Inside The Nets

The Brooklyn Nets suffer a close loss to the New York Knicks

The Nets had a strong chance to win this game, but the Knicks executed better in the clutch.

Peter Sunjic

© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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The Brooklyn Nets had chips on their shoulders ahead of playing the New York Knicks after their 1-2 West Coast road trip. Coach Jacque Vaughn's team competed all night, but the Nets could not get it done, losing 103-108 to their cross-borough rivals.

Mikal Bridges was the standout for Brooklyn, posting a stat line of 36 points, five rebounds, and five assists. However, the Knicks were too strong, especially with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle scoring 30 points each.

“I hope we have a group that wants to lean into it and step right through the door. That's the only way we're going to make it out the other side,” Coach JV said about the late-game execution after the game. 

“I look forward to more games like these. The next time we're in a game like this, it'll be better.”

Another blown fourth-quarter lead

Like the game against the Clippers, the Nets had a good lead in the fourth quarter. However, late-game execution reared its ugly head again because Brooklyn only had six points in the final five minutes.

It has become a big problem for the Nets because they competed hard against other teams. Coach JV is pushing the team to play with pace, which suddenly disappears in the final few minutes.

The players default to doing isolation plays and relying on individual talent to beat out the other team. That should not happen because Coach Vaughn wants the Nets to keep moving the ball and stick to what is working.

The Nets have a rough stretch ahead

Brooklyn plays again on Thursday against the Western Conference’s best team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. After that, they will play against multiple Playoff-level teams.

The Nets have shown promising signs in the past few games, which the team can build on. Players like Mikal and Cameron Thomas are entering a big part of the season, and they’re building good momentum to compete for a play-in spot in April.

It will be a tough slate of games for Brooklyn, but the squad is ready to perform and get more wins. They are getting healthier day by day, so having a complete roster will be big for Coach Vaughn.

Can D'Angelo Russell make a return to the Brooklyn Nets?

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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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