Game one of our new season is a nice, easy win over the Mike Bickerstaf-less Thunder 127-102. A lot of nice efforts in this one with Rowling having 28 points off the bench while Matias Perez does his ‘give and take away’ routine with 16 points, 17 assists and 9 turnovers. Robert Jackson even had a nice game with 19 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. Nice. Did I say nice too many times? That’s because Mark Lyday didn’t start (Art Haynes) and only played nine minutes while I don’t want $10 million coming off the bench in John Kelly, not matter how well he played. I’m going to have to keep an eye on this development.
Brooklyn Nets 1-0
Mark Lyday gets the start in game two and did well with 19 points and 7 rebounds as we win again, this time just getting past the Pistons 119-114. Matias had 24 points, 11 assists and 8 turnovers while Harry added 19 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks but were all outdone by CJ’s 15 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. It’s a little sad to see Detric Jones lose this game as he did everything he possibly could with 21 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds but still couldn’t get the W.
Brooklyn Nets 2-0
I’m starting to like this team even more as CJ spanked All Star Alfons Deitz with 26 points and 19 rebounds as we win in Seattle, Washington 115-102. Matias actually only had four turnovers in the game to go alone with his 18 points and 14 assists. Crazy! Second year man Keith Chapman was the best for the Sonics with 25 points and 8 rebounds before fouling out.
Brooklyn Nets 3-0
It’s the battle for New York again and we withstand an 18 point, 17 rebound barrage from Julius Hobbs and a 27 point stinging from Dave Coulter to sneak out with a 118-114 win. It seems Matias is getting the hang of not turning it over with 22 points, 11 assists and only 3 turnovers while Cliff Havens has his best game in the NBA with 23 points. Even Robert Jackson had a good show with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks in the win.
Brooklyn Nets 4-0
It’s back home to Brooklyn and we tear the Raptors a new one, winning every quarter to take the game 118-101. Cliff Havens is really getting the hang of this with 26 points in 25 minutes while Rowling backed him up with 20 points of his own while Matas had 16 assists. Toronto shot better than us from the field but when we hit 14 three pointers to their 4 it’s a win for us.
Brooklyn Nets 5-0
I know we are undefeated at the moment but I’m feeling really uneasy about this team and won’t feel better until we lose and I can exhale or just look for trading partners now.
Well that was fast. We lose our first game of the season 115-104 to Chicago and I’ve made up my mind. But to the game. Patrick Blizzard is really coming along as a premier scorer at the SF position (like we need any more of those) with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists as six other Bulls were in double figures. On our side Matias had 22 points, 9 assists and 8 turnovers as Cliff was held to only 19 minutes.
Brooklyn Nets 5-1
Cliff wasn’t in foul trouble, it’s because we have John Kelly right behind him and that’s stunting his growth. I’m also not sold on Mark Lyday as our future PF so I go shopping.
And boy is it a doozy with a face I haven’t seen in ten odd years.
Brooklyn trade:
PF Mark Lyday
SG John Kelly
PG Matias Perez
Portland trade:
PF Marcus Randle
PG Kevin Epps
2033 1st round pick
2034 1st round pick
2035 1st round pick
Winner – Both. What a huge deal with both teams getting a great win out of this. The Nets consolidate their assets into two stars of the game while Portland bring some quality talent around superstar Tiburcio Tommasini. Phew, this will change the league.
It’s been ten years since Marcus Randle played for my Dallas team and he hasn’t done much since that but when he was a Maverick he was a superstar so hopefully he can get back to that form. If not, he is still one of the best defenders in the league. Kevin Epps is a bonafide star though and will not turn the ball over nearly as much as Matias did. It also frees up heaps of minutes for Cliff Havens and those picks will be handy in the future.
What a horrible first game for our new guys. Not only did we lose to Denver in overtime 101-90 but our additions had terrible games. Marcus had 12 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out in only 24 minutes while Kevin Epps went 1/8 from the field for 7 points, 13 assists, 8 rebounds and 6 fouls as well. To top it all off Cliff Havens went 5/24 from the field and Randy Canal had a go at Epps for shooting so bad! At least things can only go up from here, right? Brad Largent had 24 points and 10 rebounds as both teams combined to shoot 38/75 from the foul line (50.6%).
Brooklyn Nets 5-2
Ahh, much better. Marcus actually took home the player of the game award with 21 points and 9 rebounds as we stop the high flying Spurs 122-107. Cliff was back to shooting well with 24 points while Eppsy only played 19 minutes but had 9 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. If he could play a whole game then look out! Antonio Henderson and Cederic Thomas combined for 46 points but we shot way to well to be troubled.
