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Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers preview: Kenny Atkinson returns to Brooklyn

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Brooklyn Nets v Cleveland Cavaliers
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Long Island native and the man who led Sean Marks first rebuild is back in Brooklyn Monday, leading the NBA’s best team.

Going into tonight’s matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers, there are two things that put the Brooklyn Nets in a severe disadvantage.

First, the Nets are facing arguably the best team in the NBA. As the second highest scoring team in the NBA with an average of 121.2 PPG, the Cavs can flat out score it. Will they continue their rampage at the Barclays Center? Most likely.

Second, the Nets are a brand new team, one that just got rid of their star point guard Dennis Schroder and he’ll have no replacement until two-way Reece Beekman makes his way from the West Coast. Who will lead the offense you may ask. Your guess is as good as mine.

Jordi Fernandez did say Sunday that he expects the team to pick up the pace now that it’s clearly being led by Ben Simmons. But Schroder was capable of dropping 30 and as we know, that’s not in Simmons bag of tricks. Moreover, Cam Thomas return from a hamstring strain is still a way off. In other words, the tank is on.

Where To Watch

Check out the action at 7:30 p.m. ET on the YES Network and NBA League Pass.

Injuries

Bojan Bogdanovic, Cam Thomas, and Ziaire Williams are injured. Reece Beekman is en route, Jaylen Martin and Dariq Whitehead are with Long Island and Tyrese Martin is questionable as he may spend time with Long Island, too.

For the Cavs, Emoji Bates (torn meniscus) and Max Strus (ankle) will be out.

The Game

In the first game of the ‘year of the tank,’ the Nets are going to have to defend if they want to keep this one close. With Cam Thomas still out and Dennis Schroeder now a Golden State Warrior, the Nets will look to the Keon Johnsons and Shake Miltons of the world to run around and keep up with the exciting backcourt of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. You can also add in former Net Caris Levert as a catalyst who can stir up some trouble as well.

Defensively, the Cavs allow the 11th fewest points in the league. And guess what. The Nets score the 11th fewest points in the league! Not good. Cam Johnson (while he is still here) will have to heat up quickly and showcase his hot hand that he has had all season if Brooklyn wants to keep it close. Can Ben Simmons can do some damage, as his transition playmaking could provide some good looks throughout the contest? Who’s his back up until Beekman arrives? Shake Milton and Keon Johnson.

Did we say the tank is on?

Player to Watch: Jarrett Allen

Levert will not be the only former Net returning to Brooklyn as Jarrett Allem will also be making his return to his former home. Allen has been solid for Cleveland thus far as he is averaging close to 13 and 9 so far in the season, as well as being the almighty force in the paint as Brooklyn fans grew to love from him … despite a certain duo of superstars preferring DeAndre Jordan

It will be interesting to see Allen and Clax battle down low. Both have similar styles, know their jobs, and care about getting the job done. You got to love a big man battle of this nature.

And of course, there is a coach to watch. This is Kenny Atkinson’s first return to Brooklyn as head coach since he was let go just before COVID shut down the NBA and the rest of the world in March 2020. At the time, his departure was called a mutual decision, but as Atkinson made clear when the Nets were in Cleveland he was fired, a word he used more than once to describe how things went down. The native Long Islander will have a lot of friends and family present making things even more intense.

From the Vault

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