By Alex Raskin
The Nets' 106-98 win over Cleveland on Friday night was shocking
enough in itself. Not only did the second-place Cavaliers win the
first three meetings of the season, but they embarrassed the Nets,
117-92, as recently as March 18.
Joe Johnson's 20-point, nine-assist performance was another
pleasant surprise for the Nets (31-40), who had gotten just 11
points out of the seven-time All-Star over the previous two
games.
But the most unusual aspect of Friday's upset was the simple
fact that the Nets won at home.
Even with the victory, the Nets are just 13-20 at Barclays
Center, which was unusually loud on Friday, thanks to a large
contingent of Cavaliers fans.
Somehow, the Nets remain on the periphery of the Eastern
Conference playoff picture both despite, and because of, their
inability to win in Brooklyn. Thanks to a respectable 18-20 road
record, they entered Friday trailing the eighth-place Boston
Celtics by a half game for the final playoff spot.
The Celtics, however, own the tiebreaker by virtue of Monday's
110-91 win over the Nets at--where else?--Barclays Center.
"I don't know how many teams in history have been better on the
road than they are at home," said point guard Deron Williams, who
couldn't recall playing for any such team.
The answer, according to Stats LLC, is 19 since the 1947-48 NBA
season, and Williams actually started for the last one: the 2011-12
New Jersey Nets, who went 9-24 at Prudential Center and 13-20 away
from Newark during a lockout-shortened season.
In fact, no NBA playoff team has posted a losing record at home
since 2003-04, when the Celtics reached the postseason despite
going 19-22 at what was then known as the Fleet Center. (Boston was
swept by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the
playoffs).
The problem is primarily on the offensive end, where the Nets
were 2.2 points better per 100 possessions when they were the
visitors, entering Friday.
No one has been more affected by this anomaly than swingman Alan
Anderson, who was shooting just 39% from the field at Barclays
Center entering Friday, compared with a robust 46.7% on the
road.
"I wouldn't know that unless you said it," said Anderson, adding
that he didn't feel as though shooting the ball was more difficult
at Barclays Center. Unfortunately for the Nets, diagnosing the
problem and solving it are two different things.
Head coach Lionel Hollins has tried moving the team's
shoot-around to the dimly lit Barclays Center, but there are
logistical issues in the way, including other scheduled events and
the fact that the team practices in New Jersey. (A new practice
facility is being erected in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.)
When the Nets did have morning shoot-around at Barclays Center
on Jan. 30, they went on to miss 15 of 19 three-point attempts in a
127-122 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
"No tangible difference," Hollins admitted after being reminded
of the loss, adding that he would prefer to practice at Barclays
Center regularly.
The Nets tried again on Friday, and it may have worked. They
made 46.5% of their field-goal attempts against Cleveland,
including nine of 23 three-point attempts. Furthermore, they had
five players in double figures and got seven points from journeyman
forward Earl Clark, who made three of five field goals after
signing a 10-day contract earlier in the day.
As a team, the Nets were shooting 44.2% from the field at home
and 45.5% on the road entering Friday. Their opponents, meanwhile,
have posted similar marks--44.7% at Barclays Center and 45.6% away
from Brooklyn--so the problem can't simply be shooting.
Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt suggested the issue might
be the pressure of playing in front of the home fans. Others seemed
to agree that the issue is psychological and unrelated to the
building or the home crowd, which is known to get quiet during the
Nets' frequent lulls. "To me, it's all mental," Anderson said.
The Nets' postseason hopes are also hindered by the status of
their starting power forward, Thaddeus Young, who missed Friday's
game with a strained left knee and is listed as doubtful for
Sunday's game against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.
But with eight of 11 remaining games at Barclays Center, their
best chance of making the playoffs is to continue winning at home,
with or without Young.
"We got to find a way to get some wins in this building and give
our fans something to cheer about," Williams said.
TEAM season home road playoffs?
Brooklyn Nets* 2014-15 12-20 (. 375) 18-20 (. 474) No
New Jersey Nets 2011-12 9-24 (. 273) 13-20 (. 394) No
Sacramento Kings 2010-11 11-30 (. 268) 13-28 (. 317) No
Philadelphia 76ers 2009-10 12-29 (. 293) 15-26 (. 366) No
Boston Celtics 2009-10 24-17 (. 585) 26-15 (. 634) Yes
Minnesota Timberwolves 2008-09 11-30 (. 268) 13-28 (. 317) No
Orlando Magic 2007-08 25-16 (. 610) 27-14 (. 659) Yes
Detroit Pistons 2006-07 26-15 (. 634) 27-14 (. 659) Yes
Houston Rockets 2005-06 15-26 (. 366) 19-22 (. 463) No
Charlotte Hornets 2001-02 21-20 (. 512) 23-18 (. 561) Yes
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