March 29, 2024

The Brooklyn Nets closes out its preseason with an eye on progress, development, and improvement

Instead of starting this article at the beginning, I am going to start at the end of the first half of last night’s Brooklyn Nets’ preseason game against the New York Knicks.

The Nets ended the first half leading the Knicks by two points, with a score of 57-55. If you have watched the Nets in previous seasons since coming to the Barclays Center, you probably noticed a different style of play on the floor. The Nets under new management, general manager Sean Marks, and head coach Kenny Atkinson, have mandated and are stressing a new culture of “team” over “I” or “me” translating into unselfishness. Watching the Nets during the last two games, the team’s buy-in to the new system is apparent. Guys were playing unselfishly, the ball moved around, it was definitely team ball. In addition to the two-point lead at the half, the Nets led the Knicks in most of the measurable metrics that matter: field goal percentage 52.6 vs the Knicks 48.9 percent; three-point shots 46.7 vs the Knicks 20 percent, and the Nets made 91 percent of their free-throws compared to the Knicks 64 percent. However, the Knicks did outscore the Nets on rebounds; by half-time, the Knicks out-rebounded the Nets 20-18, which was a sign of things to come.

So, where did the Nets breakdown happen?

The Knicks took a nine-point lead in the third quarter on fast breaks, gaining 49 percent field goal shooting over the Nets’ 46 percent. The Knicks also out-rebounded the Nets; ending the third with a rebound score of 38-24, picking up 18 rebounds in the third quarter to the Nets’ four.

This was not lost on Atkinson.

“I think I said it before, I think rebounding is an issue right now and I think transition defense is something we need to work on, Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson said at the Nets post-game press conference. “They had a fair amount of fast break points so those are some areas we have to get better at.”

#Truth.

Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin led all scorers with 24 points and 10 assists. However, unlike the Knicks, the Nets only had two starters in double digits; the other being center Brook Lopez who supplied 12 points.

The Nets other double-digit scorers came from the bench Joe Harris scored 15 points, Bojan Bogdanovic added 12 points, and Justin Hamilton chipped in 11 points.

Carmelo Anthony led Knicks scorers with 21 points. Starters Courtney Lee dropped 15 points and five rebounds; and Joakim Noah supplied 12 points and six rebounds.

Both benches contributed 59 points; coming off the Knicks bench in double digits were Justin Holiday with 14 points, Kyle Quinn added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Mindaugas Kuzminskas chipped in 10 points.

“I was proud of our guys at the end,” Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek said about his secondary line. “They ended up putting their starters back in I think with a nine or 10-point game and when they went out it was eight points.”

Even in the loss, Atkinson complimented his players, as he should have.

“I complimented them on their effort and despite the record, I think we’ve made progress,” Atkinson told the media. “And that’s going to be our message all year, progress, development, improvement. We obviously have areas we have to improve in but again, 10 new players and I like a lot of stuff I see. I think where we are right now is be a little bit more consistent. And that’s the tough part in the NBA over a 48-minute game, to do it longer than the other team. So that’s the overall positive message.”

The Brooklyn Nets are now focused on the regular season. The Nets first regular season game is against the Boston Celtics in Boston on Wednesday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m. The Nets open up at home at the Barclays Center against the Indiana Pacers on Friday, October 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Perhaps, the fans will give Thaddeus Young a warm welcome when he hits the hardwood for the Indiana Pacers.

The Nets dealt Young to the Pacers on NBA Draft night for Caris LeVert, the No. 20 overall pick and for a future second-round pick. Levert did not play last night because he is out with an injured left foot.

Is NY Giants Jerry Reese still on the on the hot seat, Did Slam Magazine slam Carmelo Anthony?, Is Jerry Jones still backing Tony Romo?

What's The 411Sports hosts Keisha Wilson and Mike McDonald are talking about the hottest sports stories of the week:

  • Draymond Green Says Back off of his teammate Kevin Durant
  • Did Tom Brady Pull a Michael Dukakis?
  • Dak Prescott or Tony Romo?
  • Should Jay Glazer Block Greg Hardy’s MMA Aspirations
  • NY Giants had Big Win, But Offense is Still Meager,
  • As the NBA Season Approaches, there is More Pressure on Knicks than the Nets
  • Did Slam Magazine Diss Carmelo Anthony?

