Inside The Nets

The Kevin Ollie era starts with the Nets stumbling in a 121-98 loss to the Raptors

The Nets struggled out of the gate under Kevin Ollie as they got blown out again.

Peter Sunjic

© Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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Brooklyn Nets were competitive for the first three quarters the game against Toronto, but it all fell apart in the fourth quarter. It was disappointing for the Nets, especially since they have a new head coach in Kevin Ollie. After going into the last 12 minutes only down by 11, the Nets gave up 39 points to the Raptors and lost 121 to 93.

Gary Trent Jr. and Immanuel Quickley stood out for Toronto, combining for 49 points. Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges had 21 points, and Cameron Thomas had 19, but the team struggled to score as only Lonnie Walker IV was in double-figures with 11.

“We just didn’t make shots, but their effort, their energy, loose balls, offensive rebounds, they beat us probably in every area. Gave up 46 fast break points and not being able to stop them in half-court situations, and then 19 turnovers,” Ollie said regarding the loss. 

“We started off the third quarter, executing, playing good defense, getting out in the break, making some shots. When our shots go in, we can’t stop playing defense. I think that was a transition point for them to go play in transition.”

This is not the debut Ollie wanted

This game was not the dream debut Ollie would’ve wanted to kick off his head coaching career in the NBA. However, multiple issues played a role in the loss, and chief among them was giving up a franchise record of 46 fast break points. Brooklyn must improve at delaying opponents in transition because they are giving up too many points there.

Of course, this is only the first game under Coach Ollie, but he has some work to do. There were some question marks regarding his rotation, and fans were displeased when he was rolling out a three-guard lineup of Dennis Smith Jr., Dennis Schroder, and Cam Thomas.

The Nets can still play better soon

Brooklyn has another game on Saturday, where they have a rematch against the Western Conference’s best team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. There were some promising signs as Mikal Bridges continued his growth as a go-to guy, and the team got healthier.

The team must match Mikal and Cam because the team has tons of potential when the team gets it right. It will be up to Coach Ollie to make those changes, but it will take some hard work from everyone involved.

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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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