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Dream scenario for Brooklyn Nets revealed

 


The Brooklyn Nets made a major move on Monday following the All-Star break, relieving head coach Jacque Vaughn of his duties. 

The Nets( 21-33) were underachieving in the first half of the year and closed out the first 54 games with a 50-point drubbing at the hands of the Boston Celtics at TD Garden Arena.

That game was the straw that broke the camel's back. Sean Marks and Joe Tsai, in consultation with team leaders, including Mikal Bridges, decided to make a coaching change.

Vaughn unsuccessfully tried to carry over Steve Nash's freelance and free-flowing offense that worked so beautifully with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. Now, without superstar talent, the offense was inexplicably built around Ben Simmons, who could never stay healthy. 

The Nets should have been a top flight defensive team, but Vaughn decided to employ a drop defense that had catastrophic results. 

Bridges and other players were looking for clearly defined roles as Vaughn constantly tinkered with starting rotations. 

Now, as the Nets look to the remaining 28 games of the year, it appears as if assistant coach, Kevin Ollie, who joined Vaughn stuff this year, will be name the interim coach. 

Brooklyn will likely cast a wide net this summer in an exhaustive coaching search. Expect Mike Budenholzer to be atop that list. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo's former coach could be the biggest recruiting tool for prospective free agents or superstar trade targets. Things haven't been exactly sunny in paradise in Milwaukee, as Doc Rivers taking over for Adrian Griffin has seen some growing pains. 

The dream scenario for Brooklyn Nets fans is for Antetokounmpo to return this time as a hero in the borough and not public enemy number one. Perhaps the Greek freak will see that life without Bud isn't exactly all it's cut out to be. 

Mikal Bridges fails to defend Nets fans on Knicks podcast

 


Mikal Bridges is a good guy. Always smiling and with an upbeat attitude. He's low-key, but knocking on the door of All-Star status. 

But when the Nets best player went on a podcast this week with former Villanova teammates and now New York Knicks, Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson, it became difficult for Nets fans to watch. 

While it appears the ribbing is good natured, Bridges doesn't exactly stand tall against the criticism of Nets fans and the lack thereof at Barclay Center when the Knicks came to Brooklyn earlier this year.

 

Knicks fans have jokingly referred to Barclays Center as MSG South. 

Just another dig at what they consider their little brother- even though the Nets have been the better franchise over the last quarter century. 

It's clear the tide is turning in New York and the Knicks are coming together as a championship hopeful squad. Meanwhile, Brooklyn is sinking into an abyss and failing to find an identity. 

With all this happening in this intercity rivalry, Bridges' inability to at least push back on that narrative has caused a lot of unrest and Nets World. 

Brooklyn's historic 50-point defeat in Boston proves changes need to happen fast



Embarrassing doesn't even begin to describe what the Nets experienced at TD Garden on Wednesday night. Ineptitude, listlessness and just a downright disgusting brand of basketball is what the Nets put on the floor in their last game prior to the All-Star Break. 

Not a single Net will be participating in the All-Star festivities in Indiana, but it seemed as though the players' minds and that of the coaching staff's was on other travel plans during the break. 

The Nets were romped in a historic loss that was only second to a 52-point defeat they suffered in 1978 at the hands of the Houston Rockets. That team back then made the playoffs. This Brooklyn club, 2.5 games back of the final play-in spot, might not be so lucky. 

The Nets lack leadership, accountability, grit, toughness and just about every characteristic you need to be a winning club. Given the talent on this team, while it can't come close to that of the superstar era, there's not reason that Brooklyn should be floundering at 11 games under .500. But here we are. 

Jacque Vaughn's seat should be hot to the touch, but it's unlikely that an in-season coaching change will be made with still two years after this season remaining on his contract. 

The All-Star break couldn't come at a better time for a Nets team searching for, but finding no answers. 

Brooklyn will have a hard time advancing into the playoffs if they make the play-in, but not making the play-in all together would be a failure of colossal proportions. Without a pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Nets are in NBA purgatory and one of the most pitiful stories in the league this season.       

Nets late comeback falls short against Celtics

 


In the front end of a home and home, Brooklyn came up on the short end of the stick.

Ben Simmons jump shots were as ugly as the muddy, melted streets throughout the Northeast.

Nic Claxton followed up one of his best performances against the Spurs on Saturday with a terrible outing on Tuesday against Boston.

The Nets had no answers for Jayson Tatum, who dropped 41, while Mikal Bridges had 27 and Cam Thomas 26.

The Nets get another crack at Boston in part of the home and home at TD Garden on Wednesday night. 



Claxton outplays Wembanyama as Nets cruise past Spurs



 Nic Claxton had a chip on his shoulder on Saturday night against the likely Rookie of the Year award winner, Victor Wembanyama. The Nets center went for 20 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks on 10 of 15 from the field.  

Wembanyama went for 21 points, but managed just 4 rebounds, 1 blocked shot, committed four turnovers and shot 7 of 16 from the field. 

Claxton and Schröder showed an impressive level of chemistry in just their first game together as the point guard had 15 points and 12 assists.

Brooklyn shot a sizzling 50 percent from deep and 56.3 percent overall. 

While the outing was a great team win for the Nets, San Antonio is just 10-43 on the season. After taking care of business against San Antonio, the Nets will face the Boston Celtics in a home and home starting Tuesday at Barclays Center. 

The Nets will look to grab at least one victory out of the back-to-back and close out the pre-All-Star break on a high note. 

Short-handed Nets shellacked by Cavs in latest embarrassing loss



 The Brooklyn Nets had only eight available players on Thursday after the trade deadline passed.

With Spencer Dinwiddie and Royce O'Neal no longer part of the equation, Brooklyn wasn't even able to keep a close against Donovan, Mitchell and company.

Mitchell had 27, while Mikal Bridges had 26 and Cam Thomas 17. 

The Nets look like a team that is going to have a very rough second half of the schedule. The Cavaliers are the hottest team in the entire NBA, winners of 16 of their last 17 contests. 

Sean Marks did unload a pair of expiring contracts and the only significant move was bringing in Dennis Schröder. 

Brooklyn looks like a team that is stumbling into the All-Star break and will need a hard reset this summer.

While the fan base is clamoring for superstar talent back on the team, Jacque Vaughn will need to find a way to stack some wins and avoid an NBA lottery situation where the Nets don't even own their own pics. 

Nets make two trades on deadline day



 The Brooklyn Nets completed a trade with the Toronto Raptors acquiring point guard Dennis Schröder and forward Thaddeus Young in exchange for guard Spencer Dinwiddie

The Raptors subsequently bought out Dinwiddie and he is expected to be a coveted piece on the buyout market by several contenders, including: the Lakers and Mavericks.

Dinwiddie played in 348 games as a Net, in two separate stints, and is one of the most accomplished players in franchise history. 

In a separate deal, the Nets sent out another expiring contract in Royce O'Neale, reuniting him with Kevin Durant, now in Phoenix. As part of the deal, the Nets acquire three future second round picks and Keita Bates-Diop and Jordan Goodwin. 

And a corresponding move, the Nets cut forward. Harry Giles.  Brooklyn still has a log jam on their roster and will need to release one more player. 

While the trade deadline was not the splashy type that many Nets fans had hope for, the weren't that many marquee players available. Brooklyn now has the flexibility to revisit trades over the summer, especially a player they had on their radar and Dejounte Murray. 

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