Tag: Taurean Prince

Nets’ frustrations after loss to Wizards had a different feel

The Brooklyn Nets almost made up for their slow start against the Washington Wizards, but they ultimately came up short.

Win or loss, Kenny Atkinson is always able to acknowledge the good and bad after a game. Naturally, the Brooklyn Nets head coach will stress the importance of certain aspects of his team’s performance more than others.

But Atkinson’s frustration over the Nets’ lack of focus in the first half of their 110-106 loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday had a different vibe to it critiques from other games. He didn’t take things a step too far or anything, but Atkinson did make it evident to reporters in Washington that even though he was pleased with his team’s fight late in the game, he was not happy with the mental mistakes of the first half:

We always talk about [the] fourth quarter, and it’s — what about the first two quarters? … Again, it’s that focus I was talking about. I don’t think it was physical. I don’t think it was game plan. I think it was pure[ly] focus. You know, we could all go into our dictionary or … ask a sports psychologist what focus means or what mentally locked in means, but we weren’t. It was evident in that first half.

When asked about Brooklyn’s first half turnovers, Atkinson came back to the same issue:

Focus. … I really — I’m dumbfounded by how we weren’t mentally into the game. Not taking anything away from Washington, but I — there were just some infantile mistakes out there in terms of the turnovers. You’ll have to ask the guys, I’m going to ask them. Not sure.

Taurean Prince was asked about the Nets’ turnover problem in the first half. He didn’t have an answer, stating he’s “already onto the next game” — though Prince did add the mistakes are fixable.

Caris LeVert put it simply when it came to starting games with the right focus level: “That’s our job.” He then added:

We’ve got to come in locked in from the start, no matter who we’re playing, for a full 48 minutes. I feel like for stretches of the game we’ll have it, but not for a full 48 minutes.

Playing a full 48 minutes is a theme the Nets dealt with earlier in 2019-20, and it appears, somehow, that has become a problem again.

Nets on wrong end of another close contest, lose 110-106 to Wizards

The Nets had the chance to win on Wednesday, but Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie could not push Brooklyn past the Washington Wizards.

After falling behind by double digits in the first quarter, the Brooklyn Nets worked their way back against the Washington Wizards in what turned into a tightly contested game. Unfortunately for the Nets, they were once again on the wrong side of a tough fourth quarter battle, as Brooklyn lost 110-106 in D.C. on Tuesday.

One of the Nets’ biggest problems in the loss was their free-throw shooting. As a team, Brooklyn shot 68.6% at the line (24-for-35) while Washington shot 81.3%.

Spencer Dinwiddie did most of his work on the offensive end in the final quarter. The point guard scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth, finishing an important layup inside of the final 30 seconds to give the Nets a 106-105 lead. However, when Jerom Robinson answered with a 3-pointer, Dinwiddie was unable to respond, missing Brooklyn’s final shot of the game.

Although Dinwiddie carried the Nets late, Caris LeVert led Brooklyn in scoring. He finished with 34 points on 10-for-20 shooting (5-for-8 from deep). LeVert also had seven assists and six rebounds.

Taurean Prince was the only other Nets starter in double figures. He scored 13 on 5-for-12 shooting (2-for-8 from deep).

DeAndre Jordan logged his ninth double-double of the year, finishing with 16 points and 16 rebounds.

With the loss, the Nets are now only half a game ahead of the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the East.

Nets take tough 115-113 loss at hands of Magic

The Brooklyn Nets had a chance to pull off a win, but the Orland Magic closed the gap in the Eastern Conference standings.

After Taurean Prince couldn’t give the Nets the lead late in the fourth quarter, the Orlando Magic gift-wrapped another opportunity for Brooklyn. Prince was given the chance to play hero again, but could not seal the deal as the Nets lost a heartbreaker 115-113 — blowing a 19-point lead in the process.

With the loss, the Nets are now only 1.5 games ahead of the Magic in the Eastern Conference standings, as the battle for the seventh seed in the conference continues between the two teams.

Spencer Dinwiddie led the Nets in scoring with 24 points on 9-for-20 shooting (4-for-10 from 3-point territory). The Nets point guard also logged eight assists in the loss.

Caris LeVert finished with eight assists, as well. He scored 19 points, while Garrett Temple had 18 off the bench.

Jarrett Allen (16 points), Joe Harris (12) and Prince (10) each finished in double figures.

