brooklyn nets – The Philadelphia Observer

Nets Have No Answer For Embiid

Juan Ignacio — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 10:38:31 +0000

Embiid Paces Sixers Over Brooklyn

Photo: Special to the NY Beacon

By Shara Talia Taylor

The Brooklyn Nets started strong and gave an extra push in the end, but fell way behind in the second and third quarters as they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 121-99 at Barclays Center last Sunday afternoon.

Brooklyn had 15 turnovers and Philadelphia took more shots as they were led by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. According to Coach Jacque Vaughn Philadelphia capitalized by playing more physical and the Nets needed more work finishing quarters. “Teams are doing different things at the end of the quarter to disrupt you so you have to have a poise about yourself,” he said.

The Nets trailed the 76ers 23-22 at the end of the first quarter, and almost tied the score with a rebound by Cameron Johnson at the buzzer. Brooklyn out-rebounded Philadelphia 16-11 in the quarter. Philadelphia outscored Brooklyn 38-27 in the second quarter alone and 33-22 in the third quarter. Brooklyn tied the score at 44 in the second quarter, but could not regain a lead the remainder of the game. The Nets trailed by as many as 14 with 1:55 remaining in the final quarter, but fell to 76ers’ pressure.

Lonnie Walker IV led the Nets with 26 points, six of which were 3-pointers, the most on the team. He said Coach Vaughn encouraged them to keep pushing when they were down. “Understanding what their strengths and non-strengths are,” he said. “One of their non-strengths is really just that transition defense. So, when we get a rebound, we got to push it. We got to go.”

Walker IV had a powerful dunk over several 76ers at the end of the first quarter.

Teammate Mikal Bridges added 18 points. Bridges was honored by his college team Friday as Villanova retired his team jersey. “It was dope,” he said. “It was real cool. Just an unbelievable night. Had a lot of family and friends there. It was a great night.”

Philadelphia swept Brooklyn in four games in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs. Coach Vaughn said during pregame the 76ers would present new challenges without P. J. Tucker and James Harden.

“Overall, they are a different team than what we faced in the playoffs just because of Maxey leading the charge makes them entirely different,” Coach Vaughn said.

The Nets lost to the 76ers in preseason. Teams re-worked their roster and changed lineups since then. Maxey was key Sunday. He had 25 points. Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 32 points.

“When you have a dominant big who’s going to command the basketball, get to the free throw line, (and) make you change your defense and the way that Maxey is playing at a high level, his ability to command the basketball, get to his spots, (and) make shots, you see why this is one of the best teams in the league,” Vaughn said.

Philadelphia was runner-up in the Eastern Conference as of Sunday and the Nets in 10th place. Brooklyn was off Monday and faced the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday.

Kyrie-less Brooklyn Beats Down Washington

Juan Ignacio — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 13:07:40 +0000

KD Warms Up Before Nets Rout Wizards

Photo: Derrel Jazz Johnson

By Derrel Jazz Johnson

Washington, D.C. – Less than a week ago, Steve Nash was coaching the Brooklyn Nets while Ben Simmons and Kyrie Irving were playing. But Nash was dismissed. Tuesday, Irving was suspended and

Simmons is out until at least Monday with an injury. The Brooklyn Nets responded by tying their largest-ever margin of victory in a road game with a 128-86 win over the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena.

Kevin Durant was one rebound short of a triple-douhle, leading all scorers with 28 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds. Nic Claxton was a rebound short of a double-double, adding 18 points and 9 rebounds. Cam Johnson added 17 points and 6 assists off the bench. Playing center for the first time since high school, Yuta Watanabe added 14 points and 8 rebounds.

Brooklyn interim head coach Jacque Vaughn discussed the effort and focus of the team after the game. “We talked this morning about really having a choice and being able to support each other with our feelings, with our effort, being there for each other,” he expressed.” You saw, multiple times, multiple effort from guys where they are coming over from the low man than scrambling out and still making contests. When you are small, you have to make multiple efforts.”

Irving was suspended for at least five games. Interim coach Vaughn refused to get into details that would lead to Irving’s return.

Nets Losing Streak Hits 9

Juan Ignacio — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 19:53:17 +0000

Harden Unhealthy and UnhappyPhoto: Special to the NY Beacon

By Derrel Jazz Johnson

The Brooklyn Nets went down 14-0 to start the game and against the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Head Coach Steve Nash called a time out. The Celtics then went on a 14-2 run and Brooklyn was down 28-2! Brooklyn cut it to no less than 12 the rest of the way, and suffered a blowout loss without any of their big three playing 126-91. James Harden sat out with an injury.

