By Justin Batiste
Brooklyn has two solid guards in Russell and Dinwiddie
Tonight, the Brooklyn Nets defeated the fourth best team in the West in the Los Angles Lakers. After defeating the Lakers tonight, the Nets now improve to 14-18 on the season. Which puts them at 10th in the East. However, if the Brooklyn Nets can continue to play like they played tonight, this team can easily find themselves in the playoffs.
After scoring 18 points and dishing out 6 assists in a win over the Lakers tonight. Guard, Spencer Dinwiddie continues to show why he is well deserving of his recent signing of three years, $34 million extension. He’s a play maker. Similar to point guard, D’Angelo Russell, who recorded a 20+ and 10+ game tonight. Russell finished the game with 22 points and 13 assists. Brooklyn fans have to be excited about their future. These two players can really play. All game, the ball was in these two hands. If it wasn’t Russell handling the ball off a screen looking to make a play it was Dinwiddie. Rarely did you see them on the court at the same time. The two took turns controlling the offense throughout the game. Russell and Dinwiddie are two players who can get their own shots and create for others. Tonight, showed how good this Nets team can be when these two are on their game, and when the Nets are making shots.
The Nets didn’t play their best defensive game and still managed to walk out with a win. In the paint and transition buckets is what hurt the Nets tonight. The Nets had a hard time matching up and protecting the basket after missed shots, which is why the Lakers field goal percentage was so efficient (46.7%). Guard, Lonzo Ball was also a big part as to why the Lakers kept this game so close. Ball finished the game with 23 points and made 5 threes.
Although, Russell and Dinwiddie were the key components to tonight’s win, the rest of the Nets players also played their roll well tonight. The Nets primarily ran pick-and-roll action for most of the night with Russell and Dinwiddie. The Nets did a good job of screening, and Russell and Dinwiddie did a good job of using their screens. The two made sure to come off their screener almost shoulder to shoulder, which made it hard for the defender to stop the ball. Since their defenders couldn’t stop the ball, this allowed Russell and Dinwiddie to work in space in which they showed they can be highly effective in.
The Nets also did a great job of moving with out the ball tonight. Nets players were constantly cutting to the basket for layups, which is mainly why Russell finished with so many assists tonight. This was a much needed win for the Nets. Next, the Nets will be on the road to play the Bulls tomorrow at 7:00 central time, and the Lakers will play the Pelicans at home Friday at 9:30 central time.