Allen was also the only Nets player to grab double-digit rebounds (11), and he blocked two shots — both of which were Nikola Vucevic attempts at the rim.

Nets blow past Hornets with well-balanced attack

In an unlikely turn of events, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot led the Brooklyn Nets in scoring in their win over the Charlotte Hornets.

Although Kyrie Irving wasn’t featured in Brooklyn’s starting lineup on Saturday, the five who the Nets trotted out for the opening tip were plenty capable of leading the Nets in scoring. Each of the Nets starters finished in double-figures in Brooklyn’s 115-86 over the Charlotte Hornets, but not one of them led the team in scoring.

What’s more surprising is the reserve wasn’t DeAndre Jordan or Garrett Temple, who are likely candidates — though both finished in double-figures. It was Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, and he finished with 21 points.

Not only did he lead the Nets in scoring, Luwawu-Cabarrot also outscored Charlotte’s top scorer, PJ Washington, (16), as well.

To top it all off, Luwawu-Cabarrot was efficient in his effort. He went 7-for-12 from the floor (4-for-7 from 3-point territory, 3-for-4 at the free-throw line).

But TLC wasn’t the only Nets player to finish in double figures. That was far from the case.

Nine Nets logged 20 or more minutes on Saturday. Of those nine, eight scored at least 10 points. (Wilson Chandler was the lone outlier — he didn’t score once.)

Caris LeVert scored 17, Temple had 15 in his double-double effort (career-high 11 rebounds) and Taurean Prince finished with 14 points.

Jarrett Allen also grabbed 11 rebounds while logging another double-double. Like Allen, Jordan and Joe Harris each scored 12 points apiece.

Rounding out the Nets who scored at least 10 points in the win was Spencer Dinwiddie. He had exactly 10.

Dinwiddie also dished out nine assists.

Nets face tough matchup coming out of All-Star break

The Philadelphia 76ers have had their issues throughout 2019-20, but they will still be a tough matchup for the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.

While the Brooklyn Nets have faced their share of adversity throughout 2019-20 — largely due to injuries — the season hasn’t exactly been perfect for their Thursday opponent, the Philadelphia 76ers, either.

Their issues have more to do with chemistry, yet the Sixers could still work their way toward becoming the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Because, even though they’re the fifth seed right now, Philly has a lot of talent on its roster — which is the biggest issue for the Nets going into Thursday’s game.

Joel Embiid isn’t wearing the splint he’d been given as a result of his finger dislocation, per Ky Carlin of USA Today SMG’s Sixers Wire. He will be as challenging as ever for Jarrett Allen and DeAndre Jordan.

Al Horford is committed to coming off the bench for Philly. With his ability to stretch the floor, Horford will be a tough matchup for Jordan, as well.

But the Sixers may be without Ben Simmons. He’s questionable due to lower back soreness, per Carlin.

If he is active, Simmons could be a tougher assignment than he was earlier in the season. Not because he taking jump shots — nothing has changed on that front. Simmons now has Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks as options along the perimeter, which will help open up the lane for Simmons.

And the Nets have to handle the Sixers without Kyrie Irving for the third time this season.

The biggest issue for the Nets coming into the game is Philly’s size advantage. It’ll be tough for Brooklyn to neutralize that on the interior, on the defensive end. An indirect way for the Nets to combat Philly’s size: control the perimeter, on offense and defense. Don’t allow the Sixers to stretch the floor, and Brooklyn also needs Joe Harris and Taurean Prince to be efficient from deep if the Nets have any hope of evening out the season series.

For more coverage of Philadelphia, go to USA Today SMG’s Sixers Wire.

RELATED: Nets to be extremely shorthanded vs. 76ers on Thursday

Kyrie Irving is ‘one of the most positive people’ Taurean Prince has encountered

Taurean Prince is confident Kyrie Irving will be work through his shoulder problem because of the point guard’s approach to all things.

Back when Kyrie Irving expressed how he felt about the Brooklyn Nets roster earlier in the 2019-20 season, there were a few significant players he failed to mention: Jarrett Allen, Joe Harris and Taurean Prince.

It was surprising to say the least, especially when considering Allen continues to develop and is only 21 years old, Harris — one of the NBA’s best 3-point shooters — has known Irving since they were both members of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Nets signed Prince to a two-year extension before the 2019-20 regular season began.

