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.
Brooklyn Nets’ lineup challenges: Injuries speed bump feel good season.
Nov 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (2) and Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) fight for a loose ball in the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz/Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
As a Brooklyn Nets fan, the roller-coaster of emotions is something we’ve all come to expect. This past weekend was no exception, as the team faced back-to-back losses against the Orlando Magic.
Despite the setbacks, there’s a silver lining in how the team continues to fight hard, even when the odds are stacked against them.
A Weekend of Challenges
The weekend kicked off with a tough 123-100 loss on Friday night, followed by another defeat on Sunday. These games highlighted the challenges the Nets face, especially when key players like Dennis Schröder and Cam Thomas are sidelined.
Without these offensive facilitators, the team struggled to find its rhythm, scoring just 100 points against a strong defensive Magic lineup.
The starting lineup, featuring Ben Simmons, Tyrese Martin, Cam Johnson, Zaire Williams, and Jalen Wilson, was a testament to the team’s current struggles. With injuries plaguing the roster, the Nets had to rely on players who are still finding their footing in the NBA.
Despite the challenges, there were standout performances from Shake Milton and Trendon Watford, who showed glimpses of potential even in defeat.
Injuries and the Road Ahead
Injuries have been a recurring theme for the Nets this season. The absence of key players like Nicolas Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe has been felt deeply. Ben Simmons, a focal point of the team’s strategy, continues to be a puzzle.
His performance fluctuates, and while his defensive contributions are valuable, the team needs more offensive output from him, especially when other key players are missing.
The weekend’s games served as a reminder of the team’s preseason expectations. With a 17.5 over-under win total, the Nets were set for an uphill battle over 82 games.
As the season progresses, other teams are beginning to find their stride, making it even more challenging for the Nets to secure victories.
Despite these hurdles, the team’s resilience is commendable. The energy and effort on the court remain high, a testament to Jordi Fernandez and his leadership.
His fiery passion was on display during the weekend, especially when he had to be held back after a confrontation with Goga Bitadze. Fernandez’s commitment to motivating the team is crucial as they navigate this challenging season.
Looking Forward
As we look ahead, the focus remains on maintaining competitive spirit and developing young talent. The Nets are in a unique position where losses, while disappointing, can also be seen as opportunities to build for the future.
With the potential for trades and the upcoming draft, the team is poised to make strategic moves that could shape the next phase of their journey.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Brooklyn Nets’ current season, tune into the Locked On Nets podcast for this and much more. Stay connected with the latest Brooklyn Nets news and analysis by subscribing to the Locked On Nets podcast.
December 1, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada/Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
You’d be forgiven if, a quarter of the way through the season (yes), you haven’t given the following teams that much attention. Maybe your main rooting interest has been struggling, and it’s taken all your psychic energy to will them through the slump. Better yet, maybe your team is thriving and you’ve been enjoying the ride. Maybe you’re still looking for a team to get behind, in which case, the following three franchises would make great options.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks being on this list has not alleviated my general wariness of the Hawks as a whole, but they’ve been playing through some of the things that make me doubt them. First, the Hawks love to play up. That is, they tend to excel against technically better and markedly more skilled teams; teams farther along the competitive timeline that I always get they feeling Atlanta would rather emulate than put the work in to be at the same level with.
This season, the Hawks are still playing up — they’ve beat the best in conference Cavaliers twice — but they’re recognizing what should be easy wins, like against the Charlotte Hornets. With Trae Young injured and in and out of the lineup, Atlanta’s bench has provided some of the most needed and entertaining offensive bursts in the league, with De’Andre Hunter back with a vengeance after being out for 10 games with a knee injury. Hunter’s regularly putting up 20-plus points per night, and hounding the glass.
Atlanta has a string of high-low games this week, facing the Pelicans, Bucks, Lakers and Nuggets, which should be an ample test to whether they can play and stay consistent.
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
Milestone Jimmy Butler misses shot so Bam Adebayo can record a triple-double in Heat win (Bleacher Report)
Personnel A small aspect of Nic Claxton’s game continues to concern his Nets coach, indicating ongoing areas for development. (New York Post)
Preview The Nets head to Chicago to take on the Bulls tonight at 8:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
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Nets @ Bulls
Monday, Dec. 02 | 7:00 PM | United Center (Chicago, IL) | Get Tickets
Pacers @ Nets
Wednesday, Dec. 04 | 7:30 PM | Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY) | Get Tickets
Bucks @ Nets
Sunday, Dec. 08 | 3:30 PM | Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY) | Get Tickets
3peat (ICYMI)
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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.
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.
