Inside The Nets

What we learned from the Nets' devastating loss to the Magic

The Nets suffered a big blow to their place in the Play-In race with a loss to Orlando.

Peter Sunjic

© Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
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The Brooklyn Nets knew this game against the Orlando Magic would be a challenging matchup, which was evident in the first quarter. The Magic already had a 33 to 16 lead after the first quarter, which led to Coach Kevin Ollie’s team struggling to keep up.

Even though six Nets were in double figures, Brooklyn could not keep up with Orlando’s well-oiled machine. Coach Jamahl Mosley had a superb defensive plan, limiting Mikal Bridges and Cameron Thomas’ scoring.

This loss was a crushing result for Brooklyn’s Play-In chances, leading to some lessons for the Nets.

Cam Thomas is learning to play under pressure

Thomas faced plenty of defensive schemes against the Magic, but the two he faced most often were blitzes and double teams. Despite the pressure from the defenders, Cam is growing and evolving under the microscope.

It is a promising development for the Nets as Thomas keeps growing as an offensive player. He is not relying on isolation on every play, as he is learning how to manipulate matchups and succeed against the best defenders.

The Nets are too inconsistent with their starts

Coach Ollie did not like what happened in the first quarter, as his team went down by as much as 18. That has become an unfortunate trend for the Nets, which the coach wants to prevent from happening in future games.

“This is a common theme with us getting down early in certain games. We gotta do a better job, showing our physicality, hitting first, and continuing to do it. We just didn’t do it tonight,” Coach Ollie said after the game. 

“Like the Cleveland game, we started out with stops, the defensive end, and the energy. This team is a good first-quarter team; if we just stay in the fight, we get back into the game.”

Nic Claxton must be more careful with technical fouls

Nic Claxton is one of the Nets’ most important players, but he has been hampered with technical fouls lately. It is not a good habit to pick up an unnecessary technical after a dunk. Clax can be passionate, but there is no need to do something extra after the slam, as that can hamper a team’s momentum.

By kicking this habit, Clax can focus on producing on the court. He had a decent line of 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists, but he has more to give when he’s locked in and not worried about the extracurriculars of basketball.

Brooklyn falls short in a significant loss to the Orlando Magic

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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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