Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 38 – NBA Blog

Nets lose to Lakers 104-98, fall to 0-6

The Brooklyn Nets, playing at home, had their best chance of the new season to break their losing streak and enjoy victory. They were up against the Los Angeles lakers who entered the game 0-4. But as three-pointers continued to clank, the Nets lost 104-98 and fell to 0-6 for the season.

In the win for the Lakers, Kobe Bryant (5-of-16) had 18 points, D’Angelo Russell (6-of-9) and Jordan Clarkson (6-of-12) each had 16 points, and Julius Randle (5-of-9) had 14 points with seven rebounds. Roy Hibbert blocked three shots.

In the loss for the Nets, Brook Lopez (8-of-19) had 23 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, Joe Johnson (8-of-16) had 22 points, Jarrett Jack (8-of-22) had 18 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists, and Thaddeus Young (7-of-15) scored 14. But the Nets as a team shot just 3-of-19 from three-point range.

GAME NOTES

The Nets held the Lakers to 18 points in the first quarter, marking the fewest points the Nets have allowed in a first quarter this season.

Brook Lopez has moved past Richard Jefferson into third place in Nets NBA history in field goals made (2,943), trailing only Vince Carter (3,216) and Buck Williams (3,981).

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson started the first game of his NBA career tonight, and he grabbed an impressive 11 rebounds in 25 minutes.

Nets add Randy Ayers and Bob Bender to scouting staff

Brooklyn Nets General Manager Billy King announced today the additions of Randy Ayers and Bob Bender to the player personnel scouting staff. Ayers was named to the position of college scout, while Bender was named pro scout. Randy Ayers joins the Nets following a five-year stint as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Pelicans, including serving the last four years as the team’s lead assistant coach. Ayers began his NBA coaching career as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1997 under head coach Larry Brown, helping to guide the Sixers to five consecutive playoff appearances, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2001. Bob Bender joins the Nets after most recently spending the 2013-14 season as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks. Before joining the Bucks, Bender spent nine seasons on the bench in Atlanta, serving his final three seasons as an assistant under Larry Drew.

Nets waive Justin Harper and Dahntay Jones

The Brooklyn Nets have waived forward Justin Harper and guard/forward Dahntay Jones, General Manager Billy King announced today.

Today is the day all NBA teams must trim their rosters to 15 players or less. The Nets, now at 15 players, have done this.

Harper (6’10”, 225), who signed with Brooklyn on September 18, appeared in six preseason contests with averages of 9.0 points, and 4.7 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game.

Jones (6’6”, 215), who signed with Brooklyn on September 10, averaged 7.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in four preseason games. It would not surprise us if another team decides to add him to their roster.

The NBA regular season begins tomorrow.

Nets waive Ryan Boatright, Quincy Miller, Chris Daniels

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Ryan Boatright, forward Quincy Miller and center Chris Daniels, General Manager Billy King announced today.

Boatright (6’0”, 170) signed with Brooklyn as a free agent on July 2 after going undrafted out of Connecticut in the 2015 NBA Draft. In four preseason games with the Nets, Boatright posted averages of 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 13.9 minutes per game.

Miller (6’9”, 210) was acquired by the Nets from the Detroit Pistons on July 13 in exchange for guard Steve Blake. In four preseason appearances with Brooklyn, Miller averaged 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game.

Daniels (6’9”, 265) signed with the Nets as a free agent on September 23 and averaged 7.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game across five preseason appearances with Brooklyn.

The Nets roster now stands at 17 players.

Willie Reed out 6-8 weeks after thumb surgery

Brooklyn Nets center Willie Reed underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb. The surgery was performed by Dr. Michelle Carlson, along with Nets’ Medical Director Dr. Riley Williams III, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Reed is expected to be out for approximately six to eight weeks.

Willie Reed suffers thumb injury

Brooklyn Nets forward/center Willie Reed has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb, an MRI confirmed today. The injury occurred during the first half of last night’s preseason game versus the Boston Celtics. Reed will undergo surgery on Friday, October 16 at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. A timetable for his return will be established following the procedure.

Reed, who signed with Brooklyn as a free agent on July 9, 2015, was making his preseason debut when the injury occurred.

Jarrett Jack ejected after foul on Jonas Jerebko

Here’s the New York Post reporting on Nets point guard Jarrett Jack, who needs to remember that it’s just preseason right now and in preseason everyone can just stretch and relax and just loosen up for the regular season and there’s no need to hard-foul anybody:

Not only did the Nets lose a game Wednesday night, but they may have lost their starting point guard for the regular-season opener, as well.

Jarrett Jack picked up a flagrant foul penalty 2 when he clobbered Boston forward Jonas Jerebko on a fast break with 9:56 to go in the second quarter of the 109-105 loss to the Celtics at Barclays Center, earning an automatic ejection and possible further discipline from the league office.

“I hope not,” Jack said, when asked if he was worried about getting hit with a suspension. “But I didn’t mean to do that, actually.”

NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki Vandeweghe will review the play and has the authority to hand down additional penalties — including a fine and/or a suspension.

Knicks MSG sellout streak ends

Here’s the New York Post reporting that Knicks tickets, at least for one preseason game, were available at face value from the box office for a change:

The 201-game Garden sellout streak dating to 2010 is over. The club announced a crowd of 19,037 — below the sellout number of 19,812 — for Tuesday’s preseason opener against Brazilian team Bauru.

The sellout streak had included preseason, regular-season and playoff games. The Knicks still will promote their regular-season/playoff streak that stands at 97.

The Knicks had an 87 percent season-ticket renewal rate, which was down considerably from last season. But one of the biggest upsets was the Knicks sold out all their regular-season games during their worst season in franchise history at 17-65.

Brook Lopez getting a Star Wars bobblehead

This is pretty awesome. Here’s the New York Post reporting what might possibly be the greatest news ever in Brook Lopez’s life:

The Force is with Brook Lopez.

The noted “Star Wars” fan and comic book aficionado was over the galactic moon the Nets have made a bobblehead doll of Lopez dressed up as a Jedi Knight, to given away for the Dec. 14 game against the Magic.

“[Did you] see that it’s a Jedi?” Lopez asked after Friday’s practice at Duke University. “Pretty sweet.”

Lopez said he was happy he now is even in bobbleheads with his twin brother, Robin, after their hometown Fresno Grizzlies – a Triple-A baseball team – honored Robin with a bobblehead this summer.

Free agency 2016 crucial for Nets

Here’s the New York Post with insight on the Brooklyn Nets, who face an uphill battle this season and like many teams in the league are very well aware how crucial 2016 free agency may be for their future:

The Nets have become a team known for slogans and catchphrases since moving to Brooklyn three years ago.

And though the team already has adopted a new one for this season, here is a helpful suggestion — one already associated with the borough — if they would like to change their minds: Wait ’til next year.

There are 82 games to play until July 1, 2016, but that’s the date the Nets are clearly focused on. That’s when — for the first time since moving to Brooklyn — they will have the ability to shop at the top of the market, thanks to what could be close to $40 million in cap space.

The problem? The Nets still have to get through the 2015-16 season, which begins with training camp Monday, before they can try to strike it rich in free agency. Though many teams in this position, like the Knicks a year ago, could afford to have a rough year and get a high draft pick, the Nets can’t, since their unprotected first-round pick next June is headed to the Celtics as part of the trade that brought Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn two years ago.