Nets see growth despite struggles
The Nets know basketball is a bottom-line business, and that bottom line is they have the NBA’s longest losing streak and the league’s worst record. But they insist they see some positives, namely the fact they’re fighting harder and defending better. For a team struggling this badly, that’s never a sure thing.
“These guys are prideful. They’re professionals,’’ coach Kenny Atkinson said. “They get paid very well — we all do — so we’re here to compete. One of our assistants said it in the locker room: Our guys are competing, and they’re competing hard.
“I do see improvement. I keep saying that. I see improvement from our young guys, even some of the veteran guys. That’s important where we are right now, and the stage we’re at.”
The stage they are at is a deep rebuilding. They’re 9-43 and losers of 11 straight coming into Friday’s game versus the Heat. They’re the league’s coldest team, facing its hottest, the Heat, who have won a 12 in a row.
“It’s tough to be in that predicament,” Rondae HollisJefferson admitted. But he added “We’ll break through.”
Their hope lies in an improved defense, and HollisJefferson is at the heart of that.
The Nets have struggled defensively for most of the season. Their 114.1 points allowed per game is last in the league and their 46.1 percent shooting allowed is 22nd.
But in their past six games — ever since Atkinson ripped them for a lack of energy and defense in Minnesota — their scoring defense has vaulted from last to eighth-best (105.5 ppg.) and their field-goal defense to third-best (41.8 percent).
“That’s who we have to be: Scrappy and feisty,’’ said Atkinson, who has kept tweaking the lineup in search of that scrap and fight. He has been happy with Hollis-Jefferson’s adjustment to power forward, so he moved Trevor Booker — who had started all 43 appearances this season — to the bench. It cre- ated a virtual platoon at the spot, and ensured an athletic, energetic defensive spark on the floor at all times.
“Booker’s been good off the bench,” Atkinson said. “That’s been a good role for him. I think he’s comfortable and he’s playing well.”
Well is an understatement. In Booker’s five games off the bench, he’s averaging 11.8 points on 49.1 percent shooting, 9.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 22.9 minutes.
“I feel like it’s going good. Trevor coming in and keeping that fire going and me starting off with it has been a big help,’’ Hollis-Jefferson said. “Every time he comes in since it’s happened he’s been phenomenal.”
Lin (strained left hamstring) and forward Quincy Acy (sprained left ankle) are both out Friday.