Nets Crumble in L.A. as Coach Jordi Fernandez Calls Out Team’s Mentality: “You Can Lose, or You Can Be a Loser”
There are losses, and then there are wake-up calls. For the Brooklyn Nets, Sunday night’s 126-89 dismantling at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers wasn’t just another L in the standings-it was a full-blown identity check. And head coach Jordi Fernandez didn’t sugarcoat it.
“You can lose, and you can be a loser,” Fernandez said postgame, laying bare the difference between competing and caving. “For 18 minutes, we lost and we were competitive. And for 30, we were losers.”
That wasn’t just frustration talking-it was a coach drawing a line in the sand. The Nets, who’ve had their fair share of tough nights this season, were outclassed from the opening tip. But what stung more than the scoreboard was the way they folded mentally.
Let’s break it down.
A Game That Got Away Early
Brooklyn actually opened the game with promise. Michael Porter Jr. got them on the board with a smooth reverse layup to go up 2-0.
But that would be the last glimpse of rhythm for a long, long time. Over the next 8:32 of game time, the Nets hit just two of their next 14 shots.
By the time the Clippers had built a 27-12 lead with just over three minutes left in the first quarter, the momentum had shifted decisively-and it never came back.
The Nets finished the night shooting just 34.1% from the field, a brutal number against a Clippers defense that ranks in the bottom half of the league (19th in defensive rating). When the shots didn’t fall, the defense followed suit. And that’s where the concern really lies.
This team has made a name for itself in recent weeks with scrappy, high-energy defense, especially on the perimeter. That edge was nowhere to be found in L.A. Instead, Brooklyn looked disconnected, disengaged, and ultimately overwhelmed.
Clippers Stars Make It Look Easy
Kawhi Leonard was in cruise control, dropping 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting. James Harden, operating with his usual blend of patience and precision, added 19 points, eight assists, and six boards-hitting all 10 of his free throws. The Clippers’ stars didn’t just score-they dictated the tempo, exploited mismatches, and made the Nets pay for every defensive lapse.
And it wasn’t just the headliners. Jordan Miller, the Clippers’ versatile reserve forward, continued his strong campaign with 16 points on 70% shooting, along with seven rebounds and two steals in just 23 minutes. His energy and efficiency off the bench were just another reminder of how deep and locked-in this Clippers squad is right now.
A Mental Collapse, Not Just a Cold Night
The Nets’ defensive collapse can’t be pinned solely on their offensive struggles-but it’s clear the two were connected. When Brooklyn couldn’t buy a bucket early, their effort on the other end waned. That’s the kind of thing that drives coaches crazy, and Fernandez made sure to address it head-on.
“We won the third quarter, and we were competitive for those last six minutes of the second,” Fernandez noted. “Outside of that, the other 30 minutes, we played like a losing team.”
That kind of honesty is rare, but necessary. The Nets have shown they can defend with the best of them when locked in.
But the challenge now is sustaining that intensity regardless of what’s happening offensively. That’s what separates good teams from great ones-and losing teams from winners.
What Comes Next?
This loss isn’t just about the final score. It’s about accountability.
It’s about resilience. And it’s about whether this Nets team can respond to adversity with the kind of collective toughness that’s required to compete in today’s NBA.
Brooklyn has talent. They’ve got defensive upside. But Sunday night in L.A. was a reminder that none of that matters without the right mindset.
Jordi Fernandez isn’t just looking for better execution-he’s asking his team to choose who they want to be. And after a 37-point beatdown, that question has never been louder.