2013 NBA PLAYOFFS Round 1

Brooklyn Nets (1-1) @ Chicago Bulls (1-1)

United Center 8:30

TV:NBATV/MY 9   RADIO: WFAN 660 AM/WBQU 92.7 FM

As well as the Brooklyn Nets played in Game 1 against the Chicago Bulls is as bad as they played in Game 2.  The momentum from the opening game blowout most certainly did not carry over to this Nets team.  What we saw was the same inconsistent team that we have seen all year.

One good game and then one bad game……..Groundhog Day.

The problem with that is in the postseason that inconsistency will send you home in the first round and allow an inferior team to move on and your team to go fishing.  The many times this year that Nets fans sat through a 55 point first half only to then watch a 12 point third quarter give the other team life and motivation to win the game.  This is not something that will be corrected this year and only so much can be expected of a brand new roster but winning 49 games in spite of it changes things.

With that being said, the series is only tied one game a piece so the pivotal Game 3 will be telling for the rest of the series.

The news yesterday that Joe Johnson has plantar fasciitis and will a game-time decision for Game 3 does not help Nets fans feel warm and fuzzy but if the leaders lead and they play better defense they have a shot to take back homecourt advantage.

[quote_box]”We’ve been through our ups and downs to get this far,” Johnson said. “We can’t let anything stop us. We’re a poised team on the road, so now we have to go out on the road and get one. It’s definitely going to be a challenge, but we’ll be prepared for it.

We missed a shots that we normally make Monday night. As I was watching the tapes, I noticed that the shots didn’t go down like they normally do. Now we have to keep shooting regardless. I’m sure we’ll bounce back and play well.”[/quote_box]

The Nets were one of the best road teams this season going 23-18, and Chicago had more losses at home than any other playoff team, with a 24-17 record at home.  Deron Williams will have to come back from the lackluster game he had in Game 2 and dictate what he wants to do rather than allowing the Bulls to dictate what he does.  The way Williams had played since the All-Star break bodes well that he will once again be himself and produce better numbers in Game 3 and moving forward in this series.

It will be tough with the Bulls track record at home in the postseason being so good.  At home in the playoffs, the Bulls hold an all-time postseason record of 116-40 (.744) – second among existing NBA franchises (Los Angeles Lakers: 286-94,(.753).

The road will be tough but it is doable if Brooklyn gets the ball in the paint and attacks the injury hit Bulls frontline.  The Bulls cannot handle the combination of Brook Lopez and Andray Blatche so the Nets must find a way to pound the ball inside to regain the physicality edge.  The series hinges on the Nets ability to attack the basket.

[quote_box]“Matching or exceeding their physicality is always one of the things that we talk about, one of the keys when you’re playing the Bulls,” Carlesimo said. “We did a better job of doing that in Game 1 than we did in Game 2.”[/quote_box]

Note: Reports surfaced today the Nets GM Billy King has agreed to a multi-year contract extension with Brooklyn.

SERIES 1-1