Here are my three thoughts on the Nets’ 89-82 win over the Cavaliers Saturday night in Brooklyn:
1. While Andrei Kirilenko spent virtually the entire first two months of the season sitting out with back spasms, it was said in this space multiple times just how much of an impact he could have if he could ever get over them and get back onto the floor on a consistent basis.
And it’s only taken his first three games back in the lineup – all of them played on a minutes restriction keeping his minutes under 15 a game to make sure he doesn’t have yet another recurrence of the back spasms – for Kirilenko to immediately show how much of an impact he’s able to have when he’s able to play.
In 38 minutes across the last three games – including playing 14 in each of the Nets’ two victories – Kirilenko has gone 7-for-8 from the field and 7-for-9 from the foul line while providing the Nets with his usual excellent movement off the ball and passing ability with it, in addition to giving them all kinds of versatility in terms of how they deploy their various lineups.
“He’s a pro,” Nets coach Jason Kidd said afterwards. “Sometimes the stat sheet doesn’t show it but he does all the little things, coming up with loose balls, finding open teammates and being able to cut and finish plays. Tonight, and the last two games, he’s been able to do that and it’s been big for us.”
It has seemed that whenever Kirilenko has stepped onto the court, the Nets have been in the middle of giving up a run, and having him out there has allowed them to settle things down. After the game, he was asked about his ability to stay “calm” on the court, leading to one of the funniest quotes of the season.
“I’ve always been like that,” he said with a smile. “I guess it’s because I’m a cold-blooded Russian.”
2. For a second straight game, Deron Williams went up against the replacement for an injured star point guard. And, for the second straight game, Williams played like a star going up against a backup.
Williams may not have been flashy and spectacular in Saturday’s win over Cleveland, but he finished with 21 points, six assists and just one turnover, orchestrating the Nets’ offense and having his way against Jarrett Jack and rookie Matthew Dellevadova at the other end.
With Brook Lopez now sidelined for the season, this is the kind of production the Nets are going to need to get on a consistent basis from Williams if they want to start to turn this thing around in the coming days and weeks and try to pull themselves into the playoff race.
3. Beating Cleveland was crucial for the Nets, who are heading into a very difficult five-game stretch and needed to make sure they beat the reeling Cavaliers, who were missing Kyrie Irving.
With home games against Atlanta Monday, Golden State Wednesday and Miami Friday, followed by a trip to Toronto Saturday and facing Atlanta in London next Thursday, this is the culmination of a stretch of eight winning teams in nine games.
So far, the Nets are 2-2 in that stretch – losing at Indiana and San Antonio and beating Oklahoma City and Cleveland. If the Nets can manage to win two or three of these next five games against difficult competition, it could be a sign of this team finally beginning to turn the corner.