Nets couldn’t find a way to capitalize on momentum and finish off the Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers (13-10) entered the Barclays Center on Saturday, to take on the Brooklyn Nets (7-15), who were looking to extend their two-game winning streak while the Clippers were looking to rebound after a tough loss to the Chicago Bulls two days prior.

The Clippers shooting woes appeared to be a thing of the past as they made 11 of their first 15 shots to start the game with guard JJ Redick rediscovering his shooter’s touch. The Nets kept pace with the Clippers for a good portion of the first quarter, but their misses from the beyond the arc proved to be the difference, as they fell behind in the first half.

Trailing the Clippers 57-44 at the half, the Nets opened the third quarter with a 7-2 run. With Jarrett Jack leading the offense, the Nets were able to penetrate the defense allowing open shots on the perimeter. After being held scoreless for three quarters, Andrea Bargnani found his stroke in the fourth playing an instrumental role in a 24-8 Nets run showing their competitive nature and desire to end the night with a win.

Trailing by 10 points, Nets head coach Lionel Hollins employed the “Hack-a-Jordan” strategy at the 5:20 mark in the fourth quarter. With DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers center, shooting just 39% from the free throw line, it became a game of odds. Fouling Jordan slowed down the game and gave the Nets offense more opportunities to score. Hollins’ strategy was successful, as the Nets further cut the Clippers lead. This forced Clippers head coach Doc Rivers to bench Jordan, removing his shot blocking ability that alters many of his opponents’ shots in the paint.

With the Clippers leading by two points and momentum in the Nets favor, Doc Rivers re-inserted Jordan into the lineup with 1:35 left in the game. Breakdowns in Nets defense allowed Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to make key baskets down the stretch.

When it was all said and done, the Nets succumbed to the Clippers 105-100.

Even though it was a loss, Nets head coach Lionel Hollins stood behind his team.

"Maybe we take the lead and control the game, but I'm proud of our guys -- how they battled, how they competed," Nets head coach Lionel Hollins said after the game. "You know, it's just disappointing that we couldn't come all the way back and get this win."

Thaddeus Young led all Nets scorers with 18 points. Other Nets starters scoring in double digits were Jarrett Jack with 16 points, both Joe Johnson and Bojan Bogdanovic tallied up 15 points, and Brook Lopez chipped in 14.

For the Clippers, JJ Redick and Blake Griffin scored team highs of 21 points each.

Andrea Bargnani led all scorers with a season-high 23 points

In a must win game, the Brooklyn Nets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 100-91 on Thursday night. Although the Nets were a little shaky in the 3rd Quarter, with the 76ers record of 1-21, it would not have been a good look had the Nets lost.

The Nets set the tone early by allowing only 13 points in the first quarter, the fewest they’ve given up in any period this season.

Brooklyn Nets F/C Andrea Bargnani led all scorers with a season-high 23 points, while forward Thaddeus Young added 18 points and 11 rebounds.

''It was a good win because in our situation we take every win,'' Bargnani said. ''At the end we got the 'W' and that's all that matters at the end of the day.''

Also in double digits for the Nets were Shane Larkin with 14 points, six assists, and four rebounds; and Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 10 points, three assists and rebounds respectively for the Nets.

''(I'm) just playing with confidence,'' Larkin said. ''My coaches and teammates instill all the confidence in me and tell me to take the shots and make the plays for us. They've put me in a position to be successful and I couldn't be happier that everybody believes in me the way they do and I just want go out there and do well for them so they keep believing in me.''

Jahlil Okafor, who was making his second appearance since his two-game suspension for off-the-court antics, had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and T.J. McConnell scored 17 points for the 76ers. Richaun Holmes came off the bench and contributed 14 points for Philadelphia.

''Just trying to get my rhythm back,'' Okafor said. ''I'm trying to play more games and just getting (my) flow back. Tonight that was the case. I'm going to try to keep getting better and play every game.''

Joe Johnson gets fired up on bobble-head night in his honor

After a stunning loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, on Tuesday, the Brooklyn Nets found a way to beat the Houston Rockets 110-105.

With this win, the Nets sweep the season series for the first time in 14 years.

The Nets scored 31 points in the first quarter and 57 in the half, giving them an 11-point lead by the end of the half. A lead that they would need down the stretch because Houston won the 3rd and 4th quarters by three points each.

Brook Lopez scored 24 points and Joe Johnson had 22 points, which ties his season-high points on a night that was the promotional Joe Johnson bobble-head night. Thaddeus Young finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets. Bojan Bogdanovic, in for the injured Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, scored 19 points. Jarrett Jack rounding out the the starting line-up, chipped in 10 points, nine assists and five rebounds.