Brooklyn Nets 6-2
Bad news is that both Cliff and Marcus sustained injuries in that game and will be less than perfect for around a week. I also assign Randy Canal to the D-League as he isn’t getting any time with Eppsy on the team.
The Celtics are 0-8 and with our injuries they might pop their cherry but noooooope, we win again, this time 107-93. It was Art Haynes who did the damage with a 9/11 night for 26 points while although Eppsy went 2/16 (ouch) he did finish with 4 points, 15 assists and 8 rebounds. Varlam Chavchavadze had 24 points for the losers but Jimmy Forrest is out injured and there isn’t anyone else to help.
Brooklyn Nets 7-2
It was a great game against the powerhouse Miami Heat. That was until the overtime period where they outscored us 15-2 to put us back in our place with a 129-116 drubbing. Kenneth Long had a great game (as usual) with 30 points, 8 assists and 5 steals as we didn’t had anyone over 20 points. Eppsy had his best shooting game with 19 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds but he fouled out just as the extra period was starting.
Brooklyn Nets 7-3
Great, now Eppsy and Robert Jackson are injured. It’s a sign of the times in the Ish Faye/Marcus Randle match-up as Faye torched our guy for 38 points while Randle could only manage nine of his own. So much for the defensive extraordinaire. Art Haynes led us with 20 points in 18 minutes off the bench.
Brooklyn Nets 7-4
Cliff is fully healthy now and wanted to make a statement in our home game against Nevada. He went 13/21 for 35 points as we take care of the Neon 128-109. Marcus is in tip top shape as well and also had a great night with 23 points. Our old mate Phillip Rude is doing well in the desert and had 21 points in the loss as he just couldn’t keep up with our Cliffy.
Brooklyn Nets 8-4
Wow, the Celtics are still winless at 0-10 as I really wish I had their pick this year instead of last year. We won, natch, 113-98 with Art Haynes being a God send off the bench with 24 points with Ryan Garris also adding 12 points. Another of our old chums, Akin Feaster, led the way for the winless with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Brooklyn Nets 9-4
Ah ha! It’s time to get revenge on Chicago who inflicted our first loss of the season! Nope, we go down again, this time 120-109 with Charles Means and Patrick Blizzard leading the way with 25 points each. Marcus Randle was our best with 20 points and let’s just get past this game.
Brooklyn Nets 9-5
Cliff and CJ did the brunt of the work in our 114-93 win over Nevada with CJ the best, going for 22 points, 5 steals, 4 blocks and 4 assists with Cliff adding 23 points. I lie, because Jason Allen and Ryan Garris added 26 points between them in only 18 minutes of court time. Matt Anderson (who?) was the best for the Neon with 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Brooklyn Nets 10-5
Last game of the month and damn we deserve it! 16 games is just too much for a team in flux to handle but we’ve done pretty well for ourselves. We finish off with a massive 130-109 win with Art Haynes providing the scoring again with 29 points and 8 rebounds in only 25 minutes while Kevin Epps handling the passing duties with 10 assists to go with his 17 points. Cederic Thomas was again the best for San Antonio with 26 points but we shot 53% from the field. If only we could make our free throws.
Brooklyn Nets 11-5
After that massive month we are sitting pretty in second place in the East, with Washington above us at 13-2 and Atlanta below at 6-3. The Celtics had a winless month, going 0-12 and making everyone in Bean Town very nervous.
The Mavericks have made the (nearly) best start possible at 11-1 with Houston (6-2) and Golden State (11-4) coming in at second and third. The Lakers may have Michael Taylor and Lars Ray but they also have the worst record in the conference at 4-12.
Brooklyn Top Points
Chris Jackson – 15.6
Cliff Havens – 14.5
Marcus Randle – 14.2
Brooklyn Top Assists
Kevin Epps – 10.7
Jason Allen – 2.7
Chris Jackson – 1.9
Brooklyn Top Rebounds
Jason Harriman – 8.8
Marcus Randle – 8.1
Chris Jackson – 6.5
League Leaders
Points – Michael McQuay (ATL) – 37.6
Assists – Luke Owens (SDR) – 12.4
Rebounds – Brian Benton (WAS) – 10.5
Blocks – Oskar Carlsson (CLE) – 3.2
Steals – Chris Jones (PHO) – 3.0
Efficiency – Michael McQuay (ATL) – 32.9
Rookie Leaders
Points – Joe West (CHA) – 16.3
Assists – Joe West (CHA) – 2.0
Rebounds – Joe West (CHA) – 4.9
Blocks – Joe West (CHA) – 0.8
Steals – Gerrod Phelan (DET) – 0.8 (Joe West at 0.7)
Efficiency – Joe West (CHA) – 12.1