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The post-Kenny Atkinson, now-Jacque Vaughn era began on Sunday afternoon as the Nets tried to look toward a future with playoff hopes in sight and - because we can’t escape it - the 2020/21 season still top of mind.
Brooklyn entered Sunday’s game a half game ahead of the Orlando Magic in 7th place in the East. No one wants any part of that 8th seed. No one. So, yes, of course this one was “big.”
Caris LeVert, who picked up his first career triple-double on Thursday night against the Spurs remained hot, scoring 23 points, as the Nets starters combined to score 84 points on their way to beating the Bulls, 110-107.
Let’s not talk about those 29 turnovers, though, OK?
It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t even kinda pretty. But, a win is a win.
DeAndre Jordan picked up the start at center over Jarrett Allen, in Vaughn’s first “move” as the team’s head coach. Before the game, Vaughn told the media that he was hoping the move would impact the team on “both sides of the ball.”
So what changed?
Well, the Nets played well in the first quarter, shooting 50 percent from the floor and hitting 4-of-7 threes. Oh, right, and they turned the ball over 9 times in 12 minutes. But, other than that - they played great good well.
Then again...
Timothe Luwauwu-Cabarrot played 13 first half minutes, scored zero points and picked up three fouls. Taurean Prince was 0-of-5 from the field in the first half, while Wilson Chandler was 0-of-4.
Still, even with 13 turnovers in 24 minutes, the Nets found themselves with a 58-50 lead at the half, thanks in big part to Joe Harris who scored 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
Brooklyn ended the first half on a 22-9 run.
Caris LeVert added 16 points, while Jordan had just 4 points but pulled down 8 rebounds. Jarrett Allen off the bench had 8 first-half points.
Coby White and Otto Porter, Jr., each had 9 points off the bench for the Bulls.
In the second half, the Nets focused on cleaning up the turnover issue and continuing to push the pace. The pace thing? Check. The limiting the turnovers? Hah.
Brooklyn ended the game with 29 turnovers (yikes) to Chicago’s 6 turnovers.
The Nets really only stayed in this one because they remained hot from the three point line and the Bulls, while only turning the ball over 6 times, were ice cold from the floor.
Chicago shot 42 percent from the floor and just 12-of-34 from the three-point line. They were unable to take advantage of all the extra possessions the Nets allotted them.
Harris, Dinwiddie and LeVert did most of the damage, combining to score 70 of the Nets’ 110 total points. Dinwiddie led the way with a game-high 24 points.
Jordan did double-double in his start, scoring 11 points and pulling down 15 rebounds in 28 minutes.
How’s this for positives?
From NetsPR:
— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) March 8, 2020
In the Nets’ victory, Brooklyn set season highs for free throws made (35) and attempted (41), shot 50.0% from the field and registered a 50-31 (+19) advantage on the glass.
Does that erase the memory of the 29 turnovers? No? Didn’t think so.
Chicago had just one starter in double figures - Lauri Markkanen finished with 16 points in 26 minutes. He seems to be healthy, finally.
The Nets keep pace and maintain their lead as the 7th seed in the East.
Next up for the Nets, they head out west for a 4-game road swing through California, with their first stop on Tuesday where they’ll visit LeBron James in Los Angeles.
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HIP-HIP ... HOORAY?
Game 63
— Nets As Depicted By Spongebob (@NetsDepiction) March 8, 2020
vs Chicago Bulls pic.twitter.com/PUnCVMhXt7
TIMES LIKE THESE CALL FOR MORE IAN EAGLE
#Nets pregame intro video on @NetsOnYES from Ian Eagle addressing the coaching change. pic.twitter.com/hdagiuwIxE
— Shlomo Sprung (@SprungOnSports) March 8, 2020
WHO RUNS THE LEAGUE?
The first move from interim head coach Jacque Vaughn in the post-Kenny era? He moved DeAndre Jordan into the starting lineup in place of Jarrett Allen, much to Twitter’s dismay.
