Saturday Night was a night where the visitors snuck away with a win, indicated by the Brooklyn Nets’ narrow two-point margin. The Nets did just enough in the closing minutes to snatch away a win on the road.
Youngsters John Collins and Trae Young combined for monster numbers last night. Collins finished with a double-double (33 points and 20 rebounds) while the standout draft pick exploded with a triple-double (23 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds), the first by a rookie in Atlanta history. Collins’ 20 rebounds was a career high.
Spencer Dinwiddie led the Nets with 23 points while Jared Allen was close behind with 20. Allen notched a double-double supporting his point total with 12 rebounds. The duo wasn’t so dynamic at the charity stripe, putting their team in jeopardy with a combined 15 free-throws from 24 attempts.
The two clubs were going basket for basket at one point, but the Hawks were unable to get a stop when it mattered.
It’s no secret that the Hawks are still in rebuild mode, and going forward, the team will most definitely rely on the success of Young and Collins. My hope going forward is that they build around the two and bring in more support and a veteran or two. By veteran, I don’t mean another Vince Carter whose presence is reminiscent of the “one and done” outtakes that you see in college (in one year and then you’re gone). I mean a vet that plans to stay two to three years and lead the youngsters under their tutelage.
Brooklyn’s win (their third straight) puts them a half-game behind the Detroit Pistons who sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Hawks, (who are on a three-game losing streak) sit comfortably in 12th place.
The Hawks will prepare for another home matchup tonight against the Pelicans and Wednesday against the Grizzlies.
-Jon J.
Photo: Hakim Wright