Nets coach Steve Nash called for a better effort from his players after their season reached a new low with a loss to the Pacers Saturday night, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn is close to a fully healthy roster with Seth Curry, Joe Harris and Markieff Morris all returning, but the team’s defense looked as bad as ever, allowing 125 points while sinking to 1-5.
“It was a disaster. How else do you say it? I didn’t see the will, didn’t see the desire or the connectivity necessary to get stops and get rebounds,” Nash said. “We’ve just got to make a bigger commitment. It’s got to mean more. We’ve got to care more.”
The performance raises questions about the team’s focus following a chaotic summer that saw Kevin Durant submit a trade request and then appeal to owner Joe Tsai to fire Nash and general manager Sean Marks. Durant said Saturday that Nash shouldn’t be blamed for the slow start.
“That’s on the individuals. We got to take pride individually,” Durant said. “Coaching matters, chemistry, all that stuff matters. But at the end of the day we’re individuals. So we got to be better as individuals. … Each guy’s just got to dig down deeper and be better.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Nets guard Kyrie Irving had a combative exchange with reporters after the game, defending his promotion of a film considered to be antisemitic and his support of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, Lewis adds in a separate story. “I’m not going to stand down on anything I believe in,” Irving said. “I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone. I have a whole army around me.”
- The Sixers need Tyrese Maxey to take over a larger role in the offense, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. With Joel Embiid sitting out Friday’s game, Maxey made nine three-pointers and scored a career-high 44 points. “That’s why I’ve been on him,” Embiid said. “He’s one of the best shooters and he has the potential to be up there. You know, a great stroke. He can really shoot the ball, great form and he makes them. There’s a reason I’m always on him to just let it fly. He’s got to get up 10 to 15 threes a game. That’s how good of a shooter he is.”
- Knicks guard Quentin Grimes will miss his sixth straight game today with soreness in his left foot, per Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Grimes, who has been listed as day-to-day since the preseason, has been working out before every game, but hasn’t been able to participate in a full practice.
Lay off the YouTube Kyrie. This guy is clueless. He has way too much free time.
lol the irony
I guess you’re in the Kyrie army
That or a different “army” that doesn’t like Jews…
“Too much free time” pretty much sums up all Americans aged 50-80.
He’s a professional athlete, in the prime years of his life. He can’t find better things to do with his time/life? Going down the YouTube rabbit hole, believing the earth is flat is for us common folk trying to escape the monotony of the daily grind.
Kyrie Irving: coddled, rich kid, never been told he’s wrong, starts believing in ridiculous lies and outright stupidity and obvious right wing propaganda thats been exposed as such time and time again by Alex Jones.
Kyrie Irving: “I’m not going to stand down on anything I believe in,” Irving said. “I’m only going to get stronger.”
The arrogance in their own stupidity is by far the most infuriating thing to have to live through in todays world. ALL of the worlds richest+dumbest all have no idea just how dumb they are IRL. Kyrie Irving is an utter disaster of a human being outside of playing basketball and the NBA should kick him out as soon as they can. Jose Canseco deserved more respect from MLB and their fans than Kyrie currently gets from the NBA and their fans, steroids are like 10,000 tiers below the absolutely vile and disgraceful stuff Kyrie says and does on the regular. Remember when he went to an Indian Reservation while unvaxxed? Kyrie deserves prison, not a bullhorn, and his “army” are ALL complete morons who are also ALL WRONG.
As a Nets’ fan and as an NBA fan, it’s painful to watch. I was so hopeful that things would be different when he left Boston. The talent is undeniable. Also, he’s not an idiot, but he doesn’t seem to care that he’s hurting his own team’s fans and spreading some very dangerous rhetoric in the process.
I agree, he knows exactly what he’s doing as he blows up yet another team. Claiming he’s not antisemitic or divisive while promoting a film that is exactly that makes him a dangerous liar.
I was really high on Brooklyn. Then the season started and it became apparent that the train wreck that was last year has not changed.
Kyrie just wants attention at this point. Since nobody is paying attention to him unless he does something stupid. He constantly does and says “stupid” things to get attention. It doesn’t matter to him that it is “negative” attention. In his mind “negative” attention is better than “no attention” at all.
If Brooklyn implodes. Kyrie will be one stupid statement away from no longer having an NBA team willing to sign him. Kyrie may also have cost himself a chance to put on that Laker jersey with stupid stunts. If Brooklyn doesn’t re-sign him. He may struggle to find a team.
Kyrie is on the verge of Kanye status.
You definitely were all over the Brooklyn train. Props for owning it at least. They aint good.
He definitely is one!
“kyrie deserves prison”
What?
He deserves Prison!
It’s not impossible to understand!
Well, considering he hasn’t broken any laws, it kind of is.
Gotta say, I love this so much. It’s finally proving that the “Super team” doesn’t work any longer in the NBA. Lakers Big 3, 0-5. Nets Big 3, 1-5. Bucks Big 1 with quality depth around him, 5-0.
Three guys taking up a teams full Cap space is why the Lakers are the worst 3PT shooting team in the NBA. Nets bench being out scored by 20 last night is the same reason.
The Nets Team are disaster zone, Nash coming from just offensive system game D Anthony school and before the nets he never been a coach, and too much ego’s with the all star player, simple perfect mix for be a looser team.
Hope it continues to burn as a rockets fan
I have repeatedly posted that Durant is not a leader of men or adults. His antics this summer are coming home to roost in the lackadaisical ways of the Nets. I actually now feel sorry for Ben Simmons for being on a mess of a team while looking lost on the court. I think that this year could permanently damage him.
Feeling sorry for that dolt?
HAAAAAAA!
Nets have No leadership. Their best two players are drama Queens. I agree KD is not a leader. He tried to pull a BronGM. And has failed miserably. Westbrook would be a better leader on this team. Cause he fears nothing. And would want to show the world.
Bron is probably only player who has a chance to help Kyrie. And he going to LA would give him ALL the attention he craves.
I do it if I’m Nets. Cause with Westbrook in NY. It would all be about balling. And he’s a highlight they can get behind.
Westbrook saving KDs arr would be major news. And NY loves a comeback story of epic proportions.
Stop watching sports and looking at these guys as hero’s or role models. They play a child’s game and get paid millions of dollars so they are instantly celebrities. If you get your “how to live a good life” lessons from Kylie Irving or Desean Watson I think that’s your problem
These Kyrie threads are really bringing out the antisemites on Hoops Rumors. It’s not hard to spot them when they try to excuse neonazi takes with stuff like “freedom of speech” or “toughen up America.”
Thought that WW2 woulda been enough for these clowns. Antisemites always lose.