On Call, Carlesimo Reviews and Readies for Game Three
By Ben Couch
BROOKLYNNETS.COM
April 23, 2013 · 4:55 p.m.
After sleeping on it, Brooklyn Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo decided the second look at Monday's 90-82 Game Two defeat matched the instant analysis: the Nets just have to do a better job against the Bulls, from the coaches on down through the players. They need a gameplan to get stops, stops to get rebounds, rebounds to create transition, transition to avoid Chicago's halfcourt defense and then points to compound the pressure.
As the series heads to United Center with the Nets and Bulls tied, 1-1, Carlesimo joined team reporters on a conference call, taking time to discuss what happened and what's to come of their opportunity to retake control in Chicago on Thursday (8:30pm; NBA TV, My9, WFAN).
Carlesimo credited the Bulls with getting two players over to Williams, forcing action, and then contesting his shots whenever Williams penetrated past the intial layer of defense. The coach took on the burden of not making enough play calls that put Williams in position to succeed, and also noted that the Nets need to play more in the open floor, as they did in Game One, to take advantage of Williams' superior decision-making abilities in transition.
Despite the Nets' overall shooting struggles on Monday (.354 FG%, .190 3P%), the big men posted a solid offensive showing, led by Brook Lopez's 21 points (7-14 FGs, 7-8 FTs). Reggie Evans, Andray Blatche and Kris Humphries combined to chip in another 20 (9-19 FGs). They'll need to build on that silver lining, helping their teammates improve the squad's 15-of-36 shooting inside the paint, which helped contribute to a minus-12 differential in PIP scoring.
Brooklyn's first foray through the NBA schedule resulted in a franchise-best 23 road victories, amazingly the first time since the Nets joined the league in 1976 that the team's road record was a winning one. Yet the Nets dropped both matchups with the Bulls at United Center, and Chicago certainly gained momentum with Game Two's victory. This Nets team is a veteran one filled with playoff-experienced players who know never to get too high or low with the inevitable swings of a series. Expect renewed focus and execution at the start of Game Three, and a Nets effort that should keep things within striking distance of another road victory in a season filled with them.
Game Three is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday (April 25), and will be broadcast by NBA TV nationally, WWOR-TV/My9 locally and also WFAN 660 AM / 101.9 FM.
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