Lichtenstein: Nets Are Simply Worse Than Their Record Suggests

By Steve Lichtenstein
» More Columns

It was old Tampa Bay Bucs coach John McKay who was first credited with the following one-line zinger when asked about his team's execution: "I'm all for it," he said.

Nets coach Lionel Hollins refrained from fueling the flames with such a negative remark following Brooklyn's 88-84 defeat in Miami on Sunday.

But he wouldn't have been wrong had he done so.

You see, Hollins' club is also a case which happens to disprove a noteworthy quote from a far more decorated NFL coach -- Bill Parcells.

The Brooklyn Nets are worse than what their record says they are.

The Nets entered Sunday's game on a three-game winning streak, in the midst of six wins in their previous seven contests.  They were feeling pretty good about themselves and their more "balanced" rotation, with max-contract stars Deron Williams and Brook Lopez adjusting to their demotions to reserve roles.  Even after Sunday's loss, the standings list Brooklyn (16-17) as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, two games up on the eighth-place Heat.

Yet anyone who's watched the Nets lose the first three meetings between the two clubs would have a hard time concluding that Brooklyn is the superior team.  Never mind the won-loss figures.

The biggest reason for the Nets' current edge in the standings is that they have played only 16 of their 33 games against teams that -- as of Monday -- would qualify for the postseason, versus 21 of 35 for Miami.

Beginning on January 12, 10 of the next 12 Nets opponents currently sport winning records.  In February, the Nets will embark on their annual "Circus Road Trip," which will feature eight consecutive games away from Barclays Center.  In only two of their 11 games next month will the Nets face a team that is currently below .500.

Considering that Brooklyn has only won two of those tougher games to date, you can see why Nets fans have reason to fret the New Year.

Unlike the previous two seasons, a Brooklyn turnaround at the turn of the calendar doesn't seem to be in the cards.  There's no change in coach or identity on the horizon this year.

Even Hollins' recent starting-lineup gimmick -- with one-time reserves Jarrett Jack, Mason Plumlee and Sergey Karasev joining Joe Johnson and Kevin Garnett for the opening tip -- seems to have run its course.  Only Plumlee has played well enough among the trio to even force a debate.

In fact, I can only guess that it was Hollins' superstition -- Jason Kidd's go-to move as the Nets' "mastermind" last season -- that was the deciding factor in allowing Karasev to open up on Dwyane Wade on Sunday after the star guard abused him three weeks ago in Brooklyn.

It should also be noted that Hollins stubbornly stuck by Mirza Teletovic while Miami's Chris Bosh torched him in every which way, while superior defenders Plumlee and Garnett never touched the floor in the fourth quarter.

And in his postgame press conference, Hollins wondered why the Nets couldn't get any stops down the stretch.

I was more dumbfounded by Hollins' remark about his club's offense, which came off as downright offensive to anyone who watches these games to marvel at basketball played at the highest level.

For the last five quarters -- including Saturday's fourth quarter in Orlando during which the Nets nearly blew a 26-point lead -- the Nets have pretty much thrown Hollins' flex system out the window.

It's not just the ball movement that has screeched to a halt during the Nets' isolation-heavy attack in Florida.  It's the player movement as well, as the other four Nets mostly stood around and watched while either Johnson, Williams, Lopez or Jack pounded the ball until the shot clock ran low.

Hollins deemed the Nets' sputtering output merely a case of "shots not falling."

No, a good chunk of the blame should have gone to poor shot selection.

While the Heat created any shot they desired on a majority of their possessions, the Nets too often relied on contested attempts off one-on-one maneuverings.

With the game in doubt in the final minute, Teletovic and Alan Anderson each chucked up step-back three-pointers off one pass.  From there, Wade and Bosh (who combined for 51 points) sealed the game at the foul line.

The Heat's dominance in this series goes beyond "a bad matchup" for Brooklyn.  Miami's lineup -- when healthy -- not only is comprised of more and better two-way players, but it's also better organized on both ends as well.  Assuming the Heat stay healthy, they'll get their opportunity to feast on the East's bottom-feeders, just as the Nets have done.

I've already laid out in prior columns how poorly general manager Billy King constructed this roster, and why I believe the Nets should take what they can get in trades to rid themselves of Lopez and Williams.  The Nets' recent surge changed nothing in my eyes.

One of my comrades who works at Barclays Center recently remarked that the Nets would be hard-pressed to miss the playoffs this year in such a weak conference.  I disagreed, believing teams like Indiana or Charlotte had it in them to make a run.

I should have countered with the classic Jim Mora rant from his days as the Indianapolis Colts' coach:

"Playoffs?! Don't talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me?"

For a FAN's perspective of the Nets, Jets and the NHL, follow Steve on Twitter @SteveLichtenst1. 

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories