Adam Armbrecht here, the host of the daily Locked On Nets podcast, with your daily Locked On Nets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Nets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
In a season of surprise for the Brooklyn Nets: What does it mean to be a fan?
Nov 27, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Dennis Schroder (17) puts up a layup against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale /Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Sports fandom exists on a spectrum. Over the past four years covering the Brooklyn Nets, I have seen firsthand the impact a team has on its fanbase. Over many more years before covering the Nets, I felt that same angst as a pure fan myself - and still do in moments even now.
The Brooklyn Nets finally made the “hard choices” and put themselves into a position to land a high pick in next year’s draft. Trading away Mikal Bridges was step one, and as many have assumed, more trades this season would further cement the unspoken tank agenda.
While preparing for a rebuild, Brooklyn also hired Head Coach Jordi Fernandez. After multiple seasons of feeling the roster lacked structure, that the schemes lacked... scheme - Jordi Fernandez has in just 19 games proved just how critical a Head Coach can be to organizational stability and team success.
Nets fans rejoiced at the conviction of direction, and most even cheered the early season’s surprising wins. But now the team sits in the eighth seed in the East and outside the lottery with the 15th overall pick.
(In my best Jackie Moon voice) “Everybody panic!”
On the one hand, the tank is off the rails. The Washington Wizards are 2-15 and have a near-zero percent risk of overachieving. Even if the Philadelphia 76ers move beyond their injuries and right the ship teams like Utah, Toronto, and Portland among others, are very much in a race to the bottom.
So to the question at hand: what is it to be a fan? Yes, we all had a set of expectations coming into the season. Yes, Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey are among the potential generational talents in the draft. But that is the future. That is a moment somewhere off in the distance.
The here and now has presented a team filled with veterans and young talents putting together career performances night after night.
I was once that little 12-year-old kid, sitting on the couch, hoping against hope that Kerry Kittles and Kendall Gill could shock Jordan and the Bulls in 1998. I was there at 17 - feeling that long last Jason Kidd could lead the Nets to the promised land against the Lakers... or the Spurs.
Spoiler Alert: They lost. The championships never came but I still pulled my chair back up to the table in 2013, 2014, and 2015; and again in 2019. Years, as a fan, championships were not the expectations but the excitement and FUN of watching your team overtook any sense of where the ping-pong balls would bounce and what prospects would be missed out on.
It was pure fandom and joy for a team that brought me so many amazing moments with friends and family throughout the years. Why fight against a good time?
Why rail against a vibe that puts a smile on your face for a few hours on a random night, otherwise destined to fade away among the many other nameless nights we all have in our lives?
Here, now in a season “destined for the tank” and improbably fighting against it I throw my hands up and surrender to the young fan in me and say...
Nov 27, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts to a call against the Sacramento Kings in the third quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images | Brad Rempel/Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Anthony Edwards went off on Wednesday night, and it wasn’t in the game.
The Timberwolves star had a lot of frustration to share after Minnesota lost to the Kings, and tallied their fourth straight loss in a row.
“We thought defense was our identity, and it’s not looking like that,” Edwards said in the locker room. “Our identity right now, me and Mike [Conley] was talking about it, I think is we soft as hell as a team, internally. Not to the other team, but like internally we soft, like we can’t talk to each other. Just a bunch of little kids, just like we playing with a bunch of little kids. Like everybody, like the whole team, we just can’t talk to each other and we gotta figure it out, man, because we can’t go down this road.”
He spoke at length, not holding much back, but the most interesting flag came in Edwards comments about the team as a whole. He noted that everyone on the team had their “own agenda”, which made it particularly difficult for him, as the de facto leader, to get them on the same page. Wolves beat reporter for the Star Tribune, Chris Hine, said Edwards lamented the team was “growing apart”, partly because it felt so difficult to have honest conversations with teammates.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Biz Former Timberwolves GM and current president of Paris Basketball David Kahn predicts the NBA will be in Europe “within two years” (EuroHoops)
Analysis The Nets’ “let it fly” mentality has been crucial to their unexpected strong start this season. Discover the strategic insights behind their success. Learn more. (New York Post).
Preview The Magic take on the Nets in the latest NBA Cup group stage matchup. Read the preview.(NBA)
LaMelo Ball Is Out On Friday - What Are The Fantasy Basketball Implications?
Nov 27, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) reacts after scoring a three point basket during the first half against the Miami Heat at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images | Sam Sharpe/Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
As we gear up for a packed NBA schedule, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the game with the latest injury updates and strategic streaming options. With ten games on the horizon, there’s plenty to consider for your fantasy basketball lineup.
Injury Updates and Streaming Strategies
The New York Knicks and Charlotte Hornets face off in an early game, and the injury report has thrown a few curveballs. Precious Achiuwa and Mitchell Robinson are out for the Knicks, while the Hornets are missing key players like Mark Williams, Nick Richards, and Miles Bridges. The unexpected absence of LaMelo Ball due to a calf issue adds another layer of complexity. With Ball sidelined, Vasa Micic becomes a prime streaming target, offering value for both Friday and Saturday games. Keep an eye on Jalen Brunson, who seems to be finding his rhythm again, which is a positive sign for fantasy managers.
On the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks front, Darius Garland’s recent dip in usage and shooting is worth monitoring. Meanwhile, Trae Young’s impressive assist numbers continue to shine, despite some Achilles concerns. For streaming, Ty Jerome is a viable option if Dean Wade and Caris LeVert remain out, while DeAndre Hunter offers potential upside for the Hawks.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nets podcasts.
Brooklyn Nets stun Kevin Durant and the Suns behind Tyrese Martin’s 30 points The Brooklyn Nets sweep the West Coast trip in very surprising fashion, beating Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns. It was another shocking development in a Nets season that has been completely unexpected.
Do Nets need to worry about a Cam Johnson injury where his trade value is concerned?
Cam Johnson is having one of his best statistical seasons while averaging a career.-high in minutes per game as well. His recent injury scare does stand a reminder of the thin margin GM Sean Marks must walk as the season progresses towards the trade deadline.
Brooklyn Nets come back and surprise Warriors. What is happening here?
The Brooklyn Nets played on the back-to-back against the Golden State Warriors, coming into the game as big underdogs. They even found themselves down 18 points in the third quarter.
