Trey full of Crabbe
Sharpshooter finds mark in late run as B’klyn buries ATL
The Nets’ biggest priorities going into Sunday’s matinee were getting Allen Crabbe on track and shoring up their sieve-like defense. They should be happy with both after a 116-104 over the Hawks before 13,917 at Barclays Center.
“We did a better job defensively; we got a few stops,” said coach Kenny Atkinson, whose Nets (2-1) won their first two home games for the first time since 2013-14. “Obviously Allen Crabbe made some big 3s. That helped us get the margin there.”
What had been the league’s second-worst defense suddenly tightened up and squeezed the life out of the Hawks when they had to. After struggling in his start during Friday’s home opener, Crabbe went back to the bench but still led the way offensively with a team-high 20 points.
“In terms of his ankle injury, his minutes right now aren’t at peak ... so to avoid him sitting for long stretches, we thought it was a good idea to bring him off the bench. And he was on board,” Atkinson said. “He’s the ultimate team guy, the ultimate professional. We talked before the game and he said ‘I’ll come off the bench. That’s better for my rhythm.’ A lot of guys, everybody wants to start, so to me it shows what kind of guy he is.”
The Nets came in second-worst in the league in both defensive rating (116.2) and shooting percentage allowed (51.3). And whether it was the Hawks being talent-poor (they are), or the Nets showing improvement (they did), Brooklyn will gladly settle for the end result.
The Nets are the first team since Portland in 1988-89 to top 115 points in their first three games, and clearly can score. Their defense is the key to success, and they held Atlanta to 34 percent shooting and 7-of-27 from deep.
The Nets blew a 16-point cushion late in the third quarter, but with the score knotted at 99 in the fourth, Crabbe drilled a pair of 3s in a 7-0 game-deciding run.
“I just told myself I want to be more aggressive within the offense. They’re giving me the green light to shoot the ball, so why not?” Crabbe said. “My teammates found me, I got them in early, just get a little confidence going and then the basket looks bigger and bigger after each one I make. Just playing with confidence, that’s going to be my biggest thing.”
The Nets led 91-75 late in the third, and 98-88 after a Caris LeVert score with 7:41 to play. Atlanta reeled off an 11-1 run to knot the score on a Marco Belinelli corner 3 with 5:19 left, but Brooklyn answered.
Crabbe drilled a 3-pointer to break the tie and Atlanta’s momentum. DeMarre Carroll followed with a free throw, and then D’Angelo Russell showed off his vision with a sublime cross-court pass to Crabbe, who took a single dribble to evade Belinelli’s closeout and drilled a corner 3 for a 106-99 edge.
“I just wanted to make plays for the team. If that’s me shooting it or me facilitating, whatever. The ball’s in my hand so coaches give me that freedom to make that happen,” said Russell, who had 10 assists. “3s are worth more than 2s. I’d rather get more 3s up, and I know he’s automatic from behind the line, so I trusted him to make that shot.”
Carroll scored 17 points, while LeVert and Russell had 16 each. Rookie Jarrett Allen had four blocks in just 14:45 of play.