During the Nets-Lakers game at the Barclays Center two weeks ago, Nets point guard Shane Larkin had committed a foul. While standing at the Nets’ bench as the free throws were shot, head coach Lionel Hollins was shoulder to shoulder on the court with his player and the two engaged in deep conversation. Larkin was listening intently as Hollins spoke.
This scene could be a cliche, but it was a father-son, coach-player, big brother-little brother, man-to-man, one-on-one. Teacher-student. It’s that type of patience with this team that helped Brooklyn achieve their first win in Houston last weekand finally their first home win Tuesday night versus the Atlanta Hawks, an Eastern Conference elite team. Brooklyn has struggled all season, 12 games to get their first two wins.
The 5-foot-11 Larkin, in his second year, played in Manhattan with the New York Knicks last year, becoming a Brooklyn Net over the summer. He provided a spark to Tuesday’s game, coming off the bench in the second quarter, hitting two threes in a row, with two steals. He hit 14 points overall in 13 and a half minutes of play.
Joe Johnson assisted Larkin in setting it off, feeding him the ball for his first two 3-pointers. Johnson concluded with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists.
The Nets, playing in Charlotte last night, have struggled so far this season with player combinations, starting and off the bench. They haven’t looked great on the floor, but they continue working to find themselves and their relevance. Guard Jarrett Jack, averaging 14 points and 7 assists, came out of the shower singing “On My Own.” He explained it this way after the Tuesday victory: “It may not look pretty, but it all looks the same in the W column.”
Jack, adjusting his Philadelphia Flyers custom look snapback while preparing to leave, also emphasized the importance of another cliche, “a winning culture.”
Brooklyn travels north to Boston to play the Celtics tomorrow night, Friday, and then both teams return here for a game at Barclays Sunday.