Additionally, Brooklyn set season highs for assists (27) and field goal percentage (55.6).

It was a good night for Johnson. He had 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the fourth quarter.

"That's what Joe does," Lopez said. "There's a reason his bobble-head looks the way it does. We know we can go to him time and time again in the crunch time. He's going to deliver."

Too bad it wasn’t Joe Johnson bobble-head night when the Golden State Warriors were in town. Although Johnson had five rebounds and three assists against Golden State, he only registered nine points for the evening.

Houston guard James Harden, who was in contention for an MVP last season, was 2 for 9 for 10 points, and also finished with nine assists and seven turnovers. Howard, who had 22 points and 18 rebounds Saturday in a victory over Sacramento, took just five shots and finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.

"We should've come out with a better effort. We didn't and we paid the price for it," Howard said. "Our effort was better in the third and fourth quarter, but we can't hand teams good leads and expect to come back."

What’s next for the Nets?

Brooklyn (6-15) will host the Philadelphia 76ers (1-21) at the Barclays Center, tomorrow, Thursday.

Nets earn a 4th straight home victory with a 94-91 win over the Suns

In another close victory at home, Tuesday night, the Brooklyn Nets beat the Phoenix Suns 94-91 for their fourth consecutive home victory.

In an unusual scheduling, thus far, the Nets have played just seven home games, but will play a combined 20 times at home in December and January, the most in the NBA.

Brook Lopez was a force down low, finishing with 23 points on 10-of-20 shooting. Lopez also added six rebounds. Three other players scored in double digits, ironically, scoring 11 points each. Jarrett Jack, the only other starter in double digits totaled 11 points and eight assists; Wayne Ellington and Shane Larkin both came off the bench scoring 11 points each, and Larkin, like Jack, added eight assists.

It was a solid first half for the Nets. They led by nine at half, and shot 56 percent and scored 36 points in the paint.

The third quarter is proving to be the Nets Achilles heel. In the third quarter, Brandon Knight led the Suns on a 16-2 run giving the Suns a 62-56 advantage. Eric Bledsoe beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer to send Phoenix into the fourth with a 73-70 lead.

Larkin broke an 85-all tie with a drive to the basket with 4:08 left, Ellington added a layup in transition and Lopez made a free throw for a 90-85 advantage. Phoenix’s Alex Len missed from close range with the Suns down three, and after they got the ball back a final time, it was no cigar! Phoenix couldn't even get a shot off after inbounding in the frontcourt.

These two teams battled it out to the end.

“I’ll take the win,” stated Lionel Hollins, Brooklyn Nets Head Coach.

As for the current winning streak at home, can the Nets keep the winning streak alive?

"We're just starting to put some things together," Jack said.

"Win a bunch of those games, just keep playing hard, take it one game at a time and just see what we can do," Larkin added.

And, although Bojan Bogdanovic and Thomas Robinson didn’t score in double digits, every point counts. Bogdanovic turned in a 3-for-5 performance with seven rebounds and Robinson chipped in six points and three rebounds.

What’s next?

The Nets are back on the road. They will cross the river to play the New York Knicks on Friday and back home on Sunday to challenge the Golden State Warriors.

Nets Loss: It doesn’t help that Joe Johnson scored one point less than Jarrett Jack

In this 2015-16 NBA season, the Brooklyn Nets haven't gotten off to the start they envisioned. In three games, the Nets are winless, losing to the likes of the Chicago Bulls, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Memphis Grizzlies, a tough start for any NBA team. Fortunately for the Nets, the Milwaukee Bucks, their opponent on Monday night were winless as well but it didn't matter.

The Nets offensive execution crumbled in the fourth quarter and the Bucks capitalized on their mistakes, pulling out a 103-96 win, their first of the season. The Nets dropped their 4th straight (0-4) and are still looking for answers. Despite an ugly first half on both sides of the ball, the Nets improved drastically in the 3rd, especially on the defensive side of the ball. An improved effort helped the Nets force seven turnovers while closing in on the Bucks who held a 10-point lead after Jerryd Bayless drained a three with 5:36 mins to go, Bucks up 74-64.

A string of baskets by Thaddeus Young, Joe Johnson, and Markel Brown over the next three minutes allowed the Nets to close the gap towards the end of the third, highlighted by off-season acquisition, Andrea Bargnani, who converted a three-point play, tying the game at 80 all as time expired.

With the game tied going into the 4th, a victory was up for grabs and the Nets had plenty of chances to earn their first win of the year and gain the confidence that they are sorely lacking currently. In the 4th where the money plays are made that secure wins, the Nets came up empty and while the defense continued their strong second half, the offense struggled to match its counterpart.

