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Hey On this date, eight years ago, the New Jersey Nets traded for Deron Williams in the hope that he would become the face of the franchise. The man who would orchestrate success for years to come. The player who would instill hope in a franchise that had not had he since Jason Kidd's seven-year playoffs ended on the 2007 deadline. He was supposed to be this star for Brooklyn.
Ironically, the night before that birthday, the Nets have played a game as intense in the regular season as they have since moved to Brooklyn. And instead of DWill, DLo led them to victory.
Things are different from those of DWill. Everything is questionable at this stage. But you do not forget where you come from, especially in Brooklyn. That's what makes them what they are today – humble, blue-collar and prepared.
All that DWill nets were not.
The Nets escaped from Charlotte with a much needed victory. There will only be 21 games remaining, but they will all be tough, but as they entered the Spectrum Center on Saturday, Brooklyn had only one game ahead of the Charlotte Hornets for the six-point standings. seeded and entered the evening at a game and a half of failure – the ninth seed.
Do not call it "win" for the moment, but after losing seven times out of ten after a seven-game journey, it was a necessary victory, a decisive victory. A win not only helped the Nets but hurt the team behind them.
Insert D'Angelo Russell. The kid had just turned 23 on the same day as the Nets in Charlotte, where he had played last weekend in his first all-star game. Thinking about Russell and all he has gone through – the ups and downs – he feels like a veteran. More importantly, he plays like a veteran.
Saturday showed why. Despite the team mentality favored by the Nets, this Brooklyn team will go where Russell will take them. This does not detract from their collective identity, but it is clear that the man is in Brooklyn. Which, at the moment, is the face of the franchise. And yes, he is now this star for Brooklyn.
While the Nets were six points and only 2:26 left, Russell continued to pour against the Hornets. He already had a career night at the head of the team on the back while battling Kemba Walker. A Paris man would go with the experience.
But Russell continues to show why you're betting on Brooklyn.
First of all, Russell hits an eight foot in the corner. Then he hits a pointer to three. Suddenly, the nets fell off a notch and Russell is burning. He swaps buckets with Walker, holding the Nets one point less than 49 seconds.
The Nets had very little offense outside DLo. They had played stagnant iso-ball with him on the bench.
Fortunately for all, he saved the day and on the most important possession of the match – perfectly there with the last possession that ended their series of eight wins in a row, the ball was in his hands. He dribbled the ground and rose for a daring three-point 30-foot just daring, placing the Nets in place 117-115 with 40 seconds left.
"He's been successful all year," Kenny Atkinson said of Russell's attack. "That's what he is and he plays with a ton of confidence. I think that the candidacy of the stars has really helped. Guys are turning to him, his 23rd birthday today, maybe it was two birthday shots, but a great match from him. "
Caris LeVert has barely pushed the ball with his elbow while Walker fails to shoot a foul on the final possession. The Nets won another unlikely match behind D'Angelo Russell. He does his post-game interview with Michael Grady from YES – something that becomes a regular thing – and gets water poured on his head.
It's a tradition he started.
It's organic.
That's true.
Unlike DWill, you'll never hear the Nets call DLo the "face of the franchise". Nothing like that looks like you.
That said, you can not deny that Russell is not the leader of this team. They go where he goes. And for the moment, while Spencer Dinwiddie is absent, Russell continues to be improbable, leading the Nets to a playoff spot with another quarter of the season.
And he is only 23 years old – a 23 year old player who will be a restricted free agent. If the Nets do not pay it after this season, someone else will do it.
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