Atkinson overheats in Nets’ loss to Spurs

Brooklyn coach gets technical during third-quarter meltdown

December 27, 2017 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Brooklyn head coach Kenny Atkinson receives a technical foul during a critical third-quarter run by the Spurs in what turned out to be their 15th straight home win over the Nets Tuesday night. AP Photo by Eric Gay

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Kenny Atkinson has only been around for two of the Nets’ 15 straight losses in San Antonio. But Brooklyn’s second-year head coach couldn’t hold back his frustration during a critical stretch in the third quarter Tuesday night in front of a sellout crowd of 18,492 at the AT&T Center, receiving a rare technical foul in the Nets’ 109-97 loss to the Spurs.

“I think we had a tough time scoring in that third quarter, turned it over a few times. We weren’t good enough, they’re physical,” said Atkinson, who took exception to an offensive foul call on Allen Crabbe with 6:45 remaining in the period.

Atkinson, who has watched his team lose six of its last seven games, including the opening two on this five-game road trip, immediately left his seat on the bench and went charging toward the official looking to vent. He was immediately charged with the tech, resulting in a free throw by LaMarcus Aldridge, who also drained a 13-footer on the subsequent possession to spark an 11-0 run that gave San Antonio what proved to be a commanding 65-54 lead midway through the decisive quarter.

“They take you out of your stuff,” Atkinson said of the Spurs’ tenacious defense, which forced 13 Brooklyn turnovers and continually frustrated the Nets on their many sojourns to the basket.

Brooklyn only had nine free throws, compared to 24 for the Spurs, who improved to 16-2 at home this season.

“Yes, it’s frustrating,” Atkinson admitted of the disparity at the line. “But we’ve got to do it again tomorrow night and the night after and keep doing it. And we’ve got to finish better, too, and make that extra pass. I like the process. The results weren’t great offensively.”

Aldridge finished with 20 points and nine rebounds and Kawhi Leonard, arguably the best two-way player in the sport, added 21 points for the Spurs, who haven’t lost at home to the Nets since 2002.

“When Kawhi checked into the game in the fourth quarter, that wasn’t a welcome sign,” Atkinson noted of Leonard, who played for just the fifth time this season after missing the first 27 games of the campaign with a quad injury. “It just changes the game,” Atkinson added. “He makes such a difference. Defensively, it’s just unbelievable. I felt like he was guarding our whole team at times.”

One player who appeared un-guardable for Brooklyn was Caris LeVert, who led the Nets with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting off the bench. Texas native Jarrett Allen put together one of the finest performances of his rookie year, scoring 12 points and pulling down a team-high nine rebounds. Crabbe finished with 15 points, but turned the ball over five times as Brooklyn never got back into the game after future Hall of Famer Tony Parker hit one of his patented floaters in the lane with 6:02 left in the third.

“They never panicked,” Nets veteran forward DeMarre Carroll said of the Spurs. “We made our run, and they stayed poised, stayed true to their system and got the shots they wanted. It just shows the composure you’ve got to have to be a winning team at a high level.”

Nets general manager Sean Marks, who has made no secret of his adulation for the San Antonio franchise he developed in as a player, coach and executive, sat courtside with legendary former Spurs big man Tim Duncan during the game. Marks had to be watching with envy as the likes of Leonard, Aldridge, Parker and Manu Ginobili sliced and diced their way through the Nets’ defense. Atkinson, however, could only lament his team’s second-half demise and hope for better results Wednesday night when the Nets were slated to continue their ongoing trip in New Orleans against the Pelicans.

“It is what it is,” he noted. “But I thought our guys put pressure on the rim and we’ll do it again tomorrow night.”

Nothing But Net: The Nets have actually won one game in San Antonio since their last regular-season victory there, pulling out an NBA Finals victory in 2003. However, the then-New Jersey based franchise lost the series in six games, the second of San Antonio’s five championships under head coach Gregg Popovich. … Atkinson’s squad may have a better chance of competing against Western Conference powers like the Spurs when recently acquired center Jahlil Okafor and point guard D’Angelo Russell return to action. Okafor has played in just one game for Brooklyn since coming over from Philadelphia in a Dec. 7 trade due to his lack of being in “game shape”, and Russell has been MIA since Nov. 11 with a knee injury. Both could be back in the lineup as soon as the first week of January. … Following their extended trip, which will end in Boston on New Year’s Eve, the Nets will return home to host the Orlando on New Year’s Day, kicking off a four-game homestand.