After former New York Knicks guard, Shane Larkin hit a floater which gave the Nets their first lead since the 2nd quarter, 96-94 with 2:45 left in the 4th, Johnson and Jarrett Jack would combine to miss the Nets last four field goal attempts. In other words, Brook Lopez was severely missed. The 7-footer who led the Nets in points (18) picked up his 5th foul with 4:44 remaining in the final quarter, prompting Hollins to make a tough decision in removing him from the game.

“When Brook got his fifth foul we had to take him out,” Nets head coach Lionel Hollins said. “I didn’t want to put (Andrea) Bargnani on Monroe, and I came with T-Rob (Thomas Robinson), and we lost a little of the offensive dynamic that we had, but I saw a good game.”

Without Brook, the Nets lost arguably their best player and go-to-guy capable of winning a game for them which spelled the Nets doom. Without Brook, newly signed Greg Monroe of the Bucks scored the tying points (96-96) on a turnaround jump-shot with 2:24 left, which set up a late Bucks’ run in the final minute that would propel them to victory.

“I was just trying to get it inside,” Monroe said regarding the shot. “I had a little mishap with the ball, but I was just trying to be aggressive and make big shots for my team.”

Monroe finished with a double-double, 23 and 13, Giannis Antetokounmpo “The Greek Freak” finished with 21 and eight and Jerryd Bayless, starting in place of O.J. Mayo recorded a team-high 26 points.

As for the Nets, Johnson logged in 14 and 6 assists, while Young, Jack, and Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 13, 15 and 14 points respectively. It’s quite obvious that if Lopez is not on the floor in critical moments of the game or just in general, the Nets will lose their way. He is their best chance of winning and tonight after he occupied the bench following his fifth foul, the offense looked lethargic and lacked life and excitement.

There was a lot of standing around with no plan in sight and it doesn’t help that Johnson scored one point less than Jack. Behind Brook, Johnson is one of the Nets most important players and his production is essential to the Nets enjoying any type of success this season. Although the Bucks are still without their 2014 2nd overall pick Jabari Parker, Monroe and co. were able to get the job done.

“We got a good win for sure, but the way we won, it kind of showed a little toughness from the team,” said Monroe post-game. Monroe continued: “Especially coming into this game losing the first three, but going through adversity in this game and fighting through it, it was definitely a good win for us.”

The Nets are waiting to utter such words. How they respond to this 0-4 start will illustrate the rest of this November and it starts tomorrow at the Atlanta Hawks, another tough game. The Nets can’t wait for the second half to flip the switch. A full 48 mins of inspired ball is the only way the Nets can reverse their early troubles into fortunes and it all depends on the Nets big four. Lopez, Jack, Young and Johnson all have to bring their A-game.

It might not seem like it now, but the four guys mentioned above all have what it takes to lead this Nets team collectively and feed off of each other. If not, the Nets will be facing 0-5 on Wednesday night.

At the start of the 2015-16 NBA season, the Brooklyn Nets are a team of questions

In Lionel Hollins’ first year as the Brooklyn Nets Head Coach, the team handled their business. Despite winning only 38 games, it was enough for the Nets to slip into the playoffs, but that says more about the state of the Eastern Conference than it does about Lionel’s squad. Deron Williams was consistently in-and-out of the lineup throughout the entire season due to injuries. Brook Lopez played well towards the end and Thaddeus Young was added to the mix-mid-season-to propel the Nets into the playoffs and it worked.

For this upcoming season, the Nets won’t have to worry about D-Wills health as the $100 million-dollar-man left for the Dallas Mavericks, his hometown. Instead, Jarrett Jack will most likely obtain the starting job duties, which is a job he knows all too well. Other than starting for the Portland Trailblazers, Indiana Pacers, and Toronto Raptors during his 10-year career, Jack, started 27 games for the Nets last season, averaging 15.9 points and 6.5 assists. The challenge and question for Jack are, can he produce or contribute more over the course of 82 games?

After Jack, Donald Sloan, and Shane Larkin will also compete for the starting job. At Nets media day last month, Hollins did state that there will be an open competition for the starting PG position so there is hope for Larkin and Sloan, even if Jack is the favorite. Sloan, a four-year NBA veteran is a steady point guard who can score off the bench and Larkin is looking to redeem himself after a disappointing season with the New York Knicks last year. Larkin struggled with the “Triangle Offense,” implemented by Knicks president, Phil Jackson and head coach, Derek Fisher and in Brooklyn, believes he will be better, playing in a pick-and-roll system.

