The Nets have now misplaced six straight video games at Barclays Heart after getting beat by the Indiana Pacers on Monday. They proceed to climb the 2025 draft board with every lopsided defeat.
In keeping with Tankathon’s newest projections, Brooklyn would decide at No. 7, No. 19, No. 25 and No. 27 in June if the season ended at this time. It at present has a 32% likelihood at a Prime 4 decide within the 2025 NBA Draft and a 7.5% likelihood of touchdown the No. 1 general decide.
Because the Nets proceed to tank their season for larger draft place, some imagine there are nonetheless decrease depths they will attain. Buying and selling away Dennis Schröder, Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton clearly helped in that pursuit. Common supervisor Sean Marks now instructions 31 draft picks over the subsequent seven years.
Brooklyn can’t keep wholesome proper now, both. Cam Johnson (proper ankle sprain) is not going to be re-evaluated till Thursday on the earliest. Cam Thomas (left hamstring pressure) is not going to see the court docket till after the staff returns from its upcoming six-game highway journey. Trendon Watford (left hamstring pressure) has not appeared in a sport since Dec. 16. D’Angelo Russell missed Monday’s sport due to a proper shin contusion and the staff is not going to rush him again. And Ben Simmons’ availability continues to be hit-or-miss as he continues to get better from offseason again surgical procedure.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez was pressured to trot out a beginning lineup of Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin, Ziaire Williams, Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton towards the Pacers. Whereas every has earned their maintain within the league, that’s removed from the make-up of a aggressive NBA staff.
“I love my players,” Fernandez advised reporters following Monday’s loss. “I’m never going to say the other players are better than my players, that’s never going to come out of my mouth. My players are great, we just have to find a way to be better and cut out some mistakes.”
Nevertheless, you’ll not catch the first-year head coach throwing his gamers — or group — beneath the bus publicly. Whereas present circumstances are out of his management, his expectations stay the identical, and he’s dedicated to competing with no matter items he has.
Excuses are merely not his model.
“No matter if we’re up by 20, down by 20, it doesn’t matter with Jordi,” Day’Ron Sharpe mentioned. “He wants to play hard, aggressive all game, pick up full court all game, make another team play hard all game. That’s why everybody’s buying into it. Even the games we’re down 35, we’re trying to lose by 15, you know? Just because we’re down by 35 doesn’t mean everybody just goes out there and does whatever. We’re still going to play hard, run our stuff, and make them play.”
Most of what’s taking place to the Nets proper now’s by design. However as Marks continues the method of figuring out who within the locker room is worthy of sticking round for what comes subsequent, there’s nonetheless loads to play for.
Sharpe seems to grasp what’s at stake. The second-year ahead completed with 16 factors and 13 rebounds in Monday’s loss, setting new season highs in each classes. The Nets had been undermanned coming into the night time and he stepped up. His 9 offensive rebounds tied a profession excessive and helped Brooklyn to a 33-8 edge in second likelihood factors. He additionally tied a profession excessive with 5 assists, showcasing his progress as a playmaker on the block.
“Impressive,” Fernandez mentioned. “His effort, second, third, fourth on the glass, that’s his superpower. That’s why we need him to bring that every game and then keep getting better in other aspects… I thought he was fantastic. The extra possessions but also finishing. That’s a good step for him, but also, him doing that makes us better. All these reps right now are huge.”
