Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is asking his team to strike a difficult balance for Game 3 against the Philadelphia 76ers. According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Atkinson wants the Nets to exert more physicality. However, they should not compromise their identity in the process.
Kenny Atkinson on being mindful of playing with more physicality, but sticking to the team identity in Game 3: “We’re not going to become the Detroit Piston Bad Boys – is that what they called them? Or the Broad Street Bullies.”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 18, 2019
The Nets upset the heavily-favored Sixers on the road in Game 1, 111-102. However, Philadelphia bounced back with an emphatic 145-123 win in Game 2 at Wells Fargo Center two days later.
Sixers center Joel Embiid's vicious elbow to the Nets' Jarrett Allen in the second quarter of Game 2 stoked Atkinson's fire. The referees didn't eject Embiid, who led all scorers with 23 points. The Sixers also outrebounded the Nets, 49-32. Embiid and point guard Ben Simmons had 10 rebounds each.
Atkinson told the New York Post's Brian Lewis on Monday the Sixers' physical presence made the difference in Game 2.
“They did a fantastic job; they got into us,” he said. “I'd classify it as extreme physicality. [They] denied us, held us, pushed us.We did a good job of holding the fort in the first half…Third quarter, we didn't respond. That was really the story of the game. Their coach (Brett Brown) said before the game it was going to be a fistfight. They threw a couple punches. No comment on the call but very, very physical.
“I know this: we have to respond. They dominated us in the paint, dominated us on the boards.”
Atkinson has made it clear being more physical is the key to winning Game 3. Philly's swarming defense limited Nets All-Star point guard D'Angelo Russell to 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting on Monday.
If the Nets can assert their physicality in Game 3, they will make this series more interesting.
Follow Us
Subscribe