Brooklyn Nets guard Shane Larkin

“I’m more of a pick-and-roll guy, up and down,” Larkin told ESPN. “And that’s the thing they told me they wanted me to come in and do. For them to tell me they wanted me to come in push the tempo, bring some energy to the team that was everything I wanted to hear.”

With familiarity and less pressure to conform to the triangle, Larkin should be a boost off the Nets bench, giving them a PG who can lead the break and use his speed to get to the cup and make plays for others.

As for the rest of the starting lineup, Joe Johnson is still there and will be asked to do what he’s been doing forever, which is score. Thaddeus Young re-signed with the Nets following the success he had with the team last season and Brook Lopez will now be the face of the franchise in Deron’s departure. With the addition of Young, the Nets went 17-13 in their remaining 30 games, giving the Nets another weapon while forming a formidable frontcourt with Lopez. In Young, the Nets have a versatile forward who can guard one through four and gives the Nets the opportunity to play small ball due to his versatility. While Young’s spot seems to be solidified as a starter, Hollins has a decision to make at the shooting guard position. I can see Johnson being moved to the three, but at the two, Hollins will have to choose from either Bojan Bogdanovic or Markel Brown.

While Bojan profiles as more of a shooter and scorer, Brown is an athletic perimeter defender who can get to rim, but he needs to improve his outside shooting. What could be a deciding factor is the fact that Bojan was inconsistent last season with his scoring. Bojan is the same player that would score 18 points on 7-12 shooting in a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers in March, and two days later, score only two points in a win against the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s what exactly might land Bojan on the bench and lift Brown into the starting lineup. Brown has a motor and continues to grow on the offensive end, and he is only 23 years-old. For the reserves, there are plenty of new faces for Hollins to choose from. Thomas Robinson, the fifth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, will try to revive his career in Brooklyn. This is Robinson’s fifth team in three years. When healthy, Andrea Bargnani is a stretch four who can play center and drain three’s, bringing big men out of the paint for the guards. Wayne Ellington is another long-distance threat and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Chris McCullough represent the Nets 2015 NBA draft selections.

Unfortunately, McCullough will sit out the majority of the season, potentially the entire year due to a torn ACL. The Bronx native suffered the ACL injury last year at Syracuse University.
“Basically, this is a ‘redshirt year’ and secondly, somebody said it, he’s like our lottery pick for next year and I agree with that,” Hollins said at Nets Media day last month. “He’s a guy that is definitely part of the future, so hopefully, we can get him back early so he can get a lot of work in and then go through the summer and Summer League.”

As for Rondae, the former Arizona Wildcat is ready. Rondae is an athletic wing who I believe will prove to be very useful for the Nets. At 6’7 with a 7’2 wingspan, Rondae has a chance to be a Hollins favorite with his defensive skills on the perimeter along with an offensive game that highlights finishing at the rim with authority. Rondae won’t be mistaken for Reggie Miller anytime soon but according to Roderick Boone of Newsday, the rookie forward has been working on his lefty jumper after practice, hoisting up to 400 shots.

“There's things you have to do and you've got to put this work into get what you want out of basketball,” Hollis-Jefferson told Newsday. “So I feel like me coming in here and shooting is something I must do, I have to do, to be where I want to be.”

And there’s your 2015-16 Brooklyn Nets.

On paper, it’s a solid group that won’t have to deal with the Deron clouds. It’s a group that has some youth, and it is a group that has NBA talent. With age being a strength of this Nets team, there is an opportunity to run. Larkin, Sloan, Rondae and Brown will spearhead that attack for top plays on ESPN, hoping to improve a team that was among the worst in the league last season in fast-break points with only nine points a game. Despite the improvements that the Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and even dare I say the New York Knicks have made, there is an opportunity for the Nets to qualify for the 2016 playoffs, but a couple of things have to go right.

Jack has to have an All-Star caliber year and in the 15 and six he averaged as a starter last year for the Nets, 18 and seven should do the trick. Johnson has to continue to be a consistent source for points, especially in critical situations and Lopez has to dominate in the low-post like he did in stretches last season. And of course, health is key. Say what you want about Deron, but the former cornerstone of the franchise gave the Nets a public punching bag and someone to point the finger at when things went sour. There is no punching bag this year; only mirrors to look into. And if the Nets are competing for the lottery this season, they will only have themselves to blame.

Prediction: 37-45, Miss the Playoffs, 9th seed

Deron Williams 35 Points led the way

All they needed was one.

All the Brooklyn Nets needed was one win in their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks to generate the confidence they needed going forward to have a realistic shot of winning or just being competitive, after losing the season series 4-0.

And after failing to return home with a win, the Nets answered the call in game three to extend this series, at least for another game.

