Takeaways from the Brooklyn Nets’ OT loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Is there anything to be grateful for?

 

 

Even on Thanksgiving, waking up the day after a one-possession, overtime loss and recognizing your blessings is a difficult chore.

Last night marked the Brooklyn Nets’ second meeting with the Atlanta Hawks… and the second time they were defeated. A Trae Young jumper at the horn placed them in the oven a few months ago. Yesterday, it was Onyeka Okongwu’s stuffing.

The Nets are now in the Eastern Conference basement, behind all but four teams in the standings after losing three straight games and clinging to a 6-8 record.

With a back-to-back against the reigning conference champion Miami Heat on the horizon, things could get worse before they get better. But, before we go on to the next one, here are a few closing thoughts from last night.

Mikal Requires Two-Way Assistance
I haven’t been able to say this all year because Mikal Bridges hasn’t delivered a “put the team on my back” or “Greg Jennings broken leg” performance. But last night, Brooklyn Bridges donned the “star” hat he frequently wore last year.

It was a good fit. Bridges attempted the most shots of the season and so tied a career high with 45 points. He scored 25 points between the fourth and extra periods, scoring around the rim and hitting buttery smooth fadeaways.

Trae Young, unfortunately for Brooklyn, replicated that performance. Ice Trae scored all but two of Atlanta’s 16 points in overtime to carry his side to victory. He also had a big first quarter, scoring 19 points on 6-of-7 shooting from long.

Bridges, Brooklyn’s greatest point-of-attack defender and one of the league’s best, would have been the ideal guy to replace Young down the stretch. Given the close nature of the game, one or two stops would have sealed it, but the Nets just kept going punch for punch until they couldn’t.

Instead, almost every other defender got a try at Young down the stretch. Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Nic Claxton all got looks in overtime to no avail. Bridges only matched up on him once in the period and it came on a Young logo-range triple that was essentially unguardable.

My guess is that with Bridges carrying at one end, Jacque Vaughn did not want him to exhaust himself with the task of slowing down Young at the other. Brooklyn’s choice to move back to a switch defense also played a hand in keeping him away from Young, as that’s not exactly a matchup Trae would want to hunt.

However, whether by scheme or by personnel, the Nets stopped their best player from doing what he does best. That’s a cardinal “no no” in my book. The Nets needed Bridges to clamp Young, so on nights when he has it going, his teammates need to step up in some capacity.

I said at the beginning of this season the Nets will not be a winning team if they resort to Mikal Bridges hero ball, and that was true last night. He may have a 7’1” wingspan, but you can only stretch the guy so much. Someone needs to help him out on nights like last night at either end of the floor to give his game some balance.

You’re taught as a kid that your jump shot starts with your legs before working you way up into your follow through. So with sharpshooter Cameron Johnson injuring his calf a few weeks ago, his deadeye shooter’s badge got a lot more attention early this season.

Until last night, that is. Johnson shot 34.3% from range since coming back from injury. Not bad, but not up to par with his career 39.2% clip. Now following a 1-of-5 night against Philly where I recall him getting some good looks as well, some Joe Harris PTSD began to creep in.

However, last night’s game cured some of those symptoms, as Johnson shot 5-of-8 from downtown. It was his first contest with five or more makes since last year. Johnson didn’t discriminate with his shot selection either. He hit from each corner, twice on the left wing, and once slightly on the right side above of the break.