Inside The Nets

The biggest takeaways from the Nets' disappointing loss to the Warriors

The Nets struggled in their return to Barclays Center after a short trip to Philly.

Peter Sunjic

© Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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The Brooklyn Nets have been playing well recently but stumbled in this game against the Golden State Warriors. Injuries impacted this game, and the score was affected when Cameron Johnson and Lonnie Walker IV got hurt.

Brooklyn had superb performances in previous games, but Mikal Bridges and Cameron Thomas only combined for 31 points. That is a far cry from the duo’s stat lines in recent games when they combined for 50+ points every game. Apart from the two lackluster top scorers’ performances, there were key takeaways from this loss.

The Nets need to get healthier

Injuries have continued to be the primary story for Brooklyn this season, as the team already had three players out before this game. It got even worse when Johnson and Walker had their respective injuries, which shortened Coach Jacque Vaughn's rotation even more.

Mikal had to play 43 minutes, which can hurt his performance on the second night of a back-to-back against Dallas. The injuries to Johnson and Walker are insignificant, so the Nets will likely take a cautious approach by not playing them in the Mavericks game.

Ben Simmons will play against Dallas after being out with injury maintenance against Golden State. Day’Ron Sharpe and Dorian Finney-Smith are still out, which limits Brooklyn’s frontcourt rotation. Based on his post-game comments, Coach Vaughn will likely play Trendon Watford and Harry Giles III against Dallas.

Coach Vaughn should trust players outside the rotation

Both Watford and Giles could’ve contributed in this game, but Coach Vaughn wanted to keep playing his usual rotation. Mikal had to play a grueling 43 minutes and looked fatigued during the last stretch.

The two frontcourt players would’ve brought good energy to the Nets team that needed one after the deflating injuries to Johnson and Walker. Coach JV should also consider playing rookies Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson because they have proven to be solid players in the G-League and sporadic minutes in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn needs a point guard

Spencer Dinwiddie looks disengaged whenever he’s playing nowadays, while Ben Simmons is often injured. Cam Thomas has played as a ball-handler, but his effectiveness as a playmaker is still unrefined.

With the trade deadline near, the Nets can address this issue by getting a good point guard. They have been linked to Dejounte Murray for a few weeks now, but a move for a player like Tyus Jones can still work since he’s a table-setting point guard Brooklyn needs.

The Brooklyn Nets' slow second half leads to a big loss to the Golden State Warriors

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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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