They defeated the Hawks 91-83 in their 2015 postseason home debut, recapturing the attention of the fans while dispelling the early projections of an opening-round sweep, of course, favoring the Hawks.

I mean they are the no.1 seed in the Eastern Conference and pretty much owned the Nets all season long.

But those fortunes have changed.

The tides have turned, and on Monday night, the Nets enjoyed that good ol' home-cooking for the second straight game behind the performance of an unlikely hero.

After an up-and-down year of injuries and inconsistent play, Deron Williams erupted for a team-high 35 points and helped lead the Nets to a 120-115 win in extra time, tying the series at two apiece.

Unlike any other game this season, as an observer watching how he was able to exploit his match-ups and get to his spots, you actually wanted the ball in Williams’ hands.

He finished the first quarter with 11 points, but I highly doubt that anyone saw what was to come from the Texas native once the second half arrived.

Williams scored 16 points in the 4th quarter alone, connecting on four threes, none bigger than his last points of the quarter, a trey, which put the Nets up, 102-101 with under two minutes to go.

And moments later, Brook Lopez, who feasted down low for 26 points, found the basket for two on a floater, a critical possession, improving the Nets lead to three, 104-101.

Brooklyn Nets center, Brook Lopez

You could almost feel it. The Nets were about to execute the unthinkable and what seemed like a long shot a week ago was becoming a reality, but this is the Nets were talking about, 38-44 at season's end and that's not how this past regular season played out for the home team.

This 2014-15 campaign was a roller coaster ride, and the Nets, staying true to who they really are, took the crowd on yet another twisted turn.

One made free-throw by Jeff Teague, poor defense on Paul Millsap and a missed game-winner by Williams, was all the Hawks would need to tie this game up in the closing minutes of the 4th and send this game into OT.

At least if you were a fan, you got your money's worth in addition to a free "We Are Playoffs", T-shirt.

But in all honestly, Brooklyn was provided with a reason to smile.

In the OT period, the Nets traded baskets with the Hawks and in the end, made the necessary plays to secure the victory.

And this time, they didn't need Williams to rise to the occasion.

Instead, Bojan Bogdanovic and Thaddeus Young took turns saving the Nets season from an improbable 3-1 comeback situation.

Brooklyn Nets shooting guard,  Bojan Bogdanovic

Brooklyn Nets power forward, Thaddeus Young

With the Nets down by a deuce, 113-111 and a little over a min remaining in the 5-minute period, Lopez found Bogdanovic for a corner three, giving the Nets the go-ahead basket, now 114-113, quickly erasing the thoughts of a loss looming which seemed like the likely narrative just 20 seconds ago.

With the Nets down by a deuce, 113-111 and a little over a min remaining in the 5-minute period, Lopez found Bogdanovic for a corner three, giving the Nets the go-ahead basket, now 114-113, quickly erasing the thoughts of a loss looming which seemed like the likely narrative just 20 seconds ago.

"I got a couple open shots today because we are doing a great job on the pick and rolls," said Bogdanovic following the game.

"Brook is doing a great job swinging the ball to shooters."

And then Young, who has been a godsend since his arrival in Brooklyn, scored the final basket the Nets would need in this contest, sinking a running jump shot and collected the foul, missing the and-1, which put the Nets up for good 116-113, with 54 seconds left.

In a must-win game, the Nets delivered despite the constant criticism from the outsiders especially Washington Wizards own Paul Pierce, who last week, was openly critical about his time with the Nets last season and the core players which this team was built on.

Pierce said he "Hated" his time with the Nets and called out Williams for not wanting to be the man that $99 million dollars would warrant him being, but yesterday night, Williams showed up and quieted the critics.

He was the man and every man.

He was the man the Nets needed to come alive in a crucial game four and everyone including Nets Head Coach Lionel Hollins-loved every minute of it.

Brooklyn Nets head coach, Lionel Hollins

"For him to come out, it showed a lot of character to put on the performance like that, especially when we needed it because without that performance, I don't know if we get out of here with a win," Hollins said during his post-game press conference.

But that's why Williams has been the target of the criticism aimed in the Nets direction.

In the team’s season-long struggles, Williams has struggled and as the "Star" of the team, all of the blame, unfortunately, has landed on the shoulders of No.8.

But it's only right to shower him with the praise he deserves because William's performance has provided the Nets with new life in this first round series.

"We really needed to get this win to stay in the series," Williams said.

"It was definitely one of my better games this year for sure and probably as a Net."

And how can you argue with that?

Williams also said that this win was a team win, and that is a fact as six Net's scored in double-figures.

