Inside The Nets

What we learned from the Nets' 121-98 blowout loss to the Raptors

The Brooklyn Nets lost in another blowout, this time to the Raptors.

Peter Sunjic

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This game was supposed to be a coming-out party for the Brooklyn Nets, as they played the first game with interim head coach Kevin Ollie. It was not the best performance, given the Nets lost in a 121-98 blowout to the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.

It was a disappointing result for Brooklyn, given the team just had a significant change in the coaching department. We should look at what happened to Brooklyn and the lessons learned from the loss.

The Nets need to improve with transition defense

Brooklyn gave up a franchise-record 46 fast break points. It was the biggest issue of the night in Toronto, especially since the Raptors are one of the best fast-break teams in the league. Playing against someone like Scottie Barnes or Immanuel Quickley should’ve been a sign that the opponents will play a fast-paced style.

The Nets had 19 turnovers, which the Raptors capitalized on, especially in the decisive fourth quarter. This game spotlighted Brooklyn’s issue, as the players need to work harder on the boards and be more careful handling the ball. A team like the Raptors would capitalize on that, and better teams would dominate even more.

Ollie’s rotations need work

Since this is Ollie’s first game in charge, it’s okay to make some mistakes with the rotation, but he has to work on them. Running a lineup of Dennis Smith Jr., Dennis Schroder, and Cameron Thomas all playing together is hard to pull off.

That is even more of a problem when playing against the Raptors, who have stocky guards who could dominate against the Nets’ backcourt. Another issue was playing Ben Simmons alongside Day’Ron Sharpe, which limited the Nets’ spacing. Ollie must understand when to play Ben to maximize his effectiveness on the court.

Bridges and Thomas will be alright

Despite the issues surrounding the rotation and the defense, there were some promising signs with Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas. They were the leading scorers again and are continuing to play well together.

This reliability from both stars should affect the rest of the lineup. Everyone needs to work on their games and keep up with the stars because time is running out, especially for a team wanting to get into the Playoff picture.

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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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