POST GAME BOOTH ON NETS’ LOSS
Fratello and Ruocco break down the New Jersey Nets’ performance following Friday night’s 93-84 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
From the Booth
March 24 by Leave a Comment
Gameday Dish: Nets vs. Hawks
March 23 by Leave a Comment
The Atlanta Hawks and New Jersey Nets faced off three times in the first ten games of this crunched NBA season: twice in Jersey and once in the ATL. The Hawks won all three contests and look to sweep the series at home tonight. The good news for the guys from the Garden State is that their margin of defeat went from 36 to 7 to 5. If the Nets continue to gain ground on the Hawks they just might get a long overdue W.
The Hawks last played on Wednesday, when they bested the young Cleveland Cavaliers and soon-to-be Rookie of the Year PG Kyrie Irving in OT, 103-102. 8th-year forward Josh Smith led the team with 32 points and 17 boards. But 11th-year SG Joe Johnson saved the day with a 3-bomb at the end of regulation and the winning basket in the bonus round.
The Nets lost to the Wizards on Wednesday at home, 108-89. The game marked the 10th straight outing without starting center Brook Lopez, who will be sidelined again tonight (and perhaps for the remainder of the season) with a sprained right ankle. PG Deron Williams and head coach Avery Johnson were both ejected in the third quarter for arguing a non-call on a Williams drive to the hoop.
The emotional third quarter was the culmination of a frustrating season fraught with injuries and hard-to-swallow losses. New Jersey needs a win badly. But they haven’t fared anywhere near well at Philips Arena of late. In fact, they’ve dropped six in a row in the Peach State by an average of 17.2 points.
On the plus side, in their three losses to the Hawks this tilt NJ didn’t have Mr. Hustle, Gerald Wallace. The 11th-year SF will suit up for the Nets for the fourth time since being acquired from Portland before the trade deadline last week. The one-time NBA steals leader has averaged 17 ppg and 6 rpg for NJ. In their recent loss at Cleveland, the athletic swingman had an impressive 27 and 12 run in 40 minutes of court time.
The Nets have dropped six of their last seven contests and sit 8.5 games behind the current eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, their Hudson River rivals, the NY Knicks. With only 18 games remaining in the regular 66, hope against hope, the Nets still have a small statistical shot at the postseason.
Realistically, they’ll be on the outside looking in come playoff time. But finishing the year with effort, enthusiasm and heart will go a long way with their fan base and serve as a classy adieu before they pull up stakes and head to Brooklyn next year.
Tune in to YES tonight at 7:30 PM ET to see if the Nets can right their ship against the Hawks in Hotlanta.
Fratello’s Fantasy Pick: Ivan Johnson
January 16 by Leave a Comment
Less than a month into his pro career, fearless first-year, 6-8, 230-pound power forward Ivan Johnson has managed to upstage his platinum and ice smile with several splashy performances worthy of a veritable diamond in the rough.
Not your typical NBA rookie, the undrafted big from Cal State-San Bernardin paid his dues in the D-League and abroad before impressing Hawks’ coach Larry Drew during their preseason training camp and earning a spot on Atlanta’s roster at the age of 27. Ivan Johnson caught the attention of scouts with his physicality and First-Team All-NBDL honors-earning average of 22.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals in 49 games for the Erie Bayhawks last season.
However, Johnson was a wild card due to anger management issues that surfaced throughout his college and post-college career and culminated in a permanent ban from the Korean Basketball League due to unsportsmanlike conduct. Despite the red flags, the Hawks gave Johnson a chance to prove his worth, and Johnson appears to be making good on it.
“The other Johnson” was a surprise standout in Atlanta’s triple overtime loss to Miami earlier this month. When center Al Horford got into foul trouble, Johnson filled in and got four points, a steal and a rebound off the bench in Atlanta’s 12-0 run to close out the third quarter; and he added five points in the fourth.
Now with 2X All-Star Horford likely sidelined for the remainder of the season with a torn left pectoral muscle he suffered in last week’s loss to the Pacers, Johnson will have an opportunity to earn more meaningful minutes. Johnson got is first NBA double-double in Atlanta’s 93-91 comeback win over the Timberwolves on Saturday. He scored his team’s final four points, including the game-winning free throw with 4.6 seconds remaining, and finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals while playing a season-high 26 minutes in Horford’s absence.
Johnson’s hard work and hustle is earning him Coach Drew’s confidence and the respect of his teammates and fans. A tenacious defender who gets deflections and rebounds, Johnson gives Atlanta toughness on the defensive end. If Johnson continues to learn, mature and keep his emotions in check he can develop into an integral part of this Hawks team and help them contend for the postseason. Johnson and the Hawks will be tested four times this week starting with a trip to Toronto tonight.
From the Booth
January 10 by Leave a Comment
IAN AND MIKE ON THE CLOSE LOSS TO HAWKS
Mike Fratello and Ian Eagle break down the Nets’ 106-101 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
