The Nets are staring at an 0-5 start, and the message from inside the locker room is getting clearer by the day: this group needs steadier hands and a tougher response when the game turns.
Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. are supposed to be the veteran anchors for a Brooklyn team that has already shown too much fragility. After taking Boston to overtime on Tuesday, the Nets came back home Friday and were beaten by Detroit by 16 in their NBA Cup opener. Brian Lewis of The New York Post noted that the team’s body language has become a concern, and Randle didn’t dodge the issue.
“[We’ve] just got to be mentally tougher, understand what’s going on in the game, understand what we’re trying to accomplish, what we can take advantage of, stuff like that,” Randle said. “But we just have to have better recognition in-game of what’s going on and just be better from there.
But we get adversity right now as a group, and it just deflates us as a team. So I have to find a way to keep the group together, and get us out of those ruts when we’re facing those types of situations.”
Brooklyn is the only winless team left in the East, and the pressure on its veteran duo comes with an added wrinkle: both players could be temporary pieces. Porter is on a $40.8MM expiring contract and could be moved before the trade deadline, while Randle has a $35.8MM player option for next summer and could choose to test free agency.
Even with that uncertainty hanging over the roster, coach Jordi Fernandez said he’s been pleased with the way both players have tried to steady a young team.
“I always want them to lead and it’s got to come out of an honest place. I cannot force them to be out of character,” Fernandez said.
“I think they’re both good people and they both mean well, so whatever they’re comfortable doing I’m very happy they’re trying their best to help the group. And they’ve done it from the beginning, so I’m not concerned about that.”
Brooklyn also had to adjust Friday with Egor Demin out because of a right leg bone bruise, which opened the door for Chaney Johnson to make his second career start. The 6-foot-7 forward was used in the backcourt against Cade Cunningham and logged nearly 19 minutes, finishing with six points, a steal and a block.
“I thought Chaney’s effort and purpose and everything he’s done so far, it’s been very good. I think he’s taking advantage of his minutes,” Fernandez said.
“We just need everybody to have the same intentions and intensity and play as hard as he plays. And I think then we will be OK.”
Fernandez also put the team’s mental state on himself after the loss to Detroit. Brooklyn had built an early 10-point lead, but once the Pistons started to take control, the Nets didn’t have the right answer.
“When we hit adversity, it’s about how we react,” Fernandez said. “You see dropped shoulders and not the same energy.
We can control those things. … There’s a lot of the team not coming together.
The team is going separate ways. I’m responsible for that.”
Mikel Brown Jr., who played 23 minutes Friday, will sit out Sunday’s game at Indiana for back management.
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