Nash Dealing With Make Shift Roster
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon

Said Nash of the injury-plagued team after the game, “what are we going to (do to improve),” Nash asked. “We can’t magically repair those injuries and have everyone back and go back to their natural roles and positions. That’s something that we’re just going to have to continue to play through until the time comes.”

With the trade deadline being Thursday and with so much uncertainty with the Brooklyn roster, will the team look to make a big splash before the deadline? With rumors of James Harden being unhappy with the Kyrie Irving situation, and with Irving only being available for road games, the team may make a move.

The New York Beacon will be looking to see if any moves are made by any of the New York teams.

Brooklyn Thumped by Thunder

Juan Ignacio — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 23:05:30 +0000

Nash Adjusting To Covid Issues

Photo: Special to the NY Beacon

By Derrel Jazz Johnson

One day after arguably the most impressive win of the season against the Chicago Bulls, with Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving all shining for the Brooklyn Nets, the team was without Irving because of the New York COVID-19 mandate and without Durant for load management. So, the undermanned and exhausted Nets, who played four games in five nights, including a trip to and from Portland, Oregon, looked like it, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder 130-109 at Barclays Center.

Harden ( 26 points, 9 rebounds) who said he was exhausted, reflected on how different the team looked 24 hours after the loss. “It feels different when we’ve got everybody there,” he said of the team. “(Wednesday) night was just how it’s supposed to be the majority of the time,” he said. “But we’re dealing with whatever we’re dealing with, so we’ve got to just go with the flow and figure it out game by game.”

From the start, it looked like it would be a long night for Brooklyn against a lowly Thunder team who came into the game with a 14-26 record. At one point they led the Nets by 23 winning 3 of the 4 quarters. Oklahoma took 45 3-pointers making 20 while the Nets missed 25 of their 32 attempts.

Said second year head coach Steve Nash, “we’re better when we have our whole group.”

The impact of COVID-19 on the team is why the organization reversed the stance allowing Irving to play road games. Time will tell if Irving decides to get vaccinated which will allow him to play home games or if the organization will let him play and pay the fines assessed by New York City.

Brooklyn hosts the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday night at Barclays Center.

Sports Editor Andrew Rosario contributed to this article.

‘I’m Just Grateful’: Kyrie Irving Breaks His Silence on His Return to the Brooklyn Nets

Juan Ignacio — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 23:03:15 +0000

Regardless of how you feel about Kyrie Irving’s stance on the COVID-19 vaccine, or the Brooklyn Nets’ decision to reverse course and welcome him back with open arms after Omarion Omicron did the Bankhead Bounce all throughout the league, the seven-time NBA All-Star is primed to return to a court near you (not in the Tri-State area though, sorry) in a matter of weeks. And in preparation for his unvaccinated return, CBS Sports reports that the 29-year-old broke his silence and spoke to reporters on Wednesday at Brooklyn’s practice facility for the first time this season after practicing with his teammates.

“Not going to lie, it’s been relatively tough to watch from the sideline, with everything going on in the world,” he said. “I know everybody’s feeling it, so, just praying for everybody to be healthy during these times. But if I get the opportunity to get on the court and play with some of my teammates, and even if it’s just on the road for away games, I’m just grateful for that opportunity.”

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As we’ve reported extensively at The Root, the West Orange, N.J., native’s refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine put him at odds with a New York City mandate that requires proof of vaccination in order to enter arenas, gyms, restaurants, and other indoor venues. As a result, he’s prohibited from playing any home games for the Nets, which forced his team in October to announce that he would not be allowed to participate in any games or practices this season—as in at all—until he’s “eligible to be a full participant.”

For the first three months of the season, Brooklyn never wavered on its stance. But with the Omicron variant decimating the pool of available players throughout the league, the Nets felt they had no other choice but to facilitate the return of their polarizing point guard—even if he still won’t be available as a full-time contributor.

Source: ‘I’m Just Grateful’: Kyrie Irving Breaks His Silence on His Return to the Brooklyn Nets

Kyrie Irving Renews Calls To Make Kobe Bryant The New NBA Logo: ‘Gotta Happen’

Juan Ignacio — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 16:16:17 +0000

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is reigniting calls to make Kobe Bryant the new NBA logo.

Irving declared in an Instagram post on Wednesday that the new logo should honor the late Los Angeles Lakers legend, who was killed along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, and seven other people, in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, in January of last year.

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“Gotta Happen, idc [I don’t care] what anyone says,” Irving wrote. “BLACK KINGS BUILT THE LEAGUE.”

Irving shared a photo of an NBA design spotlighting Bryant, which he credited to graphic designer Tyson Beck in the comments section of the post.

Source: Kyrie Irving Renews Calls To Make Kobe Bryant The New NBA Logo: ‘Gotta Happen’