Although the Nets are only no. 8 in the East, almost all of them have included them in the title group discussion. Their biggest opponent in the East is not the First Heat in the East, not the 76ers led by Embiid Harden, nor the Celtics who are the number one in the league in defensive efficiency, but the defending champion Bucks. At the Barclays Center in the closing stages of the season, the two sides played a dramatic game, and the Bucks narrowly beat the Nets in overtime. The two sides have met in the 4 regular season games, and the Bucks have the upper hand with 3 wins and 1 loss!
On this night, Alphabet Brother cut 44 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists; and he scored 30+ in 8 consecutive games against the Nets, breaking jordan's record of 30+ consecutive points against the Nets (7 consecutive games). Also after this night, Alphabet scored 14,217 career points in the Bucks, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar as the first man in Bucks history. And this game, the reason why the Bucks can win the Nets, can be simply and straightforwardly summarized as - the alphabet is omnipotent!
In an interview with the media two days ago, Durant admitted that the alphabet is unstoppable. As Simmons was still recuperating, Griffin was DNP, so much so that in the first three quarters Nash directly put Durant on the front line of the defensive alphabet. But it is clear that Durant, who has overhauled his Achilles tendon, faces the strong letters and feels what is "fist afraid of less strong". The alphabet is extremely aggressive, and he constantly rushes to the three-second zone, either to enter or to kill... As long as he rushes up, he basically can't stop it. Even if he hits the last turn, he can force himself into it to inflict damage and use free throws to win.
However, the performance of the alphabet is incomprehensible enough, but the Bucks are still behind for most of the game; this situation is largely due to the war criminals performances of Middleton, Dalo and others.
The fourth quarter of the game put Bruce directly behind him. After Brown fell, Middleton was directly deported after a video replay. And before being expelled, Middleton was head-on by Bruce. Brown continuously delivered hot pot, low back play to pass the ball to the referee, dribbling the ball can be transported to the opponent's arms, shooting frequently hit iron... As for Da Luo, he was confident enough but felt bad; the protective frame that he had always been good at, the effect was the same. Holliday also played a war criminal-level performance in the first three quarters, and it was not adjusted until the fourth quarter. And Connaughton, who scored 11 points in the first half, hung directly 0 in the second half... It is precisely because several big helpers are not very powerful on the offensive end, so that as long as the letters are replaced, the Nets can often extend the lead.
However, even with the exception of the alphabet, most of the Bucks players are not effective in this game, but the Bucks have a good defensive foundation.
They had too many pinch shots on Durant this game, and although this defensive strategy allowed Durant to deliver 11 assists, Bruce. Brown and Seth. Curry opened both points. But in the face of Matthews leading, alphabet, Middleton's wheels on wheels, Durant's point never exploded. Before the outside world was still questioning, after the Bucks let go of PJ Tucker, it was a bit too much to let Middleton defend Durant for a long time. But after this game, we can almost conclude that from the perspective of facing the Nets against Durant, it is entirely possible that Matthews will do better than Tucker.
In the previous few games against the Bucks, Irving has an efficient output on the offensive end; but this time it is not known whether Holliday gave Irving a huge attrition or Nash's tactical arrangement; from the second half of the fourth quarter to overtime, Irving did not get a point, especially in overtime, and did not even touch the ball. Compared with the Nets' at least outside line of Curry Jr., Mills, and Dragic, the Bucks' outside line can be defended, and the Bucks' players in addition to George. Hill and Big Lo both have the ability to defend multiple positions; so that in the end, no matter how the Nets cover, they have no chance of misplaced singles. The alphabet brother uses his strong coverage and defensive ability, which is equivalent to connecting the Bucks' defense into a spider's web. In the last round of regular time, while Matthews was single-handed, the letter's co-defense was already in place.
In regular time, three-pointers equalize; overtime, free throws win, alphabet is dominating the game in a way that subverts the perception of the outside world, he is extremely dominant on both offensive and defensive ends; he is very promising to become another player who has won both the scoring king and the DPOY.
In two consecutive games against the 76ers and the Nets, two direct competitors in the East, Alphabet has handed over a dominant performance of scoring 40+ Nets 14+ assists and 6+, shooting 66.7%; and in contrast to Alphabet's strong leadership of the team to turn over, it is death that almost came again. Now Durant's single defense letter is too difficult, even if the outside world has been saying that Durant is the first person, but on the impact of attack and defense on the game, the alphabet has surpassed Durant. Perkins made it clear that the alphabet had ascended to the throne of the first man!
Among the top teams in the East, the most experienced anti-alphabet team is definitely the Heat; they are the best team in the league to defend the league, and they are also the team that is the best at using "anti-alphabet armor". After all, the Celtics are the most effective defensive team in the league, and they also have the capital to round up the letters in wheel wars. But looking at the 76ers and nets, the existing configuration doesn't look like it's enough to limit the letters. But unlike the 76ers, who have no one to match the letters, the Nets can theoretically have someone right, that is, Simmons.
In terms of static physical talent alone, Simmons did not suffer in the face of letters; but in the past, Simmons's duel with the letter gave the outside world the feeling that he could match the letter in all aspects, but all aspects seemed to be unable to resist the letter. It's just that in the case that Zhuang Shen and Ard are too slow to keep up with the letters; Durant and Clarkston can't stand the letters at all, Simmons single defense, Zhuang Shen assisted in defense as a last resort for the Nets to restrict the letters... In addition to needing Simmons to deal with the alphabet, once the playoffs meet the Celtics, they also need Simmons to deal with Tatum; when they meet the Heat, they also need Simmons to deal with Butler...
So even if Simmons comes out, what kind of grinding with the Nets will be unknown; but considering that Nash's drag bottle is easy to "subtract points" for the team, and the playoff rounds are reduced and the pace is slow, you can't expect Durant and Irving to have one person running for 50 points, Simmons has become a lifesaver for maintaining the Nets' offensive and defensive balance and determining the Nets' competitiveness in the playoffs!