Inside The Nets

Key takeaways from Brooklyn's bizarre collapse against the Los Angeles Clippers

The Nets had one of the season’s best performances in the first three quarters.
Peter Sunjic|
© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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Brooklyn NetsLos Angeles Clippers

Brooklyn had a strong performance against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first three quarters. It was positive growth from the previous game against the Lakers. However, that did not last long because Coach Jacque Vaughn's team had one of the biggest collapses in recent history.

The Nets had a 114-103 advantage with five minutes left, but Brooklyn failed to register a single point after that. Los Angeles took advantage and won the game 114-125 on the back of Kawhi Leonard's massive fourth quarter.

This kind of loss leads to some significant takeaways. Take a look at some of them here.

Cam Thomas is evolving into a good playmaker

Most NBA fans would say that Cameron Thomas is a pure scorer. That is not the case because the former LSU Tiger has worked on his game and has become a legitimate playmaker. He was getting his pick-and-roll reps against the Clippers, which led to some highlight plays.

This kind of growth shows Cam’s potential as a starting guard to pair with Mikal Bridges. Of course, Cam is still a score-first player, but having this kind of growth is why Nets fans are desperate to see him start and have the ball more.

The Nets need to stick to ball movement

A free-flowing offense got the Nets a lead as big as 18 points. Unfortunately, the team went away from what worked. The offense got stale because they kept running isolation plays and aimless pull-up jump shots.

That will not work against a team like the Clippers, who were waiting for the right time to strike. Kawhi did that with his massive fourth-quarter performance alongside a superb game from Russell Westbrook, posting a stat line of 23 points, nine rebounds, and six assists off the bench.

The Nets must keep passing the ball and finding the right shots. Thomas and Bridges can still do isolations, but they should avoid doing it every time.

Brooklyn has to be mentally tougher

This is not the first loss Brooklyn suffered where the Nets struggled to close the game out. The team left a small window for the Clippers, and a superb team like them will always capitalize on that mistake.

Coach JV and his team must be mentally stronger to combat this issue. Clutch time is when the best teams shine, and while Mikal is a top-three statistical clutch scorer in the league, the team still needs to be better. They have to make the right play and not get overwhelmed by the pressure because this was a winnable game.

The Nets fall apart in the fourth quarter in a crushing loss to the LA Clippers

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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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