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Nets fall in untelevised preseason opener 115-106 to Clippers




If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

That remains the philosophical question for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers as their untelevised preseason contest on Tuesday night resulted in a nine-point win for the hometown Clippers. 

James Harden led L.A. with 14 points and Keon Johnson paced Brooklyn with 14. 

The Nets had seven players reach double figures in scoring and even Ben Simmons contributed with two points, three assists and two boards in the loss.

Rookie Jordi Fernandez's head coaching debut got off to a sluggish start with his team going down 12-2 out of the gate and being outscored 35-18 in the opening stanza. 

Brooklyn fought back in the second to pour in 39 and limit the Clippers to just 20 points. 

Newly opened Frontwave Arena hosted its first ever Clippers game. It's too bad NBA fans didn't get to see it after it first being reported the game would be televised.

The Nets have almost a week off before returning home October 14 to face the Wizards in their preseason home opener at Barclays Center.


Breaking: Nets' owner reportedly buying minority ownership stake in NFL franchise

Joe Tsai will be adding another line item to his ownership portfolio. According to Bloomberg, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross will be selling stakes in his team valued at $8.1 billion to private equity firm Area Management and Tsai. 

 Reportedly a 10 percent stake in the team, Hard Rock Stadium and the Miami Grand Prix are being made available. 

 Talks are still ongoing, but it's clear Tsai's interests are beyond just his financial and emotional commitment to the Nets.

 Just a month ago, Tsai sold a minority ownership in the Nets to Julia Koch. Tsai's finance background is showing itself in the form of diversifying investments and business acumen. 

 However, the Nets' owner has a long way to go in the interpersonal relations department and his links to the corrupt and unethical Chinese Communist Party is inevitable. 

 Many owners have skeletons in their closet, but Tsai has shown to be a flawed owner incapable of resolving issues with his superstar players,  instead exacerbating them.

Nets' new coach has absurd goal for Ben Simmons

 


The big bad wolf wouldn't mess with Ben Simmons. He'd huff and puff but couldn't blow down the house of bricks the Nets' PG built with outside jumpers.

So why, dear lord why, would Brooklyn's new head coach Jordi Fernandez include Simmons with a list of bigs he wants shooting at least three long range attempts per game?



The rims at Barclays Center and road arenas might not be able to take that kind of abuse from Simmons clanking jump shots.

Then again, Simmons may not even draw iron. 

Fernandez's goal to create floor spacing is admirable, but unfortunately it's not possible with the offensively challenged Simmons.

After multiple back surgeries and knee issues have diminished his once explosive frame, Simmons has devolved into a decent defender and black hole of offense. 

Fernandez, like many in Nets World, is optimistic at the advent of a new season.

 You can't fault him for that. 

But it would take some serious Black Magic to make Simmons an effective offensive player from the perimeter. 

NFL Opener decided in eerily similar fashion to Nets playoff heartbreaker

 




The Brooklyn Nets had their title hopes dashed when Kevin Durant's toe touched the 3-point line on a potential game winning basket in the 2021 NBA playoffs.

That big three squad fell apart and the Nets championship chances went out the window in a flash. So while an NBA playoff loss at a pivotal moment by millimeters can't stack up to a NFL regular season heartbreaker, the similarities are still uncanny.

 



In a rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game, the Ravens went to Arrowhead aiming to avenge the loss on their own turf in January to the Chiefs. 

Trailing 27-20, Lamar Jackson danced in the pocket as the final seconds slipped away and miraculously found an open Isaiah Likely for an apparent touchdown.

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh signaled for his team to go for the two point conversion and the win. Before the Ravens could do that, the booth reviewed the play and upon closer examination, Likely's toe appeared to just touch the out of bounds line in the back of the end zone.

Just like that, a potential win was turned into a devastating loss. Sound familiar Nets fans?

Nets should be wary of veteran All-Star putting Brooklyn atop 2025 FA wish list

 


According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Jimmy Butler has Brooklyn near the top of his wish list during free agency next off-season. 

The veteran shooting guard will turn 35 before next summer and with the Nets fielding a team of players all under 25 outside of Ben Simmons, he doesn't seem to fit the organizational timeline. 

Butler was instrumental in the Heat clinching a finals berth during the 2019-2020 COVID Bubble season as well as the 2022-23 NBA season. Miami lost both trips to the Lakers and Nuggets, respectively.

Sean Marks is going to take a measured approach to free agency, the draft and trade market and bringing Butler into the fold wins disrupt that plan.

Butler's talent is undeniable. He has an ability to lead a team and grind through tough playoff runs. He has worn out his welcome in places where winning didn't pan out like his quick stop in Minnesota. 

Bringing Butler to Brooklyn would be a disaster for all parties involved and should be avoided at all costs. 

This Nets player will wear KD's sacred No. 7

 


If Nets fans haven't turned the page from Kevin Durant's unceremonious exit from Brooklyn, they will be forced to now. 

Shake Milton came over to the Nets from the Knicks in the Mikal Bridges mega blockbuster this offseason.

The shooting guard will take Durant's number 7. 

 This is the first time since Durant's departure that a Nets player will wear that number. 

Clearly Milton won't fill the void left behind from Durant, but seeing another player wear
that number might help the healing process in Brooklyn. 

Nash reflects on disastrous Bklyn tenure, NBA player empowerment




 Things didn't exactly go as planned for Steve Nash in Brooklyn. He'd be the first one to admit that.

With a plethora of injuries, side stories, distractions, COVID interruptions, infighting and constant power struggles, the locker room wasn't exactly a picture perfect place. 

Speaking at former NBA star Goran Dragic's retirement event in Slovenia, Nash revealed to Eurohoops that many obstacles he faced during his first opportunity as an NBA coach in Brooklyn were not basketball related. 

“I was surprised when I coached, you’re not in the team that much, Nash told Eurohoops. You have five minutes with players before the game, at halftime, and after the game. Those are the only times when you address the team. I wanted to connect with every player individually. It’s important to build a culture and an environment where people believe and see them be their best. You need to feel that you want them to become the best version of themselves”, Steve Nash continued.

Managing the egos of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden became untenable for the neophyte head coach. 

"Coaching was a great experience, I didn’t want to be a career coach, admitted Nash to Eurohoops. "I don’t think coaching was about to be my career. I’m coaching my kids, teaching them life. I earned the opportunity to choose, and that’s rewarding, There are always projects, affiliates, and partnerships. I always have something going on, I’m focused on my family."

While Nash did interview for the Toronto opening and didn't get the gig, the two-time MVP had a very difficult situation to navigate in Brooklyn and failed to deliver on the lofty title or bust expectations. 

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