IN THE PIPELINE

On Sunday, October 23rd, the Giants will be across the pond for a showdown with the L.A. Rams in London. Set your alarms, because game time is 9:30 AM Eastern time. Meanwhile, the NY Jets host the Baltimore Ravens at 1:00 PM, also on Sunday, October 23rd.

The MLB World Series starts on Tuesday, October 25th.

The NBA regular season is upon us and the Brooklyn Nets face the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, October 26; and the Nets’ first home game of the regular season is against the Indiana Pacers on Friday, October 28. We hope the crowd gives former Brooklyn Nets player, Thaddeus Young a warm reception.

IN MEMORIAM

Former NFL linebacker Quentin Groves has died at the age of 32. Reports indicate that Groves died of a heart attack, perhaps brought on by Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which causes rapid heartbeats. Groves had what was described as a minor heart surgery between the Combine and the draft after WPW was discovered during the combine medical tests.

Also, Dennis Byrd, who played for the New York Jets in 1989-92, was killed in a head-on collision near his home outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Olympic track star Tyson Gay’s 15-year-old daughter, Trinity, was struck and killed by a stray bullet at a restaurant in Lexington, Kentucky.

Our condolences go out to their families and may they rest in peace.

 

Derrick Rose is sent to What’s The 411Sports’ Dog House for his Civil Sexual Assault Case

Forget the bench!

I'm putting NY Knicks starting guard, Derrick Rose, in the What's The 411Sports' Dog House.

With some of the details that have recently come out regarding his relationship with his accuser, Rose should be ashamed of himself.

Was Carmelo Anthony’s comment not worded properly, or, did he mean to throw shade at Jeremy Lin?

People are all in a tizzy over the following comment that New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony recently made regarding his former teammate, Jeremy Lin, who is now the starting guard for the Brooklyn Nets.

“He is the face of that franchise — believe it or not.

He came up, they paid him and now the ball is in his hands.

So now he’s one of the franchise players over there.

What do you want me to say about that?

I’m happy for him, excited for him to see how it’s going to work out, turn out over there.”

Are people reading too much into this story to generate a Knicks-Nets rivalry? Also, I know it’s preseason, and it is a very small sample size, but how do the Brooklyn Nets look?

Did New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony diss Jeremy Lin, the starting guard for the Brooklyn Nets?; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton still in concussion protocol

In Episode 79 of What's The 411Sports, the panel of Keisha Wilson, Mike McDonald, and Sydney Wayman, are talking about:

Quick Bites:

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker took the ball to the hole a little too forcefully, so the rim hit back
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton is still in concussion protocol
Legendary golfer Tiger Woods pulls out of the Safeway Open
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy is hanging up his football cleats for Mixed Martial Arts

What's Poppin'!

The return of Tom Brady after serving an NFL four-game suspension for deflated footballs
MLB Playoffs - in particular, the Chicago Cubs; can the Chicago Cubs take it all?
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will come under center in NFL Week 6;
Not everyone can successfully make the transition from college football coaching to coaching in the NFL. So we ask the question, is the NFL a right fit for San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly?
The NFL is cracking down on all end zone dances. Has the NFL become the No Fun League?
Professional tennis player Maria Sharapova's suspension from tennis is reduced to 15 months from 24 months. Did Sharapova special treatment?
Michigan blows out the Rutgers football team 78-0, should Rutgers be in Division 1A?

What's The 411Sports New York Sports Report:

  • Did New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony diss Jeremy Lin, the Brooklyn Nets starting guard? You be the judge.
  • NY Jets Week 5 results
  • NY Giants Week 5 results
  • Ode to the New York Mets

IN THE DOG HOUSE:

New York knicks guard Derrick Rose for the information coming out at his sexual abuse civil trial.

Stephen Curry wins the NBA MVP Award for the second consecutive year; is Sam Bradford delusional; Frank Vogel still looking for an opportunity to coach

In this episode of What's The 411Sports, Keisha Wilson and Mike McDonald are talking about:

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry wins the NBA MVP Award for the second consecutive year and the first player to win with a unanimous vote
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr wins NBA Coach of the Year award
The Indiana Pacers decided not to renew head coach Frank Vogel's contract
The Memphis Grizzlies fire Dave Joerger and the Sacramento Kings hires Joerger and pays him more money
The Houston Rockets are still searching for a head coach
The NFL issues a warning about eating meat in foreign countries
Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton gets the Los Angeles Lakers head coach position
Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott says he was blindsided by the Lakers’ firing
Miami Heat center Chris Bosh won’t be with the Miami Heat during its playoff run, as Bosh is out for the season because of continuing issues with blood clots
Caitlin Jenner will pose nude for the cover of Sports Illustrated

Additional in-depth conversations focus on: Cardale Jones, Eli Apple, Sam Bradford, Laremy Tunsil, the Penn State scandal involving Jerry Sandusky, and Joe Paterno.

