Not a week ago, many wondered if it was time starting to worry about the Brooklyn Nets’ Can’t beat the team competing for the championship this season?
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The Nets already have a 0-6 record against the teams they will likely face in the knockout stages. On opening night, they were beaten by defending champions and then, they beat the 76ers a few nights later but have since lost to Charlotte, Miami, Chicago (twice), Golden State and Phoenix.
Friday night’s win over a dangerous team of Hawks, in Atlanta, may not immediately silence all doubters, but would go a long way to quelling the buzz surrounding the specific stat. that (unwanted) possible.
Brooklyn has now won eight of their last eleven games and improved to 18-8 with a 113-105 win in Atlanta. They are now 10-3 on the road this season with the win.
Yet again, the Nets had to take a double-digit lead for the Hawks to win. This is the third time on their trip they have had to do so. At one stage in the third inning, head coach Steve Nash had to call a timeout to regroup with his team down to 73-62 at the time.
After the game, James Harden jokes it is not ideal, but indicates the ability of the team to retreat deep inside to rally a comeback.
“That’s not a good thing,” he said with a laugh. Then added, “We never give up.”
The Nets began their run from the defensive end of the floor. They organize the Hawks – a team that has third best offensive rating in the tournament – only 39% shot from the floor for the game. Brooklyn held the Hawks to just 14 points in the fourth quarter, which comes from only allowing the Mavericks 13 in the quarter on Tuesday – that was the last game the Nets played at full strength.
“I wish we could play like that in four quarters,” said Harden, who finished with 20 points, 11 assists and five rebounds. “When it comes time to win a game, we will do whatever it takes to win. Tonight is another example of that.”
