The Nets opened the season 1–11 and have gone 2–2 over their final 4. It’s at the least an indication of gradual progress since opening evening, although there’s nonetheless loads for this group to wash up and study.
Brooklyn didn’t want late-game heroics towards the Washington Wizards as a result of it did its work early. And in Friday’s win over the Boston Celtics, Michael Porter Jr. poured in 16 of his game-high 33 factors within the fourth quarter, stabilizing the crew when it wanted it most.
Nevertheless, none of that confirmed up in Sunday’s 119–109 highway loss to the Toronto Raptors. The Nets fell behind 12–0 out of the gate, spent many of the evening enjoying catch-up, and have been outscored 15–5 over the ultimate 3:59 after tying the sport at 104, losing one of many higher performances of Tyrese Martin’s profession.
“It just started with our intentions from the beginning,” head coach Jordi Fernández stated. “We weren’t ready to play… We battled back and were fighting for the game, but if you put yourself in that situation, it’s just really hard. We came out flat with no energy and that’s not the way to start games.”
Nets starters shot 5-for-12 within the ultimate body, whereas Martin scored 10 of his game-high 26 factors within the interval on 3-for-4 taking pictures. Noah Clowney took solely two pictures in his ultimate 11 minutes on the ground, and Porter tried simply 4. Nonetheless, the sport hinged much less on Brooklyn’s shot distribution and extra on its breakdowns when it mattered most.
The Nets trailed by solely two popping out of a Toronto timeout with 3:31 left. Large defensive lapses adopted. An open Immanuel Quickley 3 pushed the Raptors’ result in 5 with 3:17 remaining, prompting a Brooklyn timeout. And instantly out of that stoppage, Quickley discovered himself alone behind the arc once more, stretching the margin to eight with 2:22 left.
Poor rotations in strain moments not often lead wherever good, and Porter acknowledged as a lot.
“Whoever is out there, we have to lock in and try to get a stop,” Porter stated. “I think that play was just tough because Brandon Ingram, he can be lethal in the post. We came to double him and that opened up the 3, but that’s part of our game plan… the rotations out of it were just a little tough. So, have to give them credit as well.”
The loss additionally confirmed how small the Nets’ margin for error nonetheless is. Even with a couple of gamers making noticeable strides, like Martin, Clowney and Porter, Brooklyn has struggled to place collectively full, regular video games persistently. A robust quarter is commonly adopted by a tough one, and good stretches of play can shortly slip into rushed possessions, missed rotations or sluggish closeouts. It’s the sort of inconsistency you anticipate from a younger group, however it’s additionally what turns winnable video games into missed possibilities.
For a crew making an attempt to climb out of an early-season gap, these stretches matter. The Nets have proved they will compete with good groups once they’re locked in and enjoying with objective. They simply haven’t held that stage lengthy sufficient. Till they do, nights like Sunday will hold popping up: a sluggish begin, a tough push to get again in it and one other reminder that progress not often is available in a straight line.
“I don’t look at it the same way you look at it,” Clowney stated. “We were in the game. We had an opportunity to win. I think we just have to finish better. We were right there, tie ball game… We just have to finish better.”
