Over the past week, the Brooklyn Nets have hosted native New Yorkers Lance Stevenson (L.A. Clippers), Tobias Harris and Channing Frye (Orlando Magic) and former Net, Paul Pierce (L.A. Clippers). Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves) visits Sunday and Deron Williams (Dallas Mavericks) Wednesday, both former recent Nets players.
Although an official welcoming committee isn’t expected, an effort by Brooklyn to win more games is. And with some consistency.
Brooklyn, in second to last place, continues to struggle, although at times, they appear to overcome their woes, if for only short periods of time. There’s talent there.
“Woeful” describes the Brooklyn defense, as witnessed Monday night. “Well, that was a good game for about a quarter and eight minutes,” said Nets head coach, Lionel Hollins about Brooklyn’s play verses the Magic. Equaling the Magic’s 25 total points in the first quarter, Brooklyn subsequently lost quarters 2, 3 and 4.
“We weren’t helping each other defensively, and taking our match-ups personally,” said Nets forward, Joe Johnson. “There started to be a lot of easy drives down the lane. We just shot ourselves in the foot.”
If Brooklyn continues to shoot themselves in the foot during the second quarter of this 82-game season, as they’ve done in the first, there will only be seven or eight more wins by the midway point of this season, February, during the All-Star break.
Currently, Brooklyn is averaging 96 points per game, but giving up 102.6 to opponents. Defensively, they’re ranked 22nd in the league. Roughly estimated, the way they’re playing, Brooklyn could be 14-27, give or take, without some more than necessary alterations, considering this franchise’s goals.
