Having smashed the Milwaukee Bucks twice in a row, and in convincing fashion, the Brookyln Nets now find themselves up 2-0 ahead of Thursday’s game.
This puts them on track to finally bring the NBA title back to New York - but not to the side of the Hudson River we might once have expected.
Milwaukee Look Humbled by Bouyant Brooklyn
Men vs Boys is perhaps a tired cliché to use in 2021, but you’d struggle to find a better phrase to describe what was on show over the two games. So relentless were the Nets in their dismantling of the Bucks, that had Good Ol’ JR been on the commentary team, we would doubtlessly have heard the famous cry, “for God’s sake someone stop the damn match!”
Brooklyn won 125-86 on Monday against the Bucks, which followed their narrower 115-107 win just a few days prior. The scoreline of the first encounter flattered Milwaukee though - and the result of Monday’s meeting is testament to that fact. Milwaukee’s own Khris Middleton has himself conceded that the Bucks are “just playing into their [Brooklyn’s] hands”.
Speculation Surrounding DeAndre Jordan Ahead of the Games
Ahead of the two playoff games against the Bucks, the majority of questions directed by reporters at Nets coach Steve Nash were surrounding DeAndre Jordan. The veteran center had played in all three of the Nets’ regular season games vs Milwaukee, but has rarely featured since they last mate in early May.
Nash played his cards close to his chest and gave nothing away, but Jordan was ultimately the only Brooklyn player not to feature in either of the two games.
Brooklyn’s ‘Big Three’ Key to Success
A big part of Brooklyn’s regular season success has been in no small thanks to their veteran ‘Big Three’, which consists of Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Kevin Durant. Despite barely sharing the court at the same time this season, each of the individual players’ performances and stats have helped propel the Nets into pole position for the playoffs and NBA title.
For both playoff games against the Bucks thus far, the Nets have once again been unable to have all of their so-called big three on the court. James Haden has remained sidelined with a hamstring problem. In Game 1 against the Bucks, Durant and Irving combined to notch up 54 out of Brooklyn’s 115 total points tally.
Can the Bucks Claw This One Back?
Based on what we’ve seen in the first two games, it looks highly unlikely. If they are to have any chance of clawing this one back, they will need to look to regain the 3 point prowess that was key to their regular season success.
Milwaukee were among the best 3 point shooting teams in the NBA throughout the season, with a 39.8% conversion rate of attempts. In their two games against the Nets, that conversion percentage has been down at 24.6%.
Giannis Antetokounmpo - “Not Low”
After easing past Miami Heat, Milwaukee starman Giannis Antetokounmpo isisted that he “didn’t get too high”. Now that his team find themselves down by two to Brooklyn, he’s adamant that he’s “not low”. Mildly defiant, but hardly the strong words needed to inspire a miraculous comeback.