But Irving spoke to the Nets and players have expressed the situation was resolved.

Though, it’s in the moments when players aren’t specifically talking about team chemistry or similar subjects where they provide greater insight about those matters — like when Prince talked about Irving needing see a specialist again regarding his right shoulder, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post:

Of course somebody who is such a great person, obviously the person you go out with every day, you worry about him when it comes to surgery talk and things of that sort.

Prince also added:

But Ky is one of the most positive people I’ve ever been around this whole process of me knowing him, meeting him since he signed, I’m sure it’s just another testament to his book. It’s time for other guys to step up and be the players that they feel they want to be along with trying to help us win as many games as possible down the stretch.

Nets fall to Raptors for third time in 2019-20 despite late surge

Caris LeVert gave the Nets life late, but Brooklyn still couldn’t beat the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.

The Nets trailed the Raptors by double digits for a good portion of Saturday’s game in Toronto, but Brooklyn still found a way to mount a comeback. However, even though the Nets had the ball in the closing second of the game, neither Caris LeVert nor Joe Harris could take advantage of their final looks at the rim, as Brooklyn fell to the Raptors 119-118.

The Raptors have won the season series against the Nets, taking their third game in as many meetings. Brooklyn still has not won in Toronto since 2015. Also, the Raptors are riding a 14-game winning streak.

LeVert was the driving force in Brooklyn’s fourth-quarter comeback. He scored 15 of his career-high 37 points in the final quarter of the game.

LeVert went 12-for-18 from the floor (6-for-7 from 3-point territory). He also went 7-for-7 at the line.

Spencer Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan each logged double-doubles. Dinwiddie scored 21 points on 8-for-17 shooting (2-for-6 from deep) and had a team-high 11 assists. Jordan grabbed a Brooklyn-best 14 rebounds and scored 15 points.

Jordan also blocked three shots.

Taurean Prince (17 points) and Harris (11) each finished in double figures. Harris only went 1-for-4 from deep, while Prince went 4-for-10.

The Nets are back in action on Monday against the Pacers, and they will face the Raptors again on Wednesday.

Report: Rockets tried to engage Nets regarding DeAndre Jordan

The Houston Rockets dealt away their top big man at the NBA Trade Deadline and made runs at acquiring both of the Brooklyn Nets’ bigs.

Prior to the Rockets completing the four-team, 12-player deal that delivered them Robert Covington and sent Clint Capela to the Atlanta Hawks, a report surfaced indicating Houston contacted the Nets about a deal involving Capela. According to the report, the Rockets were interested in Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince.

But it turns out Allen wasn’t the only Nets big man the Rockets were interested in.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Houston contacted Brooklyn about DeAndre Jordan, as well:

The Rockets tried to engage the Nets on DeAndre Jordan, their center. When they were working on their four-team, 12-player deal that landed them Robert Covington and moved Clint Capela out, and they had a window — once that trade was agreed to — of about 24 hours, where they could have added up to $12 million in salary. Their owner, Tilman Fertitta, had OK’d that. Now Brooklyn wasn’t interested in moving Jordan. But it shows you, listen, they certainly would have liked to have more size around.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the Rockets asking about Jordan. But there’s no way the Nets were parting ways with the veteran big man.

No one is untradeable, besides superstars like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving — even then, Irving has been traded before, and Durant was acquire via sign-and-trade (but he was originally prepared to sign with Brooklyn as a free agent, straight up). But, Brooklyn’s stars brought Jordan in with them. He is part of Irving and Durant’s plan. Can’t imagine moving him at this stage would sit well with the franchise’s two superstars.

RELATED: DeAndre Jordan doesn’t feel Houston’s small-ball is direction of NBA

RELATED: Rockets approached Nets about trade involving Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince

Report: Rockets approached Nets about trade involving Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince

The Houston Rockets have shopped Clint Capela to multiple teams. According to a recent report, the Brooklyn Nets were one of them.

As the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline draws near (Thursday at 3 p.m.) teams across the league are working to get deals done. However, the Brooklyn Nets have not been mentioned among the teams looking to get something done.

Now, the Nets could make some moves over the summer, but they have a large chunk of the pieces they need for the future with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving being at the center of things.

But just because the Nets are secure with its situation doesn’t mean other teams can’t inquire about some of Brooklyn’s assets — especially after Irving failed to mention some of his teammates when he was talking about the team’s plans for the future. Among those Brooklyn’s point guard didn’t mention when listing teammates off were Taurean Prince and Jarrett Allen.

