BERT FIGHT
Moribund Nets tumble into 9th
The Nets spent a month digging themselves out of a hole they created, and had their playoff fate in their own hands.
It took them all of 36 hours to fall back in again.
Following a pathetic performance in Milwaukee on Sunday with an apathetic one Monday, the Nets were comfortably beaten by the Bulls, losing 11386 at Barclays Center and handing the Pacers a golden opportunity to take the eighth and final playoff spot in the process.
“I know we’re going to be written off in the paper tomorrow, but that’s your job,” Nets coach Lionel Hollins said.
The Nets have gone from being in control of their destiny to instead needing to rely on the Pacers to lose against a pair of opponents with potentially nothing to play for.
Because of their backtoback losses to the Bulls and Bucks, the Nets need one of two combinations of things to happen if they are to make the playoffs: a win over the Magic in Brooklyn on Wednesday and a Pacers loss to either the Wizards on Tuesday or Grizzlies on Wednesday, or Pacers losses in their final two games of the regular season.
“Do what you want to do,” Hollins said, “but we’ll be here on Wednesday and try to close out the season with a victory and seewhat happens.”
This was easily the biggest game of the season for the Nets, a chance to move to the brink of clinching a playoff berth with Wednesday’s home finale against a Magic team clearly already focused on the summer, as it proved by losing at home to the Knicks on Saturday night. That’s assuming the Pacers don’t lose Tuesday against the Wizards.
Instead, the Nets ( 3744) looked like a group ready to hit the beach against the Bulls ( 4932). They were lackadaisical at both ends while falling behind by as many as 14 in the first half. They shot 36.8 percent from the field and 3for12 from 3point range.
“I really honestly can’t explain it,” said a visibly frustrated Joe Johnson, who finished with 12 points. “I don’t know how it’s possible. … I really don’t know.”
It’s hard to have any rational explanation for how the Nets, in a potential season deciding game, could sleepwalk their way through. Then again, this is the same team that has confounded itself, opponents and fans at every turn this season, careening from one end of the spectrum to the other time and time again.
Few points, if any, where lower than Monday. The Nets never got anything going on the heels of being blown out in the second half in Milwaukee on Sunday by old friend Jason Kidd and the Bucks. They didn’t move the ball— finishing with only 12 assists — and were particularly stagnant in the third quarter, going 5for19 from the field.
“Guys are competitive, and they’re trying to win the