Nets counting on huge loss to build character for season
The Nets are finished with preseason and preamble.
Now we’ll find out just how much grit they really have.
After adding the likes of D’Angelo Russell, DeMarre Carroll and Allen Crabbe, they clearly have more talent than the squad that went an NBA-worst 20-62 last season. But the temperament? The teamwork? They’ll have to prove that over the length of a campaign they’ll tip off Wednesday in Indiana.
“I think we’re definitely more talented, [but] demeanor is too early to tell,” point guard Jeremy Lin said. “I think preseason is in a lot of ways fool’s gold. The real character and mindset and demeanor of everybody comes out in the regular season.”
Most have expected the Nets to struggle in that regular season. Las Vegas set their projected win total as the third-worst in the NBA, and while a 3-1 preseason may have buoyed hopes somewhat, the Nets are still perceived as one of the worst teams in basketball.
They claim they’re not worried about that perception, but understand if they want it to change, they’ll have to earn that change forcibly.
“Honestly, I’m not really paying too much attention. But my evaluation was always we’re pretty good. I’ve never thought anything otherwise, and I’ve never let anybody’s opinion tell me otherwise,” Lin said.
“At the end of the day it’s our job to figure things out, and prove that to everybody else. [Wednesday] was not a step in that direction, but hopefully you learn. You win or you learn, and I feel like [Wednesday] we have a great opportunity to learn. We’re a young group, we’ve got to be able to go through certain things like [Wednesday].”
Wednesday was a 133-114 loss to the 76ers at Nassau Coliseum that ended the preseason on a sour note — a note the Nets claim could be a wake-up call.
The game was nowhere near as close as the final score, with the Nets trailing by as many as 36. It was a beating born of overconfidence, Brooklyn getting complacent and practicing poorly after a 3-0 preseason start.
Now we’ll see if they learned any lessons that could serve them well Wednesday — and beyond.
“We’ve just got to figure out a way to stay poised and handle adversity. They went on a big run and we got to find ways to cut that run, slow it a bit,” said Russell, who has showed signs all preseason of emerging as the star talent the Nets so desperately need him to be.
The young guard finished the preseason averaging 17 points, four assists and 2.3 steals — all team-highs for a Nets squad that had a solid training camp and preseason, despite a disappointing finale.
“I think we handled it well,” Russell said. “We came ready to play straight from training camp. Our hard work from training camp led us into the preseason and we played well.”
Coach Kenny Atkinson agreed, saying he and his team have more confidence and experience than a year ago.
“My overall sentiment, training camp, preseason — you have to throw [Wednesday’s] game in because it happened — but I think there’s a positive feeling in our locker room that we have positive momentum going into the regular season,” Atkinson said. “We’re all a little more sure of ourselves.
“I’m a second-year coach, I’m a little more confident in what I do. Guys that’ve been here, it’s the second year. That’s big. Continuity is huge, I do feel that. Then, the guys we brought in have a confidence about them. DeMarre and D’Angelo have been in the league. I feel like we’re not newbies. We’ve got some scars under our belt, and that’s going to help us.”
They get to show that Wednesday against the Pacers.
The Nets had Thursday off, so there was no update on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but his hand injury isn’t believed to be serious. If nothing untoward happens, they could have a healthy roster going into the opener. Last year, the Nets didn’t have a fully healthy roster until March 1, and that lasted just one game until guard Joe Harris suffered a shoulder injury and concussion that ultimately ended his campaign.
To the surprise of no one, the Nets exercised the 2018-19 options for Hollis-Jefferson, Russell and Caris LeVert.