Golden State Warriors enjoy a return to the spotlight as the Brooklyn Nets admit they’re not there yet

BROOKLYN, NY – After brooklyn network routed by Golden Empire Warriors on Tuesday night at their home, losing 117-99 to a 0-4 loss this season to the Warriors, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks, Nets coach Steve Nash said his team is not yet in the same conversation as those teams.

“Well, I just think we’re not in that category yet,” Nash said, after Brooklyn was blown away in the third quarter despite Stephen the curry sit for most of it with foul trouble. “We still have a lot of work to do. We’re trying to improve as a team, get better, and hopefully we can figure out how to fix some of our flaws by the end of the year.” .”

The Nets, with a score of 10-5, are behind a game leading the East Washington Wizards and inferior to the Bulls in second half game. But despite their record, and their star power, Nash was disappointed with the way his side flopped in the second half against Golden State – just as it did in the fourth round in Chicago last week. .

When faced with a Warriors team that has extensive knowledge of the company with the likes of coach Steve Kerr and stars Curry and Draymond Green – all of which have been together for more than seven seasons – the Nets repeatedly say continuity is something they will have to spend the whole season catching up on.

“We’re just trying to improve every game,” Nets star James Harden said after finishing with 24 points, four rebounds and four assists. “The goal is to be the best team at the end of the season, in the post-season. That’s the goal. But maybe not. [there yet]. We may not be anywhere near. But it’s been a long season for us to get better, and we’ll keep getting better. “

When asked what it takes to get there, Harden spoke of creating an identity for the way the game plays at both ends – something the Warriors, at a 12-2 league lead and starting to resemble, the team won the 2015 NBA championship and did. 2016 NBA Finals against Current Net Kevin Durant came to the Golden State, has clearly established.

“We had to figure out our identities,” Harden said. “We’re still a brand new team, so we still have to figure out what we’re good at, what we’re good at, what we can be good at and it’s going to take a long season. But we’re, so what, 14, 15 games? So tonight’s game doesn’t really affect us at all. I don’t think anyone knows who we are. because they’ve been together for a long time.”

That Golden State identity certainly emerged in the third quarter, as the Warriors — who have now outstried the teams by a staggering 124 points in the third of their 14 games this season, are so far this season. the most in the NBA – appeared. heat at both ends, even as Curry sat with bad trouble. It’s the avalanche these Warriors will hit teams at when they’re at their best, with Curry firing from deep outside the 3-point arc, Green wreaking havoc on defenses, and Golden State looking connected in both. top the pitch in a way their opponents can’t keep up with.

“That’s right, the way the crowd energizes when Steph starts rising from 30 feet – it’s everywhere,” Kerr said. “It happened in Charlotte the other night. It happened tonight. So I think the fact that our team is good again, is playing well and has a good record has added to what is. Steph gives the board every night, about his skills and performances. And that stuff – when you win and you get an amazing skill show from Steph, people watch. It’s fun to watch. to be back in the limelight again. Our team is really happy to be back here.”

The Nets looked helpless to stop it – even Durant, who had an unusually bad shooting night, scored 19 points in a 6 to 19 shoot. Curry, on the other hand, was playing video games, finishing with 37 points in a 12 to 19 shot, including a 9 to 14 from a 3-point range, elicited chants of “MVP” from the crowd in Brooklyn. Curry admits it’s weird to hear that in an opposition building where especially the warriors support throughout the game.

“It’s a combination,” Durant said when explaining his filming troubles, adding that his recent pain in his right shoulder (shooting) didn’t affect the night off. his. “They’ve played great defense, they’ve got long defenders and guys who can help, send their body all the time when I have the ball. That’s what a great defense does. And there are some. a shot I wish I could turn back. I jumped in.” Once we got down to 18 or 20, I tried to get back too quickly and took bad pictures and rushed pictures. It’s part of the journey and understanding what level you need to be in possession. This is a great test for us.”

It was also a test that the Nets failed to do. And, for a team that is expected to be a nuisance this season – even if Kyrie Irving continue to be left the group after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine – it was another poor performance at the end of the time.

The Nets shot from distance only 39.1% and shot 10 to 36 (27.8%) from a distance of 3 points. While Brooklyn has far exceeded expectations in terms of defense and ranked 9th in defensive efficiency with Boston Celtics After Tuesday’s loss, the fact that the Nets are 18th in offensive efficiency is jarring.

Nash admitted part of it was a hangover from Irving’s absence, whom he reiterated before the game that he continued to stay in touch, even though they weren’t talking about basketball. Meanwhile, he must try to convince his team to head in the direction they want to go as they continue to try to build towards the kind of deep playoffs they expect – one game, based on current form. , potentially ending up with them facing these Warriors in the NBA Finals.

“I think the boys have been great at buying what we wanted to do defensively,” Nash said. “Nobody can pick us as a top 10 defense to start the new year, and we’re defending, we’re figuring out a way. I think we have all these different squads, different backgrounds, play styles, 10 new players in our team.It takes time.

“We started the year with a continuity plan from last year. [Irving] hasn’t come back, so we’re trying to build and figure it out. But we played really well defensively. It really tests you. And I think tonight was a great lesson for us that we have to stick to some of our principles when things get tough. “