Inside The Nets

Key takeaways from the Nets' loss to the Cavs in Paris

The Nets showed some disappointing and promising signs against the Cavs in Paris.

Peter Sunjic

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The Brooklyn Nets lost against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2024 NBA Paris Game 102-111. This was a tale of two halves as the Nets struggled to score in the first half, falling to a 20-point deficit at the break.

Brooklyn came back in the second half to cut the lead to single digits, but Donovan Mitchell stepped up in the clutch for the Cavs, guiding them to the victory. The four-time All-Star scored 45 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead his team to the victory. For Brooklyn, Mikal Bridges and Cameron Thomas scored 26 points apiece.

Brooklyn has to improve on their starts

Jacque Vaughn and the Nets have struggled with starting the game strong, mainly due to their shots not falling. The best way to remedy this is through ball movement and capitalizing on transition opportunities. Unfortunately, Brooklyn has struggled in that area, which has led to their poor starts to games.

Brooklyn only scored 34 points in the first half, which is discouraging because the team has talented offensive players. Thankfully, they recovered in the second half and threatened the Cavs’ lead.

Day’Ron Sharpe’s absence was felt

Sharpe suffered an injury in the Nets’ previous game against the Blazers, which promptly took him out of this game. This left Nic Claxton without a proper backup and the rest of the team struggling with rebounding.

The Cavs only had a +6 lead in rebounding, but getting 12 offensive rebounds led to 18 second chances points. Having Sharpe would’ve been a huge boost to the Nets’ rotation since he could box out and grab the boards well.

Thomas and Walker bring a solid boost to the Nets

Both Thomas and Walker started on the bench, but they played plenty of minutes because of their potency on offense. Thomas had 26, but Walker had his first breakout performance after returning from injury, scoring 20 points.

With the Nets continuing to get healthier, having a pair of top scorers like Thomas and Walker serving as backups would be a phenomenal boost to the bench. Ben Simmons is nearing his return and will stabilize the starting lineup in the playmaking department, further boosting Thomas and Walker’s effectiveness.

The Nets’ next game is against the Miami Heat on January 15 at Barclays Center.

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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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