Nets Are Scorching

AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

Hot Hot Hoops – Peninsula is Mightier – View from the Couch

Take another “winnable game” off the board for the Nets.

It sadly, has come to this. With just 12 games left in the season, the Nets will essentially need to play better than they’ve played all season and I just don’t know if they’ll do it. I don’t know because last night looked like another opportunity for the Nets that they just let sail by them in such effortless fashion, it’s hard to imagine things finally starting to “click” with just 12 games to go. If it hasn’t clicked after 70, why start now?

Maybe my expectations should have been lowered. Coming into last night’s game, the Nets were matched up against a team fighting for its playoff lives. But the Nets have also played these same Heat tough in two losses earlier this season, including a heartbreaker in November that was probably the game that cinched the now historic 0-18 start. And in reality, the Nets had a fighting chance this entire game, despite shooting 38 percent and allowing Miami to shoot 56 percent, including closer to 60 percent through the game’s first three quarters.

But things fell apart, once again, in the third quarter. Similar to Saturday’s game against Toronto, the Nets settled for too many jumpers, played too little defense, and got outscored by wide margin: in this instance 27-14. And just to pile on, one of the Nets better players the past few weeks, Terrence Williams, landing awkwardly on Jermaine O’Neal’s foot during a drive to the hoop during the quarter, and was limping pretty badly when he went back to the trainer’s room for more evaluation. Williams looked primed for a triple-double last night, scoring 9 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. However, in addition to his performance last night, I just don’t know if the Nets, as they’re currently playing, will be able to win three more games with Terrence Williams out. While the Nets are yet to win a game since TWill has been inserted into the starting lineup, I do think the team tends to play better when he’s on the floor. The Nets were actually playing their best earlier in the night when Williams wasn’t scoring, but he quickly amassed 6 assists and 5 rebounds. I think I can safely say he’s the only player currently on the roster that makes the team better without having to score.

A few more thoughts after the jump:
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Assistant coach John Loyer earned some praise from his players prior to last night’s game: And while his style is more intense than that of Vandeweghe, “he’s just really enthusiastic and positive, and he challenges you in a good way,” Trenton Hassell said.

Loyer believes his team is still trying: “I don’t think about that,” Loyer said. “I think about those 12 guys in the locker room. Looking those guys in the face the last couple of days with their will to win — these guys want to win. These guys want to play. These guys want to compete. I feel bad for them.”

It was a bad night for CEO Brett Yormark as well, who reportedly got into a shouting match with an Izod Center spectator wearing a brown paper bag over his head last night.

Terrence Williams on his ankle injury: “I told them I don’t even want to wear this boot — I already got [work] boots on,” Williams said.