The Nets have now misplaced six straight video games at Barclays Middle after getting crushed by the Indiana Pacers Monday. They proceed to climb the 2025 rankings with every lopsided defeat.
In response to Tankathon’s newest projections, Brooklyn would choose No. 7, No. 19, No. 25 and No. 27 in June if the season ended in the present day. He at present has a 32% probability of going within the high 4 within the 2025 NBA Draft and a 7.5% probability of touchdown the No. 1 general choose.
Because the Nets proceed to take their season to the next draft place, some consider they’ll nonetheless attain decrease depths. To trade Dennis Schröder, Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton clearly aided on this pursuit. Normal supervisor Sean Marks now instructions 31 draft picks over the subsequent seven years.
Brooklyn can also’t keep wholesome in the intervening time. Cam Johnson (sprained proper ankle) is not going to be re-evaluated till Thursday on the earliest. Cam Thomas (left hamstring pressure) will not see the sphere till after the crew returns from its upcoming six-game street journey. Trendon Watford (left hamstring pressure) has not appeared in a match since December 16. D’Angelo Russell missed Monday’s sport with a proper shin contusion and the crew will not rush him. And Ben Simmons’ availability continues to be hit and miss as he continues to get well from offseason again surgical procedure.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez was compelled to subject a beginning lineup of Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin, Ziaire Williams, Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton in opposition to the Pacers. Whereas everybody has earned their spot within the league, that is removed from the make-up of a aggressive NBA crew.
“I like my gamers,” Fernandez advised reporters after Monday’s loss. “I’ll by no means say that different gamers are higher than my gamers, that can by no means come out of my mouth. My gamers are nice, we simply must discover a strategy to be higher and keep away from some errors.
Nonetheless, you will not see the first-year head coach publicly throwing his gamers — or his group — below the bus. Though the present circumstances are past his management, his expectations stay the identical and he’s dedicated to competing with each piece he has.
Apologies simply aren’t his model.
“It doesn’t matter if we’re up 20 or down 20, it doesn’t matter with Jordi,” Day’Ron Sharpe stated. “He desires to play laborious and aggressive the entire sport, take up the entire subject the entire sport, make one other crew play laborious the entire sport. That’s why everybody buys into it. Even video games the place we’re down by 35, we attempt to lose by 15, you understand? Simply because we’re down 35 doesn’t suggest everybody goes on the market and does something. We’re nonetheless going to play laborious, deal with our stuff and make it play.
Most of what is taking place to the Nets proper now could be intentional. However as Marks continues the method of figuring out who within the locker room is worthy of staying for the longer term, there’s nonetheless a lot to play for.
Sharpe appears to know what’s at stake. The sophomore ahead completed with 16 factors and 13 rebounds in Monday’s loss, setting a brand new season report in each classes. The Nets have been shorthanded early within the night time and he stepped up. His 9 offensive rebounds tied a profession excessive and helped Brooklyn take a 33-8 benefit on second-chance factors. He additionally tied a profession excessive with 5 assists, demonstrating his progress as a playmaker on the block.
“Spectacular,” Fernandez stated. “His effort, second, third, fourth on the glass, that’s his superpower. That’s why we’d like him to convey that to each sport after which proceed to enhance in different facets… I believed he was incredible. Further items but additionally the end. It is a good step for him, but additionally, the truth that he is doing this makes us higher. All these reps proper now are large.
