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Nets shouldn't chance James Harden return if they at least split in Milwaukee

The Brooklyn Nets hold a 2-0 series advantage after dismantling Milwaukee by 49 points on Monday night. Steve Nash and crew haven't ruled out James Harden returning in Game 3, but why even chance it with the Nets in control of the series?
The only way Harden should play in the series is if Milwaukee ties up the series and sends the Nets back to Barclays Center needing a win to recapture the advantage. If the Nets can manage a road victory it would send the Bucks to the brink of elimination with Brooklyn needing one win with either three or four games remaining to end the series. Brooklyn can deal a knockout blow with a Game 3 upset in Milwaukee and virtually be able to rest Harden for the remainder of the series, barring a historic comeback by the Bucks. Game 3 is set for Thursday night and the Nets are showing they have enough firepower to knock off Milwaukee even without Harden.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's FT percentage second-worst in NBA playoffs

Entering the Nets-Bucks playoff series, many fans thought MVP frontrunner, Giannis Antetokounmpo, would set several NBA records during his team's playoff run.
What they didn't predict, is his 2-for 10 from the charity stripe in the Eastern Conference semifinals would force his free throw percentage to plummet to 53.5, just ahead of Ben Simmons' 34.5 worst overall conversion rate. Most NBA fans expect the bucks to show some fight back at home, but don't be surprised if Steve Nash and the Nets employ a "Beat a Greek" type strategy and force him to earn points at the line where he's struggled so far in the playoffs.

Nets' 39-point playoff win over Bucks largest margin in franchise history

The Brooklyn Nets took care of home court once gain in Game 2 trouncing the Milwaukee Bucks 125 to 86.
The 39-point victory marked the largest in Nets franchise playoff history. Brooklyn will be riding high heading to Milwaukee, but understands that they've simply taken care of home court and will need to steal at least one on the road to take a stranglehold on the series. Game 3 is set for Thursday at 7:30pm.

LeBron James sends well wishes to James Harden after injury

LeBron James will be watching the playoffs from the comfort of his home and the four-time NBA champion took to Twitter to send prayers up to James Harden following his hamstring injury. Harden left Game 1 within the first minute of play grabbing the right hamstring that caused him to miss 18 regular season games. If anyone knows about injuries, it's James as he looked somewhat hobbled during the Lakers first round playoff losses to Phoenix and Anthony Davis left Game 6 in the first quarter with a groin injury. The Nets take on the Bucks in Game 2 Monday night at Barclays Center.

LIVE: Nets Insider Episode Sunday, 6/6, 11am ET

Join Rick Laughland of NetsInsider, Randy Zellea of Backsportspage and Greg Logan of Newsday as they recap Game 1 between the Nets and Bucks and take a look ahead in the series as Brooklyn faces the prospect of playing without James Harden. The link below connects you to the live show and an archived version will be available. Be sure to subscribe to the Nets Podcast on Spotify, iHeart Radio, iTunes and more!

Nets still title favorites even with James Harden injured

Trading for James Harden was icing on the cake for Sean Marks and the Brooklyn Nets and transformed title contenders into the favorites to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were at the heart of Brooklyn's original championship blueprint, so the duo will likely do everything in their power to keep the Nets a atop the playoff pecking order. Now that Harden reaggravated his right hamstring injury in the opening minute of Game 1 against the Bucks, Brooklyn may need to prepare to play without him in Game 2 and potentially the rest of the series. The Nets bench responded in a big way, as Irving dumped in 25 and Durant 29, while Blake Griffin's double-double of 18 and 14 pushed the Nets to a 115-107 opening game victory. Game 2 is set for Monday and on short rest, it's extremely unlikely that Harden will be ready to play as he missed 30-plus games in the regular season after tweaking the same hamstring.

