The Brooklyn Nets have a list of problems on their hands, it’s no secret.
Critical injuries like Jeremy Lin’s strained hamstring have put Brooklyn at a 2-10 record since he was sidelined. Lin is indispensable for Brooklyn, their attempts to fill Lin’s place with inexperienced replacements has failed them over the last 12-games.
Even though, Lin has been trying to contribute with a clipboard and his “Linology” the Harvard graduate is desperately needed on the court.
It is clear that the Nets lack consistent energy through the game. First-year head coach Kenny Atkinson spoke after the game saying,
“We have to fix the third quarter blues, for some reason we don’t come out with the energy that we need to. We felt it; we called a time-out and addressed it. We just need to figure that one out, that’s hurting us.”
Brooklyn was handed their seventh straight loss after Sunday’s night game against the Sacramento Kings, even though they had the odds in their favor before the start of the game. Since their move to King County, the Nets had a 6-2 record against Sacramento. Sacramento has not been able to claim a victory on the Nets court since 2007.
The Nets held the lead by nine in the first quarter but slowly started losing defense, which cut their lead to 59-58 at the first half marker. The embarrassment came in the third quarter when Sacramento’s Matt Barnes eyed Rudy Gay toward the basket but instead Barnes two-handed lob pass got an accidental three-pointer.
They were unable to catch up to the 92-77 lead the Kings created. Barnes was ejected in the fourth for a Flagrant Foul, Penalty 2, after smashing into Brooklyn’s Sean Kilpatrick with 9:35 left. Barnes ejection put Sacramento at a huge disadvantage but Brooklyn was unable to capitalize off of it. When the damage was complete (122-105) the Nets took their seventh-straight loss, putting them at 4-12 for the start of their season.
“We’ve got to come out with some edge,” Kilpatrick said, “We have to play hard, with energy and flair.”
The Nets have 66-regular-season games left in the year. The 4-12 start is weighing heavily on them mentally. If Brooklyn can figure a way to keep their energy levels high and consistent, even when facing challenges ahead, it is possible for them to turn this season around.
The Nets will try to snap their seven-game losing streak to the Los Angeles Clipper (14-4) in Brooklyn on Tuesday night.