Inside The Nets

Brooklyn blows a golden opportunity in a crushing loss to the Grizzlies

The Nets lose in one of the most disappointing results of the season.

Peter Sunjic

© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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Brooklyn was coming off two massive wins against the Hawks but struggled in the following game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Nets lost the game 106 to 102 in a disappointing performance from Coach Kevin Ollie’s squad.

Nic Claxton led Brooklyn with 21 points, and Cameron Johnson chipped in 18. Luke Kennard had a game-high 25 points for the Grizzlies, hitting six three-pointers to sink the Nets.

“We got in a fight, and we didn't swing, we didn’t keep swinging. And when you don't keep swinging, you get knocked out. And they knocked us out. Starting with me, the coaching staff, players, we should start swinging. We’re not talented enough to do that,” Ollie said after the game. 

“We gotta be scrappy, we gotta be the scrappiest team. We gotta get every rebound, we gotta hit. We just can’t have empty possessions where we don’t fight. But I believe in my guys.”

The game was a blown opportunity

Brooklyn was the favorite for this matchup, considering the Nets won two consecutive games against Atlanta. Memphis did not have their best players, as Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant, and Desmond Bane were all injured. That should’ve spelled a win for Brooklyn, but they did not play with the right energy, leading to the Grizzlies taking advantage.

The Nets allowed Memphis to score 25 second-chance points, which was a deciding factor for this game. That number is an accurate metric for Brooklyn’s struggle with effort for this game, as they got caught flat-footed.

Getting out-rebounded 50 to 33 is a red flag that the Nets must address because that’s inexcusable, considering the Grizzlies are severely short-handed with their squad’s health.

Brooklyn must bounce back from this loss

While this is a demoralizing loss for the Nets, the team has to turn it around quickly, as this was a first half of a back-to-back. Brooklyn plays the Philadelphia 76ers in the second leg of this back-to-back, which is another challenging game, even without Joel Embiid.

Coach Ollie believes in his team to get it done, but he wants them to learn from the mistake of not playing with positive energy in this game.

“They’re gonna come back tomorrow, they’re gonna fight, and we’re gonna play better,” Ollie said ahead of the game against the 76ers.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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