NBA

‘I don’t know what we are’: Nets still grasping for identity

When Mikhail Prokhorov decided to spend nearly $190 million on the Nets this season, the owner believed he was buying a winning team, perhaps even a title team.

But 27 games into the season, the Nets (9-18) aren’t winning. The new pieces brought over from Boston — Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry — haven’t fit. The puzzle is a mess.

Even worse, the Nets have no idea what the picture is even supposed to look like.

“I don’t think we have an identity. I don’t know what we are,” Garnett said. “There’s been a lot of moving parts this year. So all of us can sort of look at it and use it as an excuse, and I’d like to know that I’m not an excuse kind of guy, and I’ll figure it out.

“I could sit here and give you 101 excuses, but at the end of the day, it’s about winning. … We still haven’t adjusted the chemistry, the connections, the problems that we have, and there’s a lot of variables that go into that. It’s not just like we’re out here trying to lose. That’s not what it is. Every guy in here is a prideful guy, and like I said earlier, everyone needs to look in the mirror and see what they can do better.”

Despite a roster full of veterans and former All-Stars, the Nets are still trying to figure out how to play together, with basically one-third of the season complete. In a Christmas matinee, the Nets will meet the Bulls (10-16) at Barclays Center for the first time since losing on the same floor to Chicago in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs last season.

Since that loss, the Nets have added so much, yet fallen so far. The blockbuster trade gave the Nets toughness, leadership and championship experience, seemingly giving a team on the rise what it needed to become a team at the top.

But what Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen did six seasons ago with the Celtics, making chemistry among new teammates look so easy, couldn’t look any more difficult now.

An identity can’t even be envisioned.

“I don’t think we kind of know or understand what kind of team we are, offensively or defensively,” Joe Johnson said after Tuesday’s practice. “It’s hurt us in a lot of ways. We’ve lost a lot of close games. It’s definitely hurt us. I don’t know when we’re gonna figure it out or how we’re gonna figure it out, but we have to.”

The Nets have lost three straight games, and following Monday’s 103-86 home loss to the Pacers, Jason Kidd offered a rare criticism of his players, saying he thought the team was getting comfortable with losing.

Garnett, 37, did not agree with his 40-year-old coach.

“Personally, I can only control myself and I’d never step on the floor if I’d accept anything less than [winning],” Garnett said. “I’m not built like that, nor do I think my teammates are built like that. Obviously, we’re going through a tough time and that’s his assessment, but I don’t think that’s true.”

Still, Johnson said the Nets are acting like a losing team. On film, he said he’s noticed too many players hanging their heads or failing to get back on defense.

“When you’re out there playing, it might not look as bad or seem as bad to you, but there’s some very glaring things that we definitely have to turn around,” Johnson said. “I think we all got positive attitudes, even with our record being what it is. We have developed some bad habits, so to speak, and it definitely has hurt us.

“We got a lot of confident guys who really think this thing is gonna turn around sooner than later. I wouldn’t say we’re comfortable with losing. I think guys do care and understand what’s at stake.”