Nets vs. Hawks preview: Down vs. Up in Brooklyn

Six video games left. That is the whole quantity of dates earlier than we are able to set our eyes on a brighter future.

A number of days in the past, Brooklyn was belittled by a purple sizzling Charlotte Hornets crew that has been having fun with the fruits of its labor. Including their victory towards the Nets and their 20 level win towards the Phoenix Suns yesterday, the Hornets have received seven of their final 9 contests and are one recreation forward of the Orlando Magic for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. They are a couple of steps away from making their first playoff look precisely 10 seasons in the past.

Tonight, the Nets will likely be taking up an identical opponent who has been purple sizzling in their very own proper. The Atlanta Hawks, presently fifth in the Eastern Conference, have turn into one of many league’s most enjoyable groups after they parted methods with their former star guard in Trae Young. As the Nets search for extra benefits to extend their draft odds, this recreation could also be in their favor.

And should you’re questioning — in fact you’re — the Nets are presently in what is basically a three-way tie for greatest odds in the May 10 Lottery. At this pointthey’re second, a recreation behind the Wizards, tied with the Pacers for second. They are additionally a recreation and a half forward of the Kings and two and a half forward of the Jazz.

Catch the motion at 7:30 pm ET on the YES Network and NBA League Pass in addition to streaming on the Gotham Sports App.

MPJ (left hamstring pressure), Egor Demin (left plantar fascia damage administration), Danny Wolf (left ankle sprain), and Day’Ron Sharpe (left thumb surgical procedure) will likely be out of motion. The Nets three two-ways and two 10-days together with new rent, Trevon Scott, needs to be out there. This will likely be their third recreation in 4 days, a G League playoff recreation sandwiched between two NBA contests.

For the Hawks, Jock Landale (ankle) will miss tonight’s recreation.

If I’m the Atlanta Hawks, I could not ask for a greater scenario.

First, they haven’t one, however two stars which have taken the rise to turn into what appears like an epic duo. Jalen Johnson is a matchup nightmare resulting from the truth that he’s a 6’8 level ahead who can do the whole lot and fly by the air on the identical time. Johnson is presently averaging a close to triple double in 22.8 factors, 10.3 rebounds, and eight.1 assists. A few months in the past, he turned the eighth participant in league historical past to report 4 straight triple doubles.

In the backcourt, Nikeil Alexander-Walker has come to his personal in Quinn Snyder’s offense. Averaging 20.6 factors, he has taken the purpose guard duties of this crew and made essentially the most of it. Because he isn’t as ball dominant as Trae Young and he might transfer with out the ball, Alexander-Walker has been in a position to flourish in this offense, particularly with that Alexander-smoothness that he and Shai Gilgeous Alexander each possess. The two are cousins.

Both are nice tributes to the Hawks growth mannequin. Johnson was drafted at No. 20 by Atlanta. Slowed by damage, he averaged 2.4 factors and 5.6 factors in his first two years earlier than taking off. Alexander-Walker is extra of a mid-career success story. He’s a bit older at 27 and brought a bit of earlier, at No. 17 (by the Nets who traded their rights to protect cap area for the Clean Sweep in 2019.)

Secondly, the Hawks match up very nicely with the powerhouses of the Eastern Conference. With key victories towards the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons, they’ve confirmed they may do some injury in the playoffs. Besides Alexander-Walker and Johnson, the Hawks have a whole crew, particularly with different newcomers like CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga. With so many larger our bodies, taking part in towards guards like Jalen Brunson or James Harden might probably work in their favor as we head into the Spring.

But earlier than we get to that time, let’s examine how the Nets can strategy this recreation. The Kings defeated the Raptors a few days in the past, which makes this race for draft odds that a lot nearer.

Alexander-Walker might not be the success story that Jalen Johnson is, however he could also be a greater story. NAW, as famous up high, is SGA’s cousin, and now after 4 groups in seven years, he has discovered a house. (Jordi Fernandez is conversant in each as a result of they have been a part of Team Canada when he was head coach.)

Zach Langley of Soaring Down South wrote earlier Friday:

Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s breakout seventh marketing campaign isn’t slowing down.

That’s what’s confirmed this 12 months to be no fluke. His full-season emergence as a two-way star, with career-high averages in each main statistical class, you’ve gotten remodeled the outlook of this Hawks crew in each the fast and long-term future.

And so Maxwell Ogden his colleague on SDS notedhis efficiency is accelerating.

Alexander-Walker entered March averaging 19.8 factors on .431/.373/.888 taking pictures. Those are greater than respectable numbers, however his effectivity has gone by the roof since Mar. 1 and given the Hawks a brand new outlook on what the postseason could maintain.

Since May 1, Alexander-Walker is averaging 22.7 factors on .528/.468/.942 taking pictures—on 7.4 three-point discipline purpose makes an attempt per recreation, no much less.

Among gamers who appeared in no less than 10 video games in March, solely three transformed with extra effectivity from past the arc than Alexander-Walker. Darius Garland was the one participant who shot higher than Alexander-Walker whereas trying no less than 7.0 treys per recreation.

He’s additionally underneath contract for one more three years at an affordable $15 million per season. If he retains this up, he’ll be one of many league’s bargains.

This one is a bit of late for an obituary and a bit of early for retrospect however we determine it is at all times a superb time to honor a Brooklyn legend and singer/songwriter Neil Sedaka qualifies. Sedaka died in February at age 87. Much of the honors we learn and listened to was about a number of the nice songs of the 50’s and 60’s — “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Bad Blood,” “Laughter in the Rain” and “Calendar Girl” — there wasn’t lots about rising up in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach. After all, he lived throughout the road from Neil Diamond and dated Carole King. (Look at them up if you need to.)

“We all lived in Brooklyn,” he mentioned. “It was a wonderful time. It must have been something in the egg cream. We used to hang out in the sweet shop and have egg creams and potato knishes.”

Obviously, a unique time, however Brooklyn’s musical legacy extends again a protracted, very long time. Here’s Sedaka singing about his hometown 50 years in the past.