In addition to Deron and Lopez, Bogdanovic scored 15, Young added 10, Joe Johnson poured in 17 and Alan Anderson finished with 11.

As a team, the Nets were out-rebounded, 55-40 especially during the second half of tonight's game where Hollins elected to go small surrendering rebounding and defense for offense.

"Well, Brook got in foul trouble and he was tired, and we needed a change," Hollins said.

"It's just something that sometimes your gut says, 'what else is there to do?' That was what came about in my gut, and fortunately for us, it worked."

And what worked for the Nets, on this night, happened to be enough to fend off the Hawks, who boasted six players in double-figures, just like the Nets.

Teague and DeMarre Carroll led the way with 20 points each.

Kyle Korver and Millsap both scored 16 points. Al Horford added 17 and Dennis Schroder chipped in 10.

But it wasn't enough.

"We had some opportunities tonight that we just didn't take advantage of,” said Mike Budenholzer Atlanta Hawks Head Coach and NBA Head Coach of The Year, for your information.

"In this situation and in this time, it's important when you get an advantage or an opportunity. You have to take advantage of it. Credit to Brooklyn."

The Hawks led by 12, late in the 3rd and also led by eight heading into the 4th, to no avail.

Monday night belonged to the Nets, and most importantly Deron Williams.

"I played with Deron in Utah for a few years and that's the Deron I remember," Korver said post-game.

No kidding.

He continued: "You know, that's what he's capable of. He hit some really amazing shots, and you've got to give him credit."

This team will go as far as Deron will take them; and with the series tied 2-2, the Nets have the momentum and are in the right position to upset the no.1 seed.

It also doesn't hurt that Deron has the full support of Coach Hollins, who defended the point-guard earlier today regarding all of the criticism he's received recently.

"It means a lot when you're struggling like that and your coach comes out and defends you the way he did," Deron said.

"It means a lot. Says a lot about him and how much he cares about not only me but, this team and our players."

For the first time in a long time, the Nets are actually in a good place.

Game 5 is tomorrow night back in Atlanta.

The Last time the Nets won a road playoff game was when they outlasted the Toronto Raptors, in the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs, game 7 to be exact.

It's time for the Nets to mirror those results come Wednesday night.

Bogdanovic Scores a Team-high 28 Points

You can relax Brooklyn Nets fans, you’re in!

Your team made the playoffs.

At the expense of an up-and-down year, injuries and not having the pleasure of controlling their own fate, the Brooklyn Nets qualified for the 2015 NBA Playoffs, which is more than we can say about the other team across the river.

But we won't go there, these are happy times and with the Nets 101-88 win over the young and restless Orlando Magic, the home-team has given life to the Barclays Center for two more home games, and more, if necessary.

The Nets improved to (38-44) to complete their 2015 campaign, while the Magic fell to (25-57), another trip to the lottery.

And this feat only came into fruition when the Indiana Pacers, scheduled to play two hours before the Nets tip-offed against the Magic, challenged the Memphis Grizzlies and failed to mirror the same result, losing 95-83.

As far as the Nets are concerned and their faithful fans, it's not the ideal method you would've liked for your team to make the playoffs but you'll take it.

They did what they were supposed to do and that was simply handle their business against a team they were expected to beat.

It didn't look that way early on in this contest.

The Magic held minimal leads in the first half of this regular season finale and even led by ten in the third quarter, 65-55 with 8:22 remaining.

At that point, the Nets seemed to turn the tables and made one final push, run towards saving their season which favored their efforts.

An increase in defensive pressure forced missed shots an allowed the Nets to generate a 10-3 run, courtesy of Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, Jarrett Jack and Bojan Boganovic which cut the deficit to three, a 68-65 Magic lead with 5:41 left in the 3rd.

More of the same would continue for the Nets to end the third, in which they tied the game at 75 all, into the 4th quarter where other Nets-not mentioned above, had their moments in contributing to the win.

Mason Plumlee, off of an offensive rebound, converted the go-ahead basket at 81-80 with 9:33 left in the 4th, giving the Nets their first lead of the night since their brief 33-32 lead-midway through the 2nd quarter.

Then Joe Johnson responded to a made layup by Magic big-man, Nikola Vucevic, regaining the lead on a running jump-shot, 83-82 at the nine minute mark.

Brooklyn Nets shotting guard, Joe Johnson

The game, at this juncture in time, reached that moment where the next-5 minutes would decide the victor, and fortunately for the Nets and the 17,098 fans in attendance, they executed during that stretch and out-shot the competition.

Thaddeus Young chipped in five points, followed by treys via Johnson and Bogdanovic and before you knew it, the Nets were up 98-86 with three minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, providing relief among the fans and especially their head coach, Lionel Hollins.

