© Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
What we learned from the Nets' devastating loss to the Detroit Pistons
The Nets had momentum coming into this game against the Detroit Pistons. Unfortunately, Brooklyn failed to capture that momentum, losing to Detroit 118 to 112. It was one of the worst results for the Nets this season, considering this was a Pistons team that lost 28 games in a row earlier this year.
Dennis Schroder was the standout for Brooklyn, scoring a team-high 31 points. Unfortunately, the Nets couldn’t secure the win, as they gave up 60+ points between Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.
This loss has led to some significant takeaways ahead of the season's final stretch.
The Nets are a mediocre rebounding team without Sharpe
Day’Ron Sharpe is recovering from a bum wrist, which led to Nic Claxton being the only experienced big man on the roster. Rookie Noah Clowney played nine minutes but couldn’t assist Clax with rebounding.
The former Georgia Bulldog grabbed a team-high ten rebounds, contributing to Brooklyn’s 28 rebounds. It was one of the game’s worst performances on the boards, as they were out-rebounded 50 to 28 by Detroit.
“The biggest difference-maker was probably the rebounding and them just corralling the missed shots and it’s a big momentum change,” Claxton said after the game, taking accountability for the performance. “I need to do better on the offensive glass for sure. I think I’m probably averaging like one (offensive) rebound in the last ten games, so I need to do better.”
Cam Thomas needs to relieve Mikal from the pressure
Over the past ten games, Mikal Bridges has been in a slump, averaging 15.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and four assists per game. His shooting splits show his struggles even more, as he’s only shooting 37.3% from the field and 29.1% from beyond the arc.
Opponents key in on Bridges on defense, and he needs someone like Cameron Thomas to support him. Cam could relieve him of his scoring duties by providing ample support to maximize the Nets’ offense.
Brooklyn must start games better
The Nets’ first-quarter performance was woeful, as they only scored 16 points to Detroit’s 26. Brooklyn recovered and scored 41 points in the second quarter, but that first 12 minutes set the tone for the game.
Coach Kevin Ollie’s team recovered and even took the lead, but the Nets failed to address multiple areas, especially rebounding and maximizing their star player. It must change moving forward, as every game from now is a must-win for Brooklyn.
