playoffs and then the olympics. So he should've been in peak physical form to start the season. He had a few months off and he ballooned in weight that much? that's terrible.

Agreed. That's what's mind blowing to me too, imagine if he takes a whole summer off, is he going to look like brian scalabrine ? he's not taking the NBA serious enough IMO. Coming in that big is unacceptable.

[Prokorov]

We held them to 13 in the 4th so going at the defensive strategy there is just nitpicking. Mills and Luka isn't an ideal matchup but we forced them to play isoball and outside of a few possessions, made him uncomfortable with help when he got to the paint.

We really have to play with this type of aggression on offense for 4 quarters. It felt like a different team out there in the 4th. The guys were really locked in and we were hunting great shots every possession. Not just settling or pounding the rock til the shot clock was gone.

Im surprised we didn't foul up 3. After a couple of our disaster games last year, that's been automatic for us. Wonder if that was just showing faith in the defense. It almost burned us.

I don't want to see Millsap again after what Johnson and Claxton did tonight. If anyone deserves a shot, it's Blake - who looked like an all star compared to Millsap.

You are up 3 with 20 seconds to go, you foul, they get two shots and they can cut it to 1 putting more pressure on us. Instead, Nets played great defense without fouling putting pressure on Mavs to tie and they while they got a good look at the end, they were either gonna lose or tie and they lost. If it became a two possession game with Nets only up 1, we are screwed. I don’t agree with others take on this last possession. Nets defended it beautifully without giving the Mavs two points at the line and with twenty seconds to go, pressure was on Dallas, not the Nets.

they are down 3. we gave their best player and proven clutch player a great clean look at a three AND then gave them a second pretty good look at a three. it was an awful decision.

If we foul they have to:
-make both FTs
-force a turnover (we had a timeout) or hope we miss FTs
-go 94 feet without us fouling them again
-make both FTs or hit a 3

That is MUCH harder then just "hit an open 3 with our best player shooting it"

you foul there 100% of the time

[Hello Brooklyn]

Idk I see both sides of the argument,

If you foul then can try to miss the 2nd one and rebound it. Also we could turn it over on the inbounds or commit an offensive foul.

Its no guarantee.

And then instead of going to OT we straight up lose.

If Nash trusted the defense I'm fine with it. Luka I don't agree got a clean look at 3. Claxton was all over him. KD did go for a pump fake and give Hardaway a wide open look.

[NetsWorld]

Idk I see both sides of the argument,

If you foul then can try to miss the 2nd one and rebound it. Also we could turn it over on the inbounds or commit an offensive foul.

Its no guarantee.

And then instead of going to OT we straight up lose.

If Nash trusted the defense I'm fine with it. Luka I don't agree got a clean look at 3. Claxton was all over him. KD did go for a pump fake and give Hardaway a wide open look.

The KD pump fake was the only ounce of potentially losing but overall, Nets contested it fairly well. I still believe in forcing Dallas make a shot with tight enough D and not fouling.