Since
their win against the lowly Atlanta Hawks, the Brooklyn Nets have lost three
games in a row for only the second time this season. Those losses came against
the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves; the latter in
which they lost to in overtime.
The
loss against the Knicks is the most noteworthy, not because of the New York
rivalry but just how bad the Nets played. It was a 94-82 loss for the Nets in a
game where not only did their score a season-low 82 points, but they also shot
just 26.9% from the field (21-for-78), the worst shooting percentage by any
team since January 2012.
Malika
Andrews of ESPN stated in her report that “according to research by the Elias
Sports Bureau, Brooklyn’s eight 2-point field goals were the fewest by a team
in any game since 1950 when the Fort Wayne Pistons and Minneapolis Lakers each
made four field goals.”
The
fact that it was against the New York Knicks with both Kevin Durant and Kyrie
Irving on the bench may have made the loss a little more bearable knowing they
have two all-world talents still to come back.
Dinwiddie
himself didn’t dwell on the loss too much and said this when asked about his
team’s performance.
“We
were really really bad,” Dinwiddie said. “Like laughably bad. We shot
really bad. Probably historically bad.”
The Brooklyn Nets Odds During Their West Coast Trip
The
Nets engaged on a tough Western Conference road trip that culminates on Friday
against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. A 108-98 loss to the Houston
Rockets where James Harden scored 44 points while Spencer Dinwiddie scored just
17 points on 30% shooting including missing all seven of his three-pointers was
inevitable.
Despite
Dinwiddie dropping 36 on an Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns-less
Minnesota Timberwolves, the Nets lost the game 122-115 in overtime. The Wolves
had six players score in double digits who remain in the race of a Western
Conference playoff place.
The
Nets’ form has slumped; however, it hasn’t affected their playoff ranking as
they remain in the seventh spot, two games ahead of the Orlando Magic and five
games behind the Indiana Pacers who last week activated All-Star guard Victor
Oladipo as he continues his return from injury.
Nets Odds vs. the Mavericks and the Return of Caris LeVert
On
a positive note, Nets guard Caris LeVert is nearing his return to the court.
LeVert told reporters that he was able to play five on five against his
teammates last Tuesday and Thursday. While there has been no date set for
Kyrie’s return due to the seriousness of the shoulder injury, Nets head coach
Kenny Atkinson said that LeVert is “getting closer” and needs more contact
sessions before he’ll be able to play.
LeVert’s
return will be a welcome addition to a team that may be leaning on Spencer
Dinwiddie a little too much due to his absence as well as Kyrie; two dynamic guards
who can handle and shoot the ball are special commodities in today’s NBA.
The
Nets face the Mavericks next who are coming off a loss to the Los Angeles
Lakers. The Mavs sit fifth in the Western Conference and are just two games
behind Denver Nuggets who are the second seed. Sportsbooks odds on the Nets claiming
a road win in Dallas opens at +190. Odds on Dallas bouncing back in front of
their home crowd opens at -150, making them favorites according to sportsbooks.
