Spencer Dinwiddie Compares Nets’ 2-0 Deficit to Epic Mavs-Suns Series

After losing the first two games of their first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Brooklyn Nets are in a familiar situation that Spencer Dinwiddie faced in last year's playoffs.

In the Western Conference Semifinals, Dinwiddie and Dallas Mavericks were coming off road losses in the opening two games against the Phoenix Suns. The Mavs not only went to rally back from the early deficit, but they ended up winning the series with an emphatic Game 7 performance. Does he believe he can apply that experience to his current series?

“Yeah, of course," Dinwiddie said. We ended up whooping Phoenix’s ass. That’s the plan, win.”

Spencer Dinwiddie and DFS were down 2-0 last playoffs before beating the Suns. I asked if there’s anything they can apply from that experience to Brooklyn:

“Yeah, of course. We ended up whooping Phoenix’s ass. That’s the plan, win.”

Added “That was for the twins” on his way out pic.twitter.com/e1PdBwqvzc
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) April 19, 2023

Can Dinwiddie's Nets bounce back in similar fashion against a star-studded Sixers squad that features Joel Embiid and James Harden? If so, this time, Dinwiddie doesn't have Luka Doncic or Jalen Brunson to lean on as the focuses of the offense. He has to step up and take charge in Game 3.

“I think overall, his ability to get downhill, we want more from him. He understands that,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “He’s got to continue to push the pace for us. He’s huge for us, and he knows it. We love him, we depend on him. He’s going to have the basketball back in his hands when we get back home, and he’ll continue to play and lead us.”

After two games, Dinwiddie has averaged 13.5 points and 6.5 assists on 10-26 from the floor, 2-8 from deep, and 4-8 on free throws. There has been an underwhelming level of efficiency provided by his contributions thus far. He is trying to find a balance between being aggressive and getting teammates involved ahead of his next performance.

“I mean, I’m doing a lot of kicking it ahead right now, getting guys on the run and things like that. And obviously it’s a balance,” Dinwiddie said on YES Network. “I’ve probably got to figure out how to be a little bit more aggressive getting in the paint. So sometimes keeping it probably.

“But just got to look at film and figure it out. Overall though, obviously our emphasis has been on pace and kicking the ball ahead, so, you know, I think I’ve done probably Part 1 pretty well and need to do better on Part 2.”

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