Oddly enough, the Nets have been approached about the availability of the forward and center. According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Houston Rockets proposed a deal to the Nets:

League sources say the Rockets offered Capela to the Nets for a package that included Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince, which Brooklyn declined.

Assuming the Nets pick up Allen’s option for 2021-22 like they did his option for next season, he and Prince are set to be in Brooklyn for another two seasons.

RELATED: Kyrie Irving explains remarks about Nets roster, spoke to teammates

Rockets reportedly offered Clint Capela to Nets for Prince, Allen

Though the bid for Taurean Prince and Jarrett Allen was declined, it sheds more light on what Rockets GM Daryl Morey hopes to do this week.

As part of ongoing trade talks with starting center Clint Capela, the Houston Rockets reportedly offered Capela to the Brooklyn Nets for a package led by big man Jarrett Allen and small forward Taurean Prince.

According to The Ringer‘s Kevin O’Connor, the Nets declined the offer:

Atlanta, Boston, and Brooklyn are among the teams that Houston has approached for the center. League sources say the Rockets offered Capela to the Nets for a package that included Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince, which Brooklyn declined.

The 6-foot-7 Prince averages 12.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in 29.9 minutes per game, and he’s well regarded for his perimeter defense — which is clearly something the Rockets are searching for this week. The 25-year-old is also a career 37.3% shooter from 3-point range.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-11 Allen averages 11.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in 27.2 minutes per game as Brooklyn’s starting center.

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Allen is just 21 years old and could have further upside in the years ahead, which may have played a role in Brooklyn’s choice to decline the offer.

Elsewhere in the story, O’Connor confirms Minnesota forward Robert Covington as a continued target for GM Daryl Morey and the Rockets in potential three-way trades leading up to Thursday’s trade deadline.

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O’Connor also reports that Houston has recently spoken with Atlanta about just a two-way trade for Capela, though specific players from the Hawks’ side in those talks were not identified.

Though the Brooklyn proposal wasn’t accepted, what it suggests is a potential reallocation of resources from the Rockets’ perspective. Making more than $16 million per season, Capela is Houston’s third-highest paid player, trailing only former MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

But despite the salary, the Rockets (31-18) are 9-1 in the 10 games that Capela has missed this season ⁠— including 3-0 in the past week with a smaller lineup with P.J. Tucker at center. Those smaller lineups offer more floor spacing for Westbrook and Harden, allowing them to attack the basket since defenses have to respect 3-point shooters at all positions.

In a separate The Ringer article, Dan Devine makes the statistical case for why the Rockets are considering moving on from Capela:

As the Rockets offense became more predicated on floor spacing and one-on-one play, it became less oriented around the two-man game. [About] 21% of their possessions were finished by a pick-and-roll participant last season, and that’s down to 15.5% this season, with Houston ranking last in the league in percentage of plays finished by pick-and-roll ball handlers and roll men. As the Rockets have moved away from his bread-and-butter play, Capela’s production on it has waned, too: He’s gone from the 91st percentile in points scored per pick-and-roll possession finished two seasons ago, to the 65th percentile last season, to the 50th percentile this season.

If you’re not a pick-and-roll-heavy team anymore, maybe having a nonshooting pick-and-roll center, especially one who’s not a no-doubt-about-it elite finisher in that role, just isn’t as valuable as it used to be.

The Rockets average 117.3 points per 100 possessions when the 25-year-old Capela isn’t on the floor this season, which for the full 2019-20 season would be the best offense in the entire NBA. With the 6-foot-10 big man on the court, the Rockets average 110.3 points per 100 possessions.

They are slightly worse defensively without Capela, who ranks fourth in the NBA with an average of 13.8 rebounds per game, but not nearly to the extent of their improvement on offense.

Thus, the Rockets are seeking both a wing player (Prince) and a viable center (Allen) in their moves leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. While they may want to finish games with a smaller floor-spacing lineup, especially in select matchups, there are also advantages to having a traditional size presence that can offer rim protection and rebounding.

But rather than having so many eggs solely in Capela’s basket, from a salary perspective, Morey seemingly wants to redistribute those funds to give the Rockets more flexibility with their lineups.

The trade deadline arrives at 2 p.m. Houston time on Thursday.

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