Brooklyn Nets power forward, Thaddeus Young

"I am just thankful that our guys stepped up and did what they had to do," said Hollins during his post-game press conference. "That is the only thing that they had control of, was going out there. I thought that this was a big team win."

And it was.

I mentioned various names who played an integral role in this game because they all mattered.

Five players for the Nets finished in double-figures, featuring: 16 points by both Johnson and Young, 14 from Brook Lopez, 10 by Williams and a team-high 28 points by Bogdanovic, including four of eight from three-point range.

"It's a nice feeling to get a career high but it's not most important thing for us," said Bogdanovic post-game. "We have to wait for the other game to be in the playoffs. And I hope that (Indiana win) doesn't happen."

I think the most important thing that didn't happen was the Magic playing spoiler, a team who had nothing to play for.

Those teams, lottery projected teams, pose the biggest threat to teams who aspire to make the playoffs, and last night, the Nets survived a dominating performance inside by Vucevic and another piece of the Magic's future in Victor Oladipo's 19 points.

"I thought we did a good job of fighting, did a good job of keeping ourselves in the game," Oladipo said post-game. "Now we just gotta work hard, you know, get better, so we can make big plays down the stretch in fourth quarters."

Andrew Nicholson even showed his versatility for the away team, knocking down a deuce of threes en route to 18 points.

The Magic, a team rebuilding for a better future has a crop of respectable young talent and potential stars on their roster who will contribute to the star-power very soon, and because of that, Oladipo didn't dwell on the negatives, like the loss and the struggles of this season alone but the light at the end of the tunnel.

"I think we have great attributes to our team, great players," Oladipo said. "...Individually (we) just have to get better and as a team, collectively, as well. It's going to be a big summer for us, a big offseason."

Hey Nets fans, remember when your team mirrored this year’s Magic, three years ago?

Just kidding.

With the Nets win, they improved to 6-0 on the season against the Magic at the Barclays Center, in addition to finishing the month of April, 5-4, which proved to be the most crucial stat presently.

The Nets will challenge the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, which begins this Saturday.

And this starts a whole new holiday for me personally (April 18th-start of the NBA Playoffs).

As much as an achievement that is, the Nets haven't fared to well against the no.1 seed in the Eastern Conference this season, the Hawks, also-known-as the second team to 60+ wins in the NBA.

They don't have the blueprint to beat the Hawks, losing all four match-ups against the ATL this year and in close games.

This isn't the Western Conference where 12 teams can legitimately challenge the no.1 seed, the Golden State Warriors in a seven-game-series.

This is the same Eastern Conference that, in the pre-season, led me to believe that the New York Knicks could actually have an admirable season.

We all know what happened there and unlike the Knicks play this regular season, the Nets will have to give it their all, and then some.

The advantage the Nets have on their side going into the post-season is the fact that it’s a blank slate.

Everyone starts fresh and its 0-0 all.

What happened in the regular season no longer factors into the immediate future, a tournament style format which provides rest periods.

The Nets have a chance like everybody else to upset the Hawks and like coach Hollins said in his post-game press conference, the Nets will have to figure out what the Hawks fail to do well and capitalize on it.

And like all of Brooklyn, we are hoping the Nets can find a way to seize four more games, starting this weekend.

Brook Lopez Puts On Another Great Show With 20 Points and 9 Rebounds

The Brooklyn Nets are a half-game out of the 8th and final playoff spot, currently occupied by the Boston Celtics, and tied with the Indiana Pacers.

Excluding Friday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who look primed for a title run, the Nets have 12 games left until the end of the regular-season.

Due to their current position, every game is important for the Nets with wins as the only option, and the results of their last contest helped.

The Nets returned home from a one-game road trip defeating the Charlotte Hornets, 91-88, thanks in large part to Brook Lopez (34 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks vs. Hornets) who is playing some of the best basketball of his season, averaging 30.7 points in his last four games.

As for the Cavs, Lebron James and Kyrie Irving are leading a team that has clinched a playoff berth (47-26), currently enjoying a four-game winning streak, which includes a win against the Nets in a rout, 117-92, last Wednesday.

Fortunately for the Nets, they were able to put forth the effort necessary to achieve their revenge.

Behind another strong game from Lopez and healthy contributions courtesy of Bojan Bogdanovic and Joe Johnson, the Nets defeated the Cavs, for a change, behind what seemed like a capacity crowd, 106-98.

Brooklyn Nets shooting guards Bojan Bogdanovic and Joe Johnson

The Nets improved to (31-40) while the Cavs, who's four-game winning streak snapped, regressed to (47-27) on the season.

