With Knicks looming, Nets' offense hitting on all cylinders (Oct 27, 2017)
NEW YORK -- The best and the worst offenses in the NBA will meet on Friday at Madison Square Garden when the Brooklyn Nets visit the New York Knicks.
Mere days into the NBA season, the two teams' fortunes couldn't be more different.
The 3-2 Nets might be the surprise of the early slate: Coming off a 112-107 win over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn is pacing the league at 121.2 points per game, ahead of even the Golden State Warriors.
"They're just playing free, free of mind, that's exactly how they are playing," James said of the Nets after the loss. "They're moving it, they're sharing it and that's good ball."
Granted, the 112 points against the Cavs was Brooklyn's lowest scoring output of the season. But what the Knicks wouldn't give for a 112-point game at this point.
Off to an 0-3 start, New York has not scored more than 107 points in a game. With 84- and 89-point showings, the Knicks rank 30th in points per game at 93.3.
If there is one team out there against which the Knicks might finally get right offensively, it's the Nets, especially at home. While Brooklyn is 3-0 at the Barclays Center, its first 3-0 home start since 2002-03, it is 0-2 away.
And in addition to leading the league in scoring, Brooklyn is allowing 119.2 points per game. No team last year allowed more than 113.3.
The Nets' biggest issue so far: Letting the big dogs bite. Brooklyn has allowed two 40-point games so far - both, coincidentally, to the Orlando Magic (one by Aaron Gordon, one by Nikola Vucevic) - and James had 29 against Brooklyn in Wednesday's losing effort.
Their defense is expected to be down one key player on Friday, as well, with point guard D'Angelo Russell doubtful with a knee sprain.
But Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson was pleased that, aside from James, Cleveland was largely stifled.
"This is the toughest challenge of all because obviously LeBron orchestrating, they have shooters everywhere," Atkinson said. "When you're switching they slip screens and get you on back doors, so for the most part we really paid attention to where our coverages were. We really locked in, we had really great defensive discipline."
The Knicks, coming off a 110-89 loss at Boston -- their second 21-point loss in three games - are certainly getting production from their top player.
Kristaps Porzingis has thrived in his new role as team leader.
In the absence of Carmelo Anthony, Porzingis is averaging 25.3 points per game, up from the 18.1 he scored last season, his second in the league.
Along with center Enes Kanter, who arrived via Oklahoma City in the Anthony trade, the Knicks have a potent one-two post presence.
A dreadful backcourt is New York's big problem.
The Knicks are getting a paltry 25 points per game from the starting three-man backcourt of point guard Ramon Sessions and shooting guards Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee. Hardaway in particular was expected to pack some scoring punch arriving as a coveted, and highly paid, free agent after averaging 14.5 points for the Atlanta Hawks last season.
The Knicks need more production from Hardaway, averaging 9.3 points per game, if they are going to emerge from the scoring cellar.
"Carmelo, you could always just say here's the ball, go score," Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters on Tuesday. "We have to do it more as a team."
