It’s been one week since the NBA regular season tipped off, and multiple teams, including the Brooklyn Nets, have gotten off to a less-than-ideal start.
With the Nets already 0-4, it’s hard not to wonder where their preseason success went.
While preseason games don’t count toward the regular season, it remains a time when teams can adjust rotations and develop plays to use during the 82-game schedule. So, when fans saw Brooklyn go 3-1 in its preseason stretch, there was a glimmer of hope that something exciting could be on the horizon.
That hope shrank after Brooklyn gave up the first four games. The Nets’ schedule isn’t getting any easier as they remain on the road for the majority of the next couple of games.
Where Did the Preseason Success Go?
Brooklyn began its preseason against the Charlotte Hornets, beating them by 34 points. Then they went on to defeat LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers 114-108. The Nets beat the Washington Wizards, going 3-0 in the preseason before falling to the Milwaukee Bucks 144-128.
Despite going 3-1 in the preseason, these results don’t prove anything except the potential of what Brooklyn can look like.
Early Season Struggles
The Nets opened the season at home, falling 110-103 to Charlotte, who were without starters Kon Knueppel (right hamstring strain) and Coby White (left calf strain).
Despite the loss, Julius Randle dropped 33 points on 11-for-18 shooting, eight rebounds and seven assists in his Nets debut. Michael Porter Jr. had 26 points for the night. No other starter for Brooklyn finished in double figures.
The Nets faced their first back-to-back games of the season but fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers (125-121) and Indiana Pacers (136-109). This put Brooklyn at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
Then came the heartbreaking 125-124 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics, where Brooklyn let its first win of the season slip away. With just six seconds left, the Celtics forced a switch on Jayson Tatum to find an open lane, sealing the game. While matchups like this are bound to happen during the 82-game slate, Brooklyn must take these losses and learn from them quickly.
Getting the Spark Back
The Nets will have to put their unfortunate start behind them if they want to get back on the right foot. With the majority of the season left, Brooklyn has to realize the message they sent to fans before the season, building on what they have now.
Brooklyn must find a way to generate looks offensively while remaining aggressive on both ends of the floor to help ease their losing woes. Throughout the few games played, it’s clear just how important veteran leadership from Randle and Porter Jr. is. This duo sets the tone for what the bench has to clean up when players await substitutions at the scorer’s table.
Against the Pacers, Randle had just 10 points after settling for jumpers and not forcing mismatches to make difficult decisions. Porter Jr. also had 10 points after not taking care of the ball enough, going 0-of-5 attempts from the three-point line.
If Brooklyn wants to win, its shot quality and defense need to improve significantly, and they need as much attention as roster development.
The Younger Core
The Nets have the youngest roster in the NBA with five players who are under 22, including Nolan Traoré, Mikel Brown Jr., Egor Dëmin, Ben Saraf and Drake Powell.
Dëmin is known largely for his perimeter shooting but has gotten off to a slower start, struggling to get downhill and facilitate offense. Brown Jr. is still adjusting to the NBA, dealing with injuries, and trying to stay healthy.
Against the Celtics, Brown Jr. was the reason the game went to overtime, hitting a game-tying three. It was an unfortunate ending for Brooklyn and became a learning lesson for the rookie. Brown Jr. finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists against Boston. He let Nets fans know he takes accountability for the loss and will bounce back.
“We’re going to build him to be healthy and to be a strong NBA player. So, we have a plan for him,” head coach Jordi Fernández said. “Obviously, we’re not going to disclose every single step of the way, but the No. 1 thing is to build him up and build up his body to be able to sustain the minutes that can help the team win games.”
As Brooklyn goes through its growing pains, the Nets desperately need more production from their rotation. This can help Randle and Porter get things going offensively. For the rest of the team, it will take time to gel and build chemistry before this season becomes too late to save.
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