Now how much of this game is a result of the Cavs clinching their playoff spot remains to be seen, but what the Nets achieved is exactly what they have to do if they indeed want to compete in serious spring basketball.

And that's take advantage.

A win is a win and at this point of the season, the Nets do not have the luxury of playing down or up to any opponent, like the Cavs can.

Surprisingly the Cavs were unable to put the Nets away as the home team went neck and neck with the visitors for the majority of the game but early in the fourth quarter, the Nets capitalized on the opportunities they were given in keeping the Cavs out of the winners circle.

In the 4th quarter, with the game hanging in the balance at the 6:08 mark, Bogdanovic converted a 12-foot jump-shot which gave the Nets a five-point lead, 92-87.

After six straight made free throws, courtesy of Johnson and Lopez (4), that improved the Nets lead to seven, 98-91, Irving got to the line and cut the deficit to six with two made free throws, in an attempt to spark a late Cavs comeback.

But Johnson had other thoughts and sealed the Nets fate with one shot.

After the aforementioned free-throws by Irving, Johnson, with the shot-clock expiring pulled up from 26' feet, beyond three-point range, knocking down the dagger, which enhanced the Nets lead by eight, up 101-93.

"It felt good," Johnson said reflecting on the deep three-pointer.

"I wasn't sure that it was going in but it felt good."

Good enough to provide the Nets with breathing room.

Good enough to seal the win.

But let's be honest here.

This wasn't the Cavs; this was the Cavs post clinching their playoff berth.

I was waiting for the Cavs to make that run, a run filled with highlights featuring the likes of LeBron (24 points, 9 assists), Love (18 points), Irving (26 points) and other key players that would impose their will on defense and string to get a series of baskets that would suck the life out of the Nets only to the benefit of the crowd and guys sporting red from Cleveland.

It never came.

In other words, the Cavs didn't come to play, they were uninterested in this competition and it showed through the duration of yesterday's affair.

Just ask Cavs Head Coach David Blatt.

"I don't feel like we played like ourselves today and we paid for it," Blatt said postgame. "We’re still not at the finish line. We have to refocus our attention immediately to get on track."

The Cavs are only 2.5 games ahead of the Chicago Bulls who are also streaking, winning four of their last five games (44-29).

And looking at the remaining schedules of both squads it seems as though the Cavs have a rougher road to end the season than the Bulls, but who cares.

This is about the Nets right?

Regarding the positives of this game, Brook Lopez, for the fifth straight game, was among the Nets top scorers, continuing his strong play inside en-route to a near double-double in 20 points and 9 rebounds.

Johnson shot 50% from the field chipping in 20 like Lopez.

Bogdanovic did not disappoint scoring 18.

Alan Anderson, who reminded everyone during the postgame locker-room media availability period that his alma-mater, Michigan State was playing, supplied a healthy scoring out-put in 13 points and Jarrett Jack in a little over 25 minutes poured in 16 and 5 assists.

Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Alan Anderson (l) and guard Jarrett Jack

In other words, the Nets had five players in double-figures which is the recipe to win your share of games in the NBA, but the under the radar performance award goes to Earl Clark.

The former Louisville Cardinal, who most recently played in China for the Shandong Flaming Bulls, signed a 10-day contract with the Nets on Friday and immediately announced himself when he entered the game in the 3rd quarter.

In the final seven minutes to close the 3rd quarter, Clark went 3 of 4 from the field which included one three, netting seven points in his Nets debut.

"The reality was, after he made the shot, I decided to just let him go," Nets Head Coach Lionel Hollins said during his post-game press-conference. "I didn't feel comfortable at first watching him, and then after he made the shot, he looked comfortable, and then he did something on the defensive end, and then I said, come on back out, and let him have some time."

With Mirza Teletovic and Sergey Karasev both out for the season with their respective ailments, Clark will be given an ample amount of opportunities to prove himself in earning a permanent roster spot.

And honestly, if the Nets need Clark, that's a problem.

All in all, the Nets won whether the Cavs wanted to play or not, and I cannot stress enough how important it is for the Nets to put forth a winning effort until April 15th.

"At this point for us every game is important," Johnson said.

"We know what is at stake for us and that is more important than anybody that we are playing against," said Jack.

"We've talked about it a lot lately, what every game means to us, so this was a big win for us," said Deron Williams.

At least the Nets are aware and focused on the task at hand.

The Nets next opponent is the Los Angeles Lakers also at home on Sunday, March 29, with a 3:30 p.m. tip-off.

"We can't take them lightly," Williams said post-game.

"They've won some ball games, have a lot of young guys that are hungry to get out there and play and show they belong in this league. We can't look past anybody."