Here are my three thoughts on the Nets’ 109-97 loss to the Pistons on Sunday afternoon:
1. There was a lot of commentary on social media Sunday about Jason Kidd’s decision to put in the players from the end of his bench to start the fourth quarter.
Many people seemed to think Kidd was waving a white flag of some sort by deciding to start the fourth quarter with a lineup of Tyshawn Taylor, Alan Anderson, Tornike Shengelia, Mirza Teletovic and Mason Plumlee. But how could anyone say that after watching the absolute disaster of a third quarter?
The Nets were outscored 34-15 in the third, went 5-for-19 from the field (and other than Joe Johnson, 3-for-15) while allowing Detroit to go 12-for-18; committed eight turnovers that led to 10 Detroit points; and were dominated in the paint (20-0) and in transition (9-0).
The Nets are the worst third-quarter team in the league, getting outscored by an average of 5.2 points in the third and outscored by nearly 10 points in the period in their 10 losses.
Then take this postgame quote from Kidd about the decision: “They deserved to play. I should have let them play the whole quarter. They’re playing, you know, for one another.
“It’s not perfect, but that group gave us an opportunity, got [the deficit] to eight, I think at one point, and so you got to tip your hat to those guys. Those guys are playing hard and they’re helping one another on the offense end and the defensive end.”
Kidd doesn’t openly rip his players – whether you like that or not, it’s clearly not his style. But that was a shot across the bow at his veteran players: either you play together or you’re going to sit. It wouldn’t be surprising if Kidd goes to the bench even earlier in Tuesday’s game in Toronto if things don’t get off to a great start.
At 3-10, the Nets don’t have time to waste.
2. Speaking of time, the time has come for the Nets to get Brook Lopez back onto the floor. His absence since spraining his ankle late in regulation of the Nets’ win in Phoenix on Nov. 15 has been glaring.
The Nets have been destroyed inside ever since. With Lopez on the floor, the Nets have the NBA’s best scoring big man and an excellent rim protector, even if he struggles in other defensive areas. Without him, they have no one who can provide that skill at either end of the floor.
That certainly was the case again Sunday, when Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond helped lead Detroit to a massive 56-22 advantage in points in the paint and a 44-35 rebounding edge. Without Lopez on the floor, it’s hard to see how the Nets are going to get any wins anytime soon.
The key thing to watch in terms of getting Lopez back is Monday’s practice. If Lopez practices in full, he should be good to go Tuesday. If he doesn’t practice, the Nets won’t practice again for over a week, leaving one to wonder if he would return at all this week.
3. As much trouble as the Nets have had with big men with Lopez out, they’ve had trouble with quick guards all season long. That became an issue again Sunday, with Brandon Jennings and Rodney Stuckey combining to score 41 points and dish out 16 assists with just four turnovers. Even with Jennings (2-for-10) struggling from the field, he was able to get to the line, and Stuckey scored at will throughout much of the afternoon.
The Nets have a lack of athleticism on the roster, especially with Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko sidelined with injuries. But the combination of opposing guards being able to break down the defense and having no rim protector has added up to the Nets tying for the worst defense in the league with the hapless Utah Jazz at 106.3 points allowed per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com.
Until that starts to change, expect a lot more days like Sunday.