Here are five observations from the Brooklyn Nets’ 114-101 loss to the Clippers on Monday night at Barclays Center, the team’s sixth straight defeat.
1. Brooklyn’s defense continues to struggle
The Nets couldn’t stop a nosebleed against the Clippers. Los Angeles shot 71 percent (15-21) from the field in the first quarter to set the tone. By the end of the night, seven Clippers players scored in double figures. Lou Williams and Milos Teodosic broke down the defense, going north to south on numerous pick-and-roll plays.
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“We couldn’t stop them,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said after the game. “We never found any solution to stop them. They really got downhill on us. Their pick-and-roll game, their guards were in the paint, and they were laying it up, or shooting floaters, or throwing a lob.”
Entering the game, Brooklyn ranked last in steals per game (6.1), tied for 26th in points allowed (109.6), ranked 25th in blocks (4.1) and ranked 23rd in defensive rating (107.7).
2. The Nets haven’t been able to keep things close
Brooklyn has lost its last six games by an average of 10 points per game. The Nets entered the final quarter versus the Clippers down 23 points on Monday.
“It’s definitely difficult right now,” Nets guard Joe Harris said. “Nobody in here likes to lose, especially in the fashion we have been lately. It seems like we keep digging ourselves holes and you can’t beat teams in the NBA when you’re trying to overcome 20-point deficits. The other night it was 28. You just can’t fall into holes like that and expect to come back and try to win games. It takes too much energy, first of all, to crawl your way back in. This is getting repetitive at this point.”
3. There are a few bright spots
Allen Crabbe is finding his rhythm. The 6-foot-6 guard has averaged 25.7 points in his last three games. Crabbe has shot 49 percent (29-59) from the field and 42 percent (16-38) from beyond the arc during this three-game span.
“I think we have to encourage him to seek those shots out and if he gets 10 threes up a game, we’re fine with that,” coach Atkinson said before the game. “We need him. We need his offense. We need his aggressiveness.”
DeMarre Carroll recorded his eighth double-double this season with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. Prior to this season, the 6-foot-8 forward recorded a total of eight double-doubles in his first eight seasons combined. In his ninth season, Carroll is averaging career-highs in points (13.2) and rebounds (6.5) for the Nets.
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4. The All-Star break couldn’t come at a better time
Brooklyn has now lost 10 of its last 11 games and remains without two key players, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert.
“A break is always good,” Nets guard D’Angelo Russell said. “It will give us time to debrief, reflect on what we need to do. Getting our habits and our routines going to finish off the season strong. It definitely could be beneficial for us.”
5. Injuries continue to take their toll
Hollis-Jefferson (right groin strain) and LeVert (right knee sprain) will be out through the All-Star break, coach Atkinson said. The team will reassess each player’s availability after the break.
“We miss his defense, we miss his rebounding,” Atkinson said when asked about the void of Hollis-Jefferson. “There’s no doubt about it. Miss his versatility, those things.”
Brooklyn has a 2-10 record without Hollis-Jefferson and a 2-6 record without LeVert this season. Hollis-Jefferson is tied for the team lead in rebounds (6.5) and LeVert leads the team in steals (1.1) entering Tuesday’s game against the Clippers.
Sixth Man Stat:
Nets forward Quincy Acy set a new career high with five assists and tied a career-high with three steals in the loss.
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(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)