Brooklyn Nets 2012-13 Season Recap

Brooklyn Nets 2012-13 Season Recap

The Brooklyn Nets’ Historic Move to Barclays Center

Ever since the 1977-78 season, the franchise had been known as the New Jersey Nets, having relocated from New York following a successful run in the American Basketball Association. As their years in New Jersey wound down, though, it became clear that another move was on the horizon. After two NBA Finals appearances in the 2000s, the Nets underwent several significant changes, starting with a change in ownership. In September 2009, Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov submitted a bid to buy the team for $700 million. The Brooklyn Nets 2012-13 season marked the franchise’s new identity, as the team relocated to the borough of Brooklyn.

A New Home in Brooklyn

The move from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, proved so significant that both players and management quickly recognized the gem they had found in a market like Brooklyn. Basketball in the borough became an overwhelming success, with fans filling the arena to watch the Nets play. Brooklyn had been without a franchise in any of the four major professional sports since the Brooklyn Dodgers left for Los Angeles at the end of the 1957 Major League Baseball season.

Regular Season Performance

The Brooklyn Nets 2012-13 season produced a 49-33 record, leaving the team five games behind their in-city rivals, the New York Knicks, in the Atlantic Division. The Nets went 26-15 at their new home in the Barclays Center and 23-18 on the road, marking the first winning road record in franchise history. They also went 11-5 in divisional play. With the exception of December, the Nets played solid basketball through every month of the regular season, going 11-4 in November, 11-4 in January, 6-5 in February, 8-7 in March, and 7-2 in April.

The Nets were built to grind out games, and their record in overtime proved it: they went a perfect 5-0 in contests that went beyond regulation. The team also put together an impressive seven-game winning streak beginning January 2 with a 110-93 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The streak concluded on January 15 with a 113-106 win over the Toronto Raptors, capping a stretch of seven straight victories.

Key Players Drive the Nets’ Success

Deron Williams and Brook Lopez Anchor the Roster

Point guard Deron Williams was an efficient scoring threat who directed traffic for his teammates. Williams finished with 1,476 total points, 604 assists, and 75 steals, making 169 of 447 three-point attempts and 317 of 369 free throws. Center Brook Lopez added 1,437 total points, 512 rebounds, and 154 blocks, while making 297 of 392 free-throw attempts.

Joe Johnson Delivers After a Blockbuster Trade

Shooting guard Joe Johnson joined the Nets in a trade on July 2, 2012, that sent Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, DeShawn Stevenson, Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, and a lottery-protected draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks. Johnson rewarded Brooklyn with steady play, totaling 1,170 points and 253 assists while making 148 of 395 three-point attempts and 132 of 161 free throws.

A Deep and Colorful Supporting Cast

Center Andray Blatche, known as “Bulletproof,” contributed 843 points and 86 steals. Point guard Charles Akeem Watson — better known to teammates as “C.J.” — added 543 points and 1,651 assists, making 88 of 214 three-point attempts and 71 of 91 free throws. Small forward and power forward Gerald Wallace, nicknamed “Crash” and “G-Force” after his days as an imposing threat with the Charlotte Bobcats, chipped in 531 points, 181 assists, and 97 steals, making 46 of 163 three-point attempts and 121 of 190 free throws.

A Hard-Fought Playoff Series Against the Bulls

Splitting the Opening Games

The Nets’ Eastern Conference playoff run lasted just one round, as they squared off against the Chicago Bulls in a series that went the full seven games. Brooklyn opened strong, taking Game 1 on April 20 with a 106-89 win at the Barclays Center. Deron Williams posted 22 points, seven assists, and three steals while making 9 of 15 field-goal attempts, and Brook Lopez added 21 points, five rebounds, two assists, and three blocks on 7-of-15 shooting with 7-of-7 free throws. Power forward Reggie Evans, true to his nickname “The Collector,” didn’t score much but hauled in 13 rebounds to go with five points and two assists.

After dropping the next three games, the Nets had to win Game 5 on April 29 to stay alive — and they did, beating the Bulls 110-91 at home. Lopez had 28 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists on 11-of-20 shooting, while Williams contributed 23 points, three rebounds, and 10 assists. Evans again cleaned the glass, collecting 12 rebounds to go with four points and two steals.

Forcing a Game 7

In Game 6 on May 2 at the United Center in Chicago, the Nets forced a decisive Game 7 with a 95-92 win. Williams had 17 points, two rebounds, and 11 assists while making 6 of 8 free throws. Joe Johnson also scored 17 points, adding two rebounds, four assists, and two steals on 7-of-13 shooting, and Lopez chipped in 17 points, three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Evans managed just two points but grabbed 15 rebounds.

Though the series ultimately ended in a Game 7 defeat, the Brooklyn Nets 2012-13 season had already proven the franchise made the right move. Brooklyn was set to compete in the NBA playoffs for years to come, and basketball in the borough was in Brooklyn to stay.