FADING FAST
To Wiz latest blow to fragile playoff positioning
WASHINGTON — Without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, the Nets, in all likelihood, will fall in the opening round of the playoffs.
But let’s face it: They must avoid Milwaukee for even the longshot chance of advancing.
What that means for the Nets is finishing at least seventh in the East because the Bucks are running away with the top seed, along with the NBA’s best record. Brooklyn’s 110-106 loss to the Wiz- ards on Wednesday, which was sealed when Spencer Dinwiddie’s potential game-winning 3-pointer clanged off the rim, was not a good night for their pursuit. Their fragile lead over the No. 8 Magic fell to just 0.5 games, and Nets coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged his strategy Wednesday of respecting Washington’s Bradley Beal backfired on the two biggest possessions.
Up by a point, the Nets (2631) decided to pressure Beal near halfcourt, sending a quick double-team with a third defender collapsing toward the middle to prevent the drive. Beal simply passed to a wide-open Jerome Robinson, who knocked down the go-ahead trey with 8.1 remaining.
“We felt like Robinson did not want to shoot it at all, all game,” Atkinson said. “We had (Wizards forward) Rui Hachimura in the corner. We’re like if they throw it to those guys, we’re going to close out. But we don’t want Beal to beat us. So we pressured two to the ball with Beal. He threw it out. Credit to him for making that play. Lot of guys would’ve forced it and said I got to be the hero. He was the hero by making the pass. Those are the choices you make in this league. Probably keep me awake at night like, ‘Was that the right decision?’ You can write in the paper tomorrow what was coach doing, that was crazy. I get that. I can’t argue with that.”
Despite Atkinson shouldering the blame, Caris LeVert, who doubled Beal, indicated there was poor communication between himself and Garrett Temple, who was the first defender on Beal. “We were in kind of a junk defense, box-andone type of defense, and there was a screen at the top,” LeVert said. “They overloaded the back side. If we’d have talked better, we probably would’ve matched up better”
On the next possession, Dinwiddie was isolated against Davis Bertans out of a timeout. Dinwiddie created ample space with a stepback dribble, but the shot fell short. Asked if he considered giving the final shot to LeVert — who carried the hot hand Wednesday after posting 34 points — Atkinson said he planned towards the preferable matchup.
“I wanted to stay away from Bradley Beal (who was guarding LeVert), quite honestly,” Atkinson said. “We’ve gone at him before and I have that much respect for him. I think he’ll get the benefit of the doubt in any situation.”
The Nets have now dropped three of their last four games, including a collapse Monday night to the Magic. They planned on limiting Beal in Washington, and it didn’t work. Not only did Beal drop 30 points — including 17 in the fourth quarter — but he made the Nets pay for giving him too much respect (and, as a byproduct, disrespecting his teammates).
“Kid (Robinson) hit a big shot. We didn’t want Brad to beat us,” LeVert said.