What was once a homecourt advantage for the Nets has disintegrated into a homecourt disadvantage.
Nearly every game at the Meadowlands has started with them digging themselves a double-digit hole in the first half, mounting a furious rally in the second, and walking off the floor losers.
And it’s a trend they know they need to change.
They’re mired in a five-game losing streak at the Meadowlands, and at 3-6 at home were tied with sorry Seattle and Minnesota for the NBA most home losses heading into last night. Their next game is Saturday night – at home versus Philly.
For a club that had been 171-75 at home the previous six seasons – sixth-best in the NBA since Jason Kidd’s arrival, and second-best in the East.
When Kidd was asked the difference in their game on the road, he quipped, “More people in seats,” before quickly adding that he was just joking.
“We’re just not playing well,” he said. “We’ve always played well here, always had some kind of homecourt advantage the last five, six years, but right now this is not being an advantage. This is a disadvantage for some reason. We’ve got to take it back.”
Tuesday’s 110-103 loss to Memphis was typical of their woes in the Swamp. They spotted the last-place team in the Southwest an 18-point second-quarter lead, rallying within one only to fall short.
“We’ve got to figure out a way to come out with more energy at the start of a game,” said Richard Jefferson.
“There’s no need for us to be down 10, 15, 20 points every game in the first half. I can’t think of a game where we’ve been up 20, and I can’t think of a game where we haven’t been down double digits.
“Something needs to be addressed. We have to figure this out as a team, including myself. There’s no need for us to keep getting off to these slow starts.”