The Nets, whose season is coming to an end, won't resume play until Monday, even if the season isn't over yet. That means we have time to understand not just the last game, but why we played so badly. Eight games, but actually since mid-December.
However, two days of practice ahead of the game against the Cavaliers in Paris didn't improve the situation, and it appears they are far from finding a solution.
Cam Thomas hasn't started since Dec. 27, a loss to the Bucks, and there was some debate as to whether he should return to the starting lineup. But head coach Jack Vaughn warned that this would leave the team “pretty small.”
Still, it was Thomas and Lonnie Walker IV who came off the bench against Cleveland and got the Nets back into the game after a terrible first half. Coach Vaughn praised Thomas' scoring ability, which tied Mikal Bridges for a team-high 26 points, as well as his willingness to box out and rebound.
The 34 minutes, 30 seconds played was Thomas' first since Dec. 18 and his highest scoring night since the game against Cleveland. Thomas had a disappointing game against Portland last Sunday, scoring just nine points in 17 minutes, 53 seconds.
The Nets also need to get more out of Bridges. Bridges played well in the loss to Portland, but has otherwise struggled during much of Brooklyn's recent downturn.
On Dec. 13, the Nets were 12-10. We lost 16-22.
Unsurprisingly, that was when Bridges was playing his best game of the season.
In the first 22 games of the season, he recorded 23.1 points, six rebounds, and four assists per game. His field goal percentage was 49.2 percent.
Over his last 16 games, all of those numbers have decreased significantly. Bridges is averaging 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Perhaps most concerning is that his shooting percentage has dropped to 38.9.
“We've got to be better,” Bridges said after the loss in France.
Vaughn also pointed out that the team didn't shoot well against 3-pointers against Cleveland. This is the fourth time in six games that the Nets have shot less than 30 percent from 3-point range.
Formerly 23.1. AFP (via Getty Images)
Before that poor stretch, they were shooting 37.9 percent from 3-point range, and Vaughn said that particularly affected the loss to Cleveland. The Nets' inability to capitalize on that diminished the effectiveness of Thomas' success in breaking down defenders and getting the ball to teammates for corner 3-pointers. Walker was the only one successful from that area, making four of his five attempts. The rest of the Nets combined for just 4 hits for 22 at bats.
Perhaps the return to health of Spencer Dinwiddie, who, like Dorian Finney-Smith, needed an IV to get through the game in France will help.
And according to the team, they continue to wait for Ben Simmons, who has started doing light on-court duties with the coach.
However, Simmons' return may not mean much if they don't get back to playing quickly.