Nets-Bucks full series dates announced by NBA

The NBA's officially announced the dates that the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks will do battle in the second round. Game 1 is set for Saturday June 5th with tip-off at 7:30 p.m. Game 2 is set for Monday June 7th with tip-off TBD. Game 3 Is set for Thursday, June 10th with tip-off TBD.
Game 4 is set for Sunday, June 13th with tip-off TBD. Game 5 Is set for Tuesday, June 15th with tip-off TBD. Game 6 is set for Thursday, June 17th with tip-off TBD. Game 7 is set for Saturday, June 19th with tip-off TBD. Games 5,6 and 7 are if necessary, but as many anticipate the bucks will give the Nets their stiffest challenge yet so far in the playoffs.

Jason Kidd as Next Celtics HC would be a recipe for disaster for Brad Stevens

Let's be clear, rumors are rumors. The Celtics just promoted Brad Stevens to President of Basketball Operations and Danny Ainge retired as GM, leaving a canyon sized hole left at head coach.
The job is pretty desirable with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as building blocks, but hiring one of the top names on the free agent coaching market, Jason Kidd, would be an unmitigated disaster for Boston. Coming from someone who easily considers Kidd in the pantheon of the franchise's legendary players, his off the court track record and power struggles he had with the front offices that he had during his last two stops in Brooklyn and Milwaukee doesn't exactly invoke a sense of optimism that the third time is a charm. Kidd wanted to take personnel control from former Nets GM, Billy King, but was denied his request and permitted to seek another organization to serve, ultimately landing with the Bucks. Kidd was an all world performer as a player and a guy that players would rally around in the locker room, but not all players are cut out to be coache. Not to say that the current Lakers assistant won't get another opportunity in the league, but it likely won't come in a town that has never wrapped its arms around him during his playing or coaching career. Stevens understands that the NBA is a player's league and wants his fingerprints all over this team, but Kidd has never been the type of person to sit idly by and let a GM do his job. If Stevens is hiring wise, he'll go in another direction as it is a recipe for both sides.

Steve Nash has higher playoff winning percentage as HC than Brad Stevens

Even if the Brooklyn Nets get swept out of the second round by the Milwaukee Bucks, head coach Steve Nash will still have a higher playoff winning percentage than former Celtics head coach and current head of basketball operations, Brad Stevens.
At 38-40 for a career playoff record, Stevens' teams were always knocking on the door of a finals berth, but were never able to knock it down and fulfill The lofty expectation set by the fan base. Clearly, Nash has been bestowed with a trio of superstars that have helped him win four out of his first five playoff contests, but it's clear that the NBA is a player's league and perhaps Brad Stevens decision to move into the front office and away from coaching has to do with the fact that he couldn't win with the current roster that Danny Ainge built for him. Nash is still a neophyte head coach and will face a steep challenge in Milwaukee in the semi-final round, but for the time being, it looks like the Nets will get the last laugh over the Celtics.

Nets ousting Celtics makes Danny Ainge's legacy come full circle

Danny Ainge's highway robbery of the Brooklyn Nets back in 2013 is why Billy King is no longer employed as the team's general manager. The infamous trade brought an embarrassment of riches to Beantown in the form of draft picks to build Ainge's team of the future into a championship contender. Despite making the Eastern Conference Finals three of the past four years, excluding this season, the Celtics have fallen belly up on playoff runs time and time again without an NBA finals appearance or trophy to show for it. During the better part of the last eight years, the Nets were deemed to be a team destined for the lottery for the foreseeable future, and with no hope of potentially becoming a championship contending team. Flash forward seven years and the Nets have emerged as a free agent destination and Sean Marks has built an incredible roster by creative maneuvering to purchase draft picks, redefine the team's culture, and attract viable free agents in the form of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. After Brooklyn's gentlemen's sweep of Boston,Ainge has announced his retirement with Brad Stevens inexplicably getting promoted to President of basketball operations and leaving his head coaching position with the team. The immediate aftermath of the infamous Boston - Brooklyn trade saw the Celtics as the winners, but it appears with the Nets closing in on a deep playoff run that they could get the last laugh.
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