The NY Sports Report focuses on the Brooklyn Nets introduction of its new head coach Kenny Atkinson, which should be imminent since the Atlanta Hawks’ playoff run has come to an end and ending Atkinson's assistant coaching duties.

The New York Knicks is still leaving fans and the media in the dark regarding its head coach for next season. It’s been rumored that former Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel or his agent may have spoken with Steve Mills, executive vice president and general manager of the New York Knicks, and not Knicks president, Phil Jackson. This rumor has left many Knicks fans to worry that Jackson is going to keep Kurt Rambis as the Knicks head coach.

 

 

Stephen Curry may miss Game 3 against the Houston Rockets in NBA playoffs; Josh Gordon and Johnny Manziel fall again, will they ever see the NFL again?

In this episode of What's The 411Sports recorded on April 19, 2016, What's The 411Sports hosts Keisha Wilson and Mike McDonald are talking about the:

NBA Playoffs 2016;
Stephen Curry's ankle injury;
NBA Board of Governors decision to place brand logos on players' jerseys;
The NBA Draft chase by high school graduate, Thon Maker;
Los Angeles Rams - Tennessee Titans trade;
Seattle Seahawks' social media cupcake schedule promo;
Josh Gordon and Johnny Manziel's latest falls from grace;
Kenny Atkinson is the Brooklyn Nets new head coach
New York Knicks and its coaching dilemma
New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom’s stressful week

Upcoming sports events are:

• The NBA playoffs continue.......
• Yanks host the Rays for a weekend series 4/22-4/24
• The Mets visit the struggling Atlanta Braves 4/22-4/24

 

 

Good and bittersweet in Cali: Warriors tie the Chicago Bulls 1995-96 most wins in a season and Kobe Bryant is set to take his last dribble as an NBA player

In this episode of What's The 411Sports recorded on April 12, 2016, What's The 411Sports hosts Keisha Wilson and Mike McDonald are talking about the:

Outcome of the Augusta National Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia;

Adam Schefter's interview with Greg Hardy;

Johnny Manziel;

Golden State Warriors;

Kobe Bryant;

The New York sports report;

The Golden State Warriors tied the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls winning season record at 72 games;

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant NBA playing days coming to an end;

NY Jets left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson retired

NY Yankees

NY Mets

Brooklyn Nets

NY Knicks; and

Louisiana Tech women’s head coach Tyler Summit resigns, as he should, and is now on the What’s The 411Sports bench

Events coming up in the What’s The 411Sports pipeline are:

• The NY Mets will play in Cleveland on April 15-17.
• The Boston Marathon is on Monday, April 18.
• The NY Yankees will meet up with former teammate Robinson Cano when the Yankees play the Seattle Mariners on April 19 – 21 at Yankees Stadium.
• The Kentucky Derby, the first leg of a potential triple crown in horse racing is on Saturday, May 7.

Atkinson comes to Brooklyn Nets with rave reviews from Jeremy Lin and others

We knew it was coming, but we didn’t know the timeframe; but four days after the Brooklyn Nets season ended, the Nets announced its new head coach, Kenny Atkinson.

Atkinson will become the 21st head coach in the franchise’s NBA history and its sixth coach since 2012.

“We are thrilled to announce Kenny Atkinson as our new head coach and to welcome him and his family to Brooklyn,” Nets General Manager Sean Marks stated in a press release. “Kenny’s years of NBA coaching experience working under successful head coaches such as Mike Budenholzer and Mike D’Antoni have provided him with the foundation and experience we were looking for in a head coach. We believe that Kenny’s core principles, leadership, communication skills and exceptional background in player development make him an ideal fit for the culture we are building in Brooklyn.”

From the comments made by Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, he is continuing to signal patience with the team’s building process.

“I’d like to extend a personal welcome to Kenny and wish all of us success as we begin a new era at the Brooklyn Nets,” said Prokhorov. “Aside from his tremendous skills and experience, he has the mindset we need to build a winning team day by day, step by step. Together, we can do great things.”

