Isaiah Whitehead Steps Up Despite Loss to Bucks
Dec 1, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) drives around Brooklyn Nets guard Sean Kilpatrick (6) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
For the first time since 1987 the Brooklyn Nets have allowed 110 or more points in nine straight games (one was a double OT game), as the Bucks earned their sixth straight victory over Brooklyn.
Both teams were riding big wins into this contest. The Bucks upset the Cavaliers and the Brooklyn Nets upset the Clippers in double overtime. Both teams wanted desperately to continue their winning ways.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 111-93 victory over the Nets in Brooklyn. The Greek Freak tallied 23 points (7 for 14, 50 percent) , 8 assists and 8 rebounds as the Bucks earn their third straight win. Jabari Parker was equally impressive, scoring 22 points going 9 for 14 on 64 percent shooting.
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Brook Lopez led the Nets in scoring with 15 points. Lopez shot 4 for 12 from the field and 3 for 8 from three. Sean Kilpatrick scored 14 points going 5 for 10 from the field, 2 for 6 from three.
This game was a tale of two-halves. The first half was a competitive with a scrappy back and forth from both teams. This resulted in a one point, 52-51 lead for the Bucks at the of the first half. The Nets continue to suffer in the third quarter as the Bucks went on a 18-4 run, giving the Bucks a 77-64 lead, the largest lead of the game at that point.
By the middle of the third quarter the Nets had tallied 14 turnovers which resulted in 25 points for the Bucks. The Nets came out with energy for the start of the fourth quarter but it did not materialize into points. The Nets missed their shots on nine straight possessions and only managed to score 15 points in the final quarter.
Dec 1, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) shoots during the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Takeaways
1. Another Third Quarter Collapse
The only third quarter the Nets haven’t been outscored in was when they played Minnesota at home. Besides that, every third quarter the Nets have been outplayed and outscored, and tonight was no different as the Bucks outscored Nets 38 to 27. The Nets have been more competitive than their record would have you to believe, so if they want their hustle to translate to wins they have to stop getting buried in the third just to hopefully dig themselves out in the fourth.
2. More Turnovers Than Threes
The Nets shot 40 threes against the Bucks, too bad they only made 12. The Nets also turned the ball over 17 times while they were shooting 30 percent from three. The Bucks actually had 18 turnovers but did not seem to suffer from deep like Brooklyn, shooting 44.1 percent on 15 of 34 shots.
3. Brook Lopez needs the Ball
For some perspective, in the previous game (the double overtime victory vs the Clippers), Brook Lopez had less shot attempts than Sean Kilpatrick. Tonight Kilpatrick did not have more field goal attempts than Lopez, but Bogdanovic did. In a game where the Nets were desperate for offense, desperate for points, Lopez did not seem like their top scorer. Brook was trying to rally the Nets late before victory was out of reach. Lopez displayed that much needed Nets leadership, but this did not materialize into anything for Lopez or the Nets.
Lopez is the highest paid player on the Nets because he is undeniably their best and most consistent offensive threat. Lopez can shoot from anywhere on the court, so there is no reason there are multiple Nets possessions where he does not touch the ball.
Dec 1, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) moves the ball defended by Brooklyn Nets guard Sean Kilpatrick (6) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Player of the Game:
Isaiah Whitehead
PG, Brooklyn Nets
CWhitehead’s performance won’t be making any highlight reels or mixtape’s but it was at the very least encouraging. Unlike other young Nets, Whitehead is not splitting minutes between the D-League and garbage time off the Nets bench. Due to injury, Whitehead is the starting point guard for the Brooklyn Nets and in fact had the best +/- of the starting five (-10). The Brooklyn native also played 30 minutes in tonight’s game, more than anyone else on the team. His 8 points, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block aren’t exciting, but the fact that a rookie point guard did not lead the Nets in turnovers against Jason Kidd’s Bucks after 30 minutes is encouraging.
Wildcard:
Sean Kilpatrick
SG, Brooklyn Nets
CSean Kilpatrick followed up his career night (38 points, 14 rebounds) with a respectable 14 points on 5 for 10 shooting, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists. A performance that would have earned him Player of the Game if it wasn’t for his six turnovers. The Bucks game planned to defend Kilpatrick following his break out game and all things considered he responded well to it. However, 20 points in the fourth quarter was not the story of this game, when the Nets repeatedly failed to score, Kilpatrick often regressed to isolation, taking bad shots in the process. Coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged the offense went “stagnant” and broke down into “one on one” ball in the post-game press conference.
Up Your Game… Please
Brook Lopez
C, Brooklyn Nets
With this loss, the Brooklyn Nets fall to 5-13 on the season. These two teams will meet up again on Saturday, when the Bucks host the Nets in Milwaukee.