The Nets come home to begin a brief two game homestand.
It didn’t take overtime, but the result was the same. The Brooklyn Nets played the second of two in Indianapolis against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday evening. Brooklyn almost pulled off an improbable rally, but wound up falling a few points short.
The opponent tonight is trying to figure things out. The Dallas Mavericks were expected to contend, but… circumstances changed and now they are scrambling on various fronts. They beat the resurgent Detroit Pistons on Friday night and have been off for the past few days.
Where to follow the game
YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on the app. WFAN on radio. Tip after 7:30 p.m. ET.
Injuries
D’Angelo Russell and Ziaire Williams are both questionable for Brooklyn. Cam Thomas and De’Anthony Melton are both out.
…takes a deep breath
The following are out for Dallas:
- Kyrie Irving – Left ACL tear
- Daniel Gafford – right knee sprain
- Dante Exum – left hand fracture
- Caleb Martin – right hip strain
- Dereck Lively II – right ankle stress fracture
Brandon Williams is probable with low back tightness. Anthony Davis is doubtful due to a left adductor strain, but is hoping to be back very soon.
The game
I’ve seen bad trades before, but I’ve never seen a trade so bad it permanently changes a team’s relationship with their city and fans. That’s what the Dallas Mavericks did when they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, Markieff Morris and a 2029 first round pick. Since that moment, it’s been hell on Earth for the franchise as everything that can go wrong has go wrong. The trio of Nico Harrison, Patrick Dumont, and Miriam Adelson have become reviled amongst Mavs fans and it’s led to questioning what it means to be a fan, if not outright leaving the scene entirely. Our friends at Mavs Moneyball have been doing amazing coverage post trade and David Trink wrote something that really stood out to me:
This trade is now a cautionary tale of how devaluing the fandom too much can truly sever a relationship the organization and the fans build over decades. It was a clear-cut power trip; Harrison got so enthralled with the idea that he could be the organization’s savior, not Doncic, that he punted on a bright future with a beloved star because it wasn’t the future he wanted. It was almost as if Harrison blacked out and did not feel the gravity of his decision until it was too late. He burned an ecosystem of international fans, small businesses, families, and lifelong fans that all revolved around cheering for Luka Doncic, the Dallas Maverick. The direction of the franchise is now in question and the free agency implications are endless. Everything good the Mavericks were building was relinquished in a second, behind closed doors. This was a corporate decision that was blinded by a lack of input from other parties and fueled by a disdain for the team’s star player. This horrid mix blurred the line between business and the purpose of a basketball organization. Harrison viewed Doncic as a replaceable asset while everyone else viewed him as an irreplaceable human being.
Above all else, no one wants to feel like they’ve been lied to, yes, betrayed. When you give your time, energy, resources, and emotions to something, you want to be treated with respect in return. Between the shabby treatment given to fans, the looming threat of Las Vegas hanging over the franchise, the constantly evolving excuses rationales given about the trade, etc., the Mavs may have permanently destroyed professional basketball in Dallas. And they have only themselves to blame for it.
We’ve got what’s probably going to be an unhappy reunion tonight. In December, former Net Spencer Dinwiddie spoke about his second stint with the organization, and he discussed the frustration, sadness, and everything in between. It’s unfortunate, but that’s life sometimes. He’s had to start again due to all the injuries and he’s doing his best to make things happen. When Dinwiddie is at his best, he’s driving to the basket and creating quality shots for his teammates.
As you’d expect with a team missing all their centers, the Mavs are a pretty terrible rebounding team. The Nets aren’t much better, so whoever exceeds expectations on that end will control the flow of the game. Look for Nic Claxton to make his presence felt on that end.
Player to watch: PJ Washington
There’s been so much venom spewed at the Mavs organization, and the players have unfortunately been caught up in the anger at Harrison, Dumont, and Adelson. After a recent bout of “Fire Nico!” chants, Washington had enough:
“At the end of the day, the trade happened. We understand we have a new team now. All that “Fire Nico” stuff, we’re sick and tired of hearing it. We just want to go out there and play and we need the fans to support us no matter who’s on the floor. That’s just how I feel about it.”
If I had to work in that environment every day, I might feel the same way.
Even amidst all the negativity, he’s worked really hard to keep his team in the play-in race. Per Mavs PR, Washington has “5,000 points, 2,000 rebounds, 850 assists, 500 3FGM, 350 steals and 350 blocks within their first 400 career games.” Who else is in that club? Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Durant! That’s good business. Since the All Star break, Washington has averaged around 18 points and seven rebounds on .479/.371/.629 shooting splits. Washington has kept the team afloat amidst all the drama and is someone that the organization can keep as part of a possible future.
Cam Johnson will look to win his matchup against a fellow Most Improved candidate. CJ returned to action following a rest day on Saturday afternoon and had 20/9/5/1 in 37 minutes. With D’Angelo Russell possibly coming back tonight, Johnson won’t have as many playmaking duties on his shoulders this go around. He’s done well with it and as we get one day closer to the end of the season, his growth will be something Nets fans watch closely.
From the Vault
On the men’s side of the NCAA Tournament, we are officially heading to the Sweet 16 following a Maryland buzzer beater. Let’s take a trip back in time to another buzzer beater, this time featuring a former Net!
And speaking of the Sweet 16, Duke and Arizona will have their first Sweet 16 meeting since 2011. Another former Net was in this game, but it didn’t go the way he wanted…
More reading: Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation NBA
- Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
- Dallas Mavericks Game Notes – Dallas Mavericks
- Mavericks hit the road against Nets, await reinforcements – NBA
- Mavs’ Anthony Davis could be close to return from injury, but is listed as doubtful against Nets – AP
- Dallas faces Brooklyn, aims to stop road skid – AP
- Nets still struggling with allowing late leads to slip through their fingers – Brian Lewis – New York Post