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Don't expect 90's throwback defensive slugfest in Game 4 between Nets and Bucks

The 86 points the Bucks scored to edge the Nets by three on Tuesday was the fewest points scored in a win in the NBA all season long.
The officials let the players play and two of the league's most prolific offenses couldn't buy a basket in Game 3. Milwaukee made Brooklyn feel its physicality as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving looked bothered on the perimeter and didn't have the normally efficient shooting nights Nets fans are accustomed to seeing. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton provided just enough offense for the Bucks to escape with a win and avoid a 3-0 deficit. Fans shouldn't expect a repeat performance from Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon and look for the normally high flying, high octane offenses to be in full effect.

James Harden rushed return for Game 4 would be panic move for Nets

Stay calm people! That's the message the Nets should be sending to their fan base after a defeat in Game 3 to Milwaukee. Brooklyn had the worst shooting performance of the season, yet led by three points with 1:23 remaining.
Now is not the time to make rash decisions and try to rush James Harden back from his hamstring tightness that forced him to leave Game 1 within the first minute. Any armchair analyst can see that the Nets missed Harden dearly on Thursday night, but Sean Marks and Steve Nash have been steadfast in playing the long game by resting and maintaining the health of their star players. Now is not the time to deviate from that plan even with the stakes getting higher and higher as the Nets push deeper into the playoffs.

Bitter Game 3 loss is hard lesson learned for Steve Nash, Nets

The Brooklyn Nets looked like they were going to get the doors blown off them in the first quarter as they trailed 30-11 with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton appearing to be unstoppable during that stretch. The Nets defense would lock down for the remaining three quarters surrendering just 56 points, while Antetokounmpo and Middleton combined for 68 of the team's 86 eventual points.
Brooklyn held a 83-80 advantage with just over 1 minute to play after Kevin Durant drained a 3-pointer, but the Bucks would go on a 6-0 run to end the game as Durant missed the potential game tying three at the final whistle. Durant went 11 for 28 from the field for 30 points, Kyrie Irving dropped 22, while Bruce Brown added 16. https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets/status/1403171787446304776?s=19 The Nets looked lost offensively as Durant had an off shooting night, but the most disappointing aspect was the lack of adjustments from Steve Nash and the coaching staff as the offense looked bogged down and relied heavily on Brown to carry the scoring load early. Why Nash allowed round to be the team's primary score and option on two of the last three offensive possession remains a mystery. The loss was a bitter one and a not-friendly reminder of Nash's lack of coaching experience, particularly in the playoffs, as Milwaukee executed and make key plays down the stretch while the Nets looked disjointed and unorganized in their offensive schemes.

Nets can't count on Bucks historically bad 3-point shooting to continue in Game 3

The Milwaukee Bucks long range shooting has been historically bad in their conference semifinal series with the Nets as they've made 14 of 57 attempts from beyond the arc for a paltry 24.5 percent through the first two games.
Part of their struggles have been nerves, a hostile road environment, the Nets newly found commitment to defense and flat out poor shot attempts. Brooklyn has maintained home court advantage and can't bank on Milwaukee misfiring at the rate they have so far. The Nets need to remain committed on the defensive side of the ball, but with home cooking heading the Bucks way on Thursday, Brooklyn will need to rachet up the intensity if it hopes to gain a 3-0 series advantage.

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.
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