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Inside The Nets

What we learned from the Nets' blowout defeat to the visiting Cavaliers

Brooklyn lost a big game again to the Cavs for the third time, with this one being a massive blowout.
Peter Sunjic|
© Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The Nets suffered another tough loss to the Cavs, slipping into a three-game losing streak. After a promising start to February, the Nets are back on a three-game losing streak after getting blown out by the Cleveland Cavaliers 95 to 118. It is a disappointing result, but some factors led to the loss.

Injuries hampered the Nets, with many key players sitting out and combining it with the trades that happened earlier in the day. It was understandable why Brooklyn was short-handed. With the loss, there were some important takeaways for the Nets moving forward.

Brooklyn is struggling without depth

With only nine players on the roster, Brooklyn struggled when playing against the Cavs. Donovan Mitchell dominated the game again with his performance, scoring 27 points to lead his team to victory. He is an MVP candidate for a reason, and the Nets had no answer for him apart from Mikal Bridges scoring 26.

The Nets struggled to find their rhythm as only Mikal, Cameron Thomas, and Trendon Watford were in double-digit scoring. Injuries have ravaged the Nets’ rotation, and losing reliable scorers like Lonnie Walker IV and Cameron Johnson was a big blow to the offense.

Ben Simmons had another decent game, but Coach Jacque Vaughn needs to get more out of him. The Aussie was limited to playing 20 minutes again due to his minutes restriction. Simmons would be much more effective when he gets to play more minutes and stamp his impact on the Brooklyn system.

Watford should be in the rotation for the rest of the season

Trendon Watford was impressive in his 26 minutes, scoring 15 points and grabbing six rebounds for the Nets. Coming from his stint in Portland, most fans in the Northwest were raving about Watford’s impact on offense, which was evident for this game.

Coach Vaughn should be happy with what he saw from Trendon, and hopefully, it can be an argument to convince him to keep playing the former LSU Tiger.

The new acquisitions will help the Nets improve

While Spencer Dinwiddie and Royce O’Neale were good contributors for the Nets, the new acquisitions can help. Dennis Schroder is a talented point guard who can settle the team down when needed, but he’s also a reliable scorer.

Keita Bates-Diop is an energetic wing that can take over from O’Neale’s role but with more length. Lastly, Thaddeus Young is a valuable veteran who has played all over the NBA. His knowledge will factor in for a Nets team filled with young players.

The Nets trade Spencer Dinwiddie for Dennis Schröder, Thaddeus Young

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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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