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Brooklyn Nets vs. Orlando Magic 12/16/16 Recap and Player Grades

Brooklyn Nets vs. Orlando Magic 12/16/16 Score

The Brooklyn Nets fell to 7-18 on the season as they fail, yet again, to win back-to-back games this season. The struggling Orlando Magic defeated Brooklyn 118-111 in Orlando. Jeremy Lin did end up playing twenty minutes and had a solid stat line. Lin, in only 20 minutes of action, scored 17 points on 7-13 shooting. Leading all scorers on the night was Brook Lopez with 22 points. Lopez shot 9-19 from the field and added in five blocks and six rebounds. He gave Serge Ibaka a run for his money with the block shot counter. Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic led the way for Orlando with 21 points a piece. Vucevic also added in ten rebounds for a double-double. The difference in this game, much like in the Lakers game, was fouls and free-throws. This time, things did not go in the Nets’ favor. Brooklyn committed 32 fouls compared to the Magic’s 17. As a result, Orlando attempted 42 free-throws to Brooklyn’s 26. In a game of only six points of separation, those fouls and free-throws make a difference.

Grading the Players Brook Lopez and Caris LeVert. Brook Lopez, despite a mediocre shooting night gets the A strictly because of his five blocks and a steal. If Brook can be a force to be reckoned with down low defensively, Brooklyn will be jumping for joy. Lopez’ knock all career and probably a large reason why Brooklyn has not been able to trade him, is because of his softness on the defensive side of the ball. If Lopez can start to block shots and put up 20 points per game, I would be surprised if the phones did not start to ring. Caris LeVert gets an A for being consistently good in his minimal minutes of action thus far in his career. He is not blowing anybody away with double-doubles or amazing shots or really anything fancy. But, what the rookie is doing is filling up the stat sheet across the board. For instance, last night, LeVert scored five points on 2-3 shooting, 1-2 form three, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal. In 11 minutes. Jeremy Lin gets a B on the night. Yes Lin’s back is hurting him. Yes Lin has hardly played this season. Yes 17 points on 7-13 shooting is still better than 50% form the field and more than his season average and second on the team on the night. But he only had three assists and no steals. Something did not seem quite right with Jeremy Lin tonight. Maybe he was afraid of getting injured again? Who knows….but there was something.

Think Lin’s back not problem. Ball feeling like “football” in his hand after month layoff causing him to pass up J’s behind 10 feet. So far
— Nathan Gottlieb (@zukovka) December 17, 2016

Lin’s stat line looks nice, but he only had half his game, his attack mode. Passed up several jumpers behind 15 feet. Back seemed fine (more
— Nathan Gottlieb (@zukovka) December 17, 2016

… Guessing he doesn’t have feel for his J yet. In 20 mins he had 17 pts on 7-13 shots, hit one late 3 pt shot. 3 reb. 3 asst. (more)
— Nathan Gottlieb (@zukovka) December 17, 2016

… While 17 pts in 20 mins sounds great, he wasn’t a difference make in the game. If he had confidence in his J, woulda been a difft story
— Nathan Gottlieb (@zukovka) December 17, 2016

Isaiah Whitehead gets a B+ for tonight’s game. Whitehead finally did something fans and the front office has been waiting for all year; dish out assists. Whitehead finished with eight on the night along with three rebounds and four points. Brooklyn will go back north to the snowy winter land it has become overnight to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA to take on Atlantic Division rivals, and for the worst Atlantic Division record battle. Brooklyn, at 7-18, will face off with the 6-20 76ers.