And, glowing comments about Atkinson are coming from people outside the Nets organization including Charlotte Hornets point guard Jeremy Lin, who was coached by Atkinson when Lin played for the New York Knicks.

"I’ve kind of been saying it was just a matter of time for him because I know how good he is, I know how much he was there for me in New York," said Charlotte Hornets point guard Jeremy Lin. "When you’re around him, you kind of understand there’s something different about him: his energy, his passion, the juice he approaches his work with."

Lin added: "He doesn’t leave any stone unturned. He’s always the first one in, and I’m saying first one in by, like, hours."

Atkinson joins the Nets after spending the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks under Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. The Hawks made playoff appearances in each of Atkinson’s four seasons, including the club’s first-ever trip to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. The 2014-15 Hawks registered a franchise-record 60 wins, including a franchise-best 19-game win streak, and captured their first division title in more than 20 years. Atkinson served on the 2015 Eastern Conference All-Star coaching staff, and he guided Team World in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend in New York. Prior to his tenure with the Hawks, Atkinson was an assistant coach for four seasons with the New York Knicks (2008-12), helping the team reach the postseason in 2011 and 2012. Atkinson also spent one season as the Director of Player Development for the Houston Rockets (2007-08).

“I am truly honored and humbled to be named the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, and I would like to thank Nets’ ownership and management for this tremendous opportunity,” said Atkinson. “Together with Sean and his staff, we look forward to building a winning tradition here in Brooklyn. I also want to acknowledge and thank Mike Budenholzer and the entire Atlanta Hawks organization for their cooperation and support throughout this process. While I am eager to begin working with the Nets, I remain committed to my coaching responsibilities with the Hawks for the remainder of the postseason.”

A native of Huntington, New York, Atkinson has also held various coaching positions abroad, serving as Director of Player Development/Assistant Coach for Paris Basket Racing Club in France (2004-06), Director of Player Development/Assistant Coach for the national team of the Republic of Georgia in the summer of 2006 and as an assistant coach with the Ukraine national team at the European championships in 2011. Most recently, Atkinson was Head Coach of the Dominican Republic national team in last summer’s FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City.

Prior to beginning his coaching career, Atkinson played professionally for 14 years (1990-2004), beginning his pro career in the CBA and USBL before competing for teams in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain. A standout collegiate player at the University of Richmond, Atkinson earned All-CAA First Team honors as a junior and senior and helped lead the Spiders to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1988. He was also selected as the 1987 CAA Rookie of the Year.

Sean Marks starts off his tenure as Nets GM with a win

Friday marked the first Nets game since the announcement of former San Antonio Spurs assistant general manager Sean Marks as the Nets new general manager. The announcement was made one day prior marking the end of a search that began with the reassignment of Billy King on January 10th. The Brooklyn Nets faced their cross-town rivals in the New York Knicks who experienced their own personnel change with the firing of former head coach Derek Fisher earlier this month.

The Nets are looking to rebound from a 109-90 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies prior to the All-Star break while the Knicks try to end a six-game losing streak. Even though times have been difficult for the Nets, one of the players who has kept the team competitive has been Brook Lopez. The center has improved in most aspects of his game with his numbers improving from last season.

The Knicks jumped to a nine-point lead in the first quarter shooting 59% from the field, with Carmelo Anthony leading the way with 11 points in 12 minutes of play. The Nets forced ten Knicks turnovers and outscored the Knicks in the paint to close the gap to two points at the half.

Early in the third quarter, the Knicks extended their lead to five however it would be short lived as the Nets went on a 20-2 run taking the lead 74-61. The Nets run was aided by converting Knicks turnovers into points. Brooklyn has struggled on the defensive side of the ball of late and saw their lead dwindle to three in the fourth quarter. The Nets showed resiliency and fight as they went on a 16-2 run to win their first game after the NBA All-Star break and their first under new GM Sean Marks.

In the 109-98 win over the New York Knicks, Lopez led all scorers with 33 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Bojan Bogdanovic knocked down four three-pointers and scored 16 just in time points off the bench.

Thaddeus Young chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds, Donald Sloan 14 points and 10 rebounds and Joe Johnson added 12 points, six assists and six rebounds.

For team blue and orange, Carmelo Anthony led with 22 points, while rookie stand-out Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 16 points.

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