Nets blown out by Raptors as struggles continue in Kevin Ollie’s debut
TORONTO — Different coach. Same result.
In Kevin Ollie’s debut as interim coach, the Nets got ripped, 121-93, by the Raptors before a sellout crowd of 19,800 at Scotiabank Arena.
After Ollie had preached defense in taking over for the fired Jacque Vaughn, he watched his team repeatedly fail to get back in transition.
The Nets were outscored 46-10 in fast-break points, and got run right off the floor in suffering their 24th loss in 32 games.
“We didn’t make shots, but their effort, their energy, loose balls, offensive rebounds, beat us in probably every area,” said Ollie. “And giving up 46 fast-break points and not being able to stop them and limit them in half-court situations was a killer for us. And then 19 turnovers.”
It was all of the above, their unsightly 20 turnovers handing Toronto 32 points while scoring just six themselves off Raptor giveaways.
And their poor shooting — 11 of 37 from deep — produced long rebounds that got turned into fast breaks.
But this wasn’t just about confusion over new schemes, or having to get used to what Ollie is running. This has to do with players not running, Nets not digging down deep for each other — or themselves.
“Turning the ball over. Too many turnovers. Not getting back. … We just got to take more pride defensively,” said Ben Simmons, who wouldn’t use the learning curve as an alibi. “Yeah, it is a lot. Changing coaches, new sets, new defensive schemes. But at the end of the day it’s way too many, regardless of coach and new schemes.
“Just pride. Regardless of who’s coaching the team or what schemes … we’ve got to get back [on defense]. This team is one of the best at getting out and running. … [We need to] have pride. I go back to that. It’s pride. Regardless of who’s coaching, who’s out there, you’ve just got to have pride.”
The Nets fell to 21-34 and trail Atlanta by three games for the final Eastern Conference play-in spot with just 27 left on the schedule.
“We’re still trying to make the playoffs,” said Dorian Finney-Smith. “Sh-t happens in his league and you’ve got to keep grinding.
“Things happened out of our control. But all we can control is what happens in the locker room. We got to play better basketball.”
Mikal Bridges led Brooklyn with a team-high 21 points, while Cam Thomas added 19.
Lonnie Walker IV was the only other Net in double figures as they shot just .412.
Gary Trent Jr. had 25 for Toronto, and ex-Knick Immanuel Quickley 24 with six assists and a plus-32.
“They got about [46] points and it’s tough to win a game like that. So we just got to better in transition,” said Bridges. “No excuses. We all play basketball. Transition is one thing where you already know what you’ve got to do, getting back and communicating. Did a poor job. Can’t really have too many excuses.”
The score had been knotted at 8-all when the Nets went behind for good. They allowed a 14-2 run, and never led again.
A layup by former Knick standout RJ Barrett made it 22-10, and Brooklyn never recovered. The Nets made several runs, but couldn’t get over the hump.
Bridges hit a 3-pointer to pull Brooklyn within 44-41 with 4:49 left in the half, but they surrendered a 15-3 run.
Barrett found Scottie Barnes (18 points, 12 boards) for a dunk and 59-44 Raptors lead.
Brooklyn never knotted it. The Nets clawed within 61-60 on a 27-footer by Thomas, but promptly yielded 10 unanswered points.
The deficit swelled to 34 in the fourth quarter.
“Sometimes challenge is good. Some of our spacing, getting used to some of the different iterations that we had on the basketball court, some of the new sets,” said Ollie. “And I think they’ll get better, I’m confident in that.
“We’re just going to keep repping it and trying to get better. And you’ve just to go face through it, and you’ve got to fight through it. And that’s what we’re going to do. I believe in this group. I’ve gotta be better. Everybody has to be better in that locker room to go get a win [Saturday] in Minnesota.”