Hahahha
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) March 8, 2020
the decimation is complete. The final nail in the coffin it of the Nets much-heralded “culture” https://t.co/xWvyfvzxzJ
Oh boy. They’re not even hiding it. Vaughn already is a puppet. https://t.co/ywbTz1ln6X
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) March 8, 2020
— ☕netw3rk (@netw3rk) March 8, 2020
#BrooklynNets we need some answers! @PeterVecsey1 pic.twitter.com/2lsIniK3XU
— Richard Dukas (@RDukas) March 8, 2020
And so on, and so forth. Crazy.
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
On International Women's Day, our players reflect on the inspirational women in their lives | @JohnnieWalkerUS pic.twitter.com/yVFO0qHAH0
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) March 8, 2020
HOW ABOUT A LITTLE SWISS CHEEZE
We stan Chris Chiozza#WeGoHard pic.twitter.com/2qingIz5z8
— Talkin’ Nets (@TalkinNets) March 8, 2020
For more on the Bulls, check out Blog A Bull.
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- Box Score: Brooklyn Nets, 110, Chicago Bulls 107 - NBA.com
- Recap: Brooklyn Nets 110, Chicago Bulls 107 (Video) - NBA.com
- Live Game Thread, Nets vs. Bulls - NetsDaily
- Nets Postgame Show: CHI @ BKN (Video) - Bob Lorenz & Jim Spanarkel - YES Network
- Eagle and RJ on Nets’ win (Video) - Richard Jefferson & Ian Eagle - YES Network
- Vaughn on win over Bulls (Video) - YES Network
- Jordan on home win against Bulls (Video) - YES Network
- Wear Brooklyn At? (Video) - YES Network
- Grady on Atkinson leaving (Video) - Michael Grady - YES Network
- Chiozza with the fake and score (Video) - NBA.com
- Dinwiddie makes late free throws, Nets beat Bulls 110-107 - Denis Gorman - AP
- Nets squander lead, hold on to beat Bulls - Larry Fleisher - Reuters
- Nets win ugly in first game since firing Kenny Atkinson - Greg Joyce - New York Post
- DeAndre Jordan denies Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant got Atkinson fired: ‘Bulls—‘ - Greg Joyce - New York Post
- Knicks coach Mike Miller weighs in on Nets’ Kenny Atkinson firing - Peter Botte - New York Post
- Nets hold off Bulls to get first win under interim coach Jacque Vaughn - Kristian Winfield - New York Daily News
- DeAndre Jordan starting, like Kenny Atkinson’s dismissal, is the beginning of the end of the old Nets - Kristian Winfield - New York Daily News
- DeAndre Jordan was ‘definitely shocked’ by Kenny Atkinson’s firing - Kristian Winfield - New York Daily News
- DeAndre Jordan disputes reports about Kenny Atkinson’s exit - ESPN
- Nets give interim coach Vaughn sloppy win over Bulls - Laura Albanese - Newsday
- Nets’ Vaughn, Jordan hit back at rumors - Laura Albanese - Newsday
- Sources: Some Nets veterans questioned if Kenny Atkinson was right coach to lead team to NBA title - Ian Begley - SNY
- Nets’ DeAndre Jordan: Speculation Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant played into Kenny Atkinson’s departure is ‘b------t’ - Garrett Stepien - SNY
- Nets’ Caris LeVert, DeAndre Jordan discuss quick turnaround from Kenny Atkinson to Jacque Vaughn - Garrett Stepien - SNY
- NETS 110, BULLS 107: BROOKLYN HAS THREE SCORE 20-PLUS IN WIN - Tom Dowd - Brooklyn Nets
- JACQUE VAUGHN GETS WIN IN FIRST GAME AS BROOKLYN NETS HEAD COACH - Tom Dowd - Brooklyn Nets
- NETS VS. BULLS: JOE HARRIS, DEANDRE JORDAN, AND JACQUE VAUGHN TOP QUOTES - Brooklyn Nets
- Otto Porter Jr. shows the Bulls what they’ve been missing on offense with 23 points in 25 minutes of a 110-107 loss to the Nets - Jamal Collier - Chicago Tribune
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