“ We have to win both games. » In front of the media, Day'Ron Sharpe sets the tone, because there is fire in Brooklyn. The Nets are in crisis and the change of coach with the interim promotion of Kevin Ollie was not the shock hoped for. Quite the contrary, since they remain on three rounds in four games, with the exception of a success against the freewheeling Grizzlies with their numerous absences. When it comes time to host the Hawks twice on Friday and Saturday, victory is almost mandatory against the current last qualifier for the play-in.
Eleventh, the Nets are four victories behind Atlanta. Enough to give a little more spice to the two posters of the weekend at the Barclays Center.
Because Day'Ron Sharpe is clear: we are still aiming for the final phase in Brooklyn. “ We have to be fully focused so that we win these two games and can play in the playoffs. » To do this, we will have to quickly put aside the latest performances, starting with the slap in Orlando on Wednesday (108-81). “ We have to pull ourselves together, forget this defeat, put it in the past and be ready for the next two matches. »
Four games behind, for now…
Coué method or real ambition retained, we still consider ourselves in the game among the Nets, “ if we beat them twice, then I think that would put us in a good position » assures the other pivot of the squad, Nic Claxton. Brooklyn hopes in particular to take advantage of the misfortunes of its direct opponent, while the Hawks are deprived of Trae Young for a month. This did not prevent Atlanta from regaining color with two victories in two games and an otherwise efficient defense without the All-Star leader.
The leaders of the Nets still need to perform well on their side. Cam Thomas is already out for the first of the two shocks, injured in the foot, even if it is not too serious for the Brooklyn back, who does not suffer from any fracture. Mikal Bridges, for his part, absolutely must regain confidence and skill, at the heart of a very complicated period both individually and collectively. The winger has missed 26 of his last 28 3-point shots and remains on a 4-point outing against the Magic, his worst total in a Nets jersey, except for his four seconds spent on the floor during the last game from the last regular season.
Mikal Bridges in pain
“ When I'm open, I'm gonna take those 3-point shots ” he said. “ I feel them all fine, but they don't fall in unfortunately, which is no fun. I just have to continue to take what the defense gives me, and be aggressive. The only way to get out of this drought is to keep taking shots. » « I have to do a better job getting Mikal to have the ball more » For his part, estimated his coach Kevin Ollie.
Mikal Bridges can rely on his last matches with Brooklyn against the Hawks. He gave them 45 points at the start of the season, 42 last season, for an average of 35.8 points in four games.
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Mikal Bridges | 58 | 35.0 | 44.5 | 35.4 | 81.9 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 21.1 |
| Cam Thomas | 48 | 29.8 | 43.7 | 36.0 | 83.9 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 20.9 |
| Cameron Johnson | 45 | 27.8 | 44.6 | 38.5 | 75.3 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 13.3 |
| Spencer Dinwiddie | 48 | 30.7 | 39.1 | 32.0 | 78.1 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 12.6 |
| Nicholas Claxton | 48 | 29.3 | 62.6 | 25.0 | 56.8 | 2.8 | 7.1 | 9.9 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 12.0 |
| Lonnie Walker | 38 | 18.1 | 45.1 | 42.5 | 77.6 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 11.1 |
| Dennis Schroder | 7 | 25.7 | 39.2 | 44.8 | 42.9 | 0.0 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 10.6 |
| Dorian Finney Smith | 49 | 27.7 | 41.4 | 37.3 | 67.9 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 8.6 |
| Royce O'neale | 49 | 24.5 | 38.8 | 36.6 | 68.2 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 7.4 |
| Day’ron Sharpe | 43 | 15.6 | 58.3 | 22.2 | 62.2 | 2.7 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 7.3 |
| Keon Johnson | 4 | 12.8 | 36.8 | 44.4 | 100.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 7.0 |
| Dennis Smith | 42 | 19.6 | 43.0 | 27.3 | 75.6 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 6.8 |
| Ben Simmons | 15 | 23.9 | 58.1 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 2.1 | 5.9 | 7.9 | 5.7 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 6.1 |
| Trendon Watford | 41 | 11.9 | 53.6 | 36.8 | 89.4 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 6.0 |
| Jalen Wilson | 20 | 13.4 | 48.6 | 46.4 | 89.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 4.9 |
| Armoni Brooks | 10 | 10.4 | 32.6 | 34.4 | 50.0 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 4.2 |
| Noah Clowney | 7 | 9.9 | 61.1 | 25.0 | 100.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 4.1 |
| Harry Giles | 16 | 5.1 | 50.0 | 27.3 | 53.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 3.4 |
| Keita Bates Diop | 5 | 6.5 | 55.6 | 25.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.6 |
| Dariq Whitehead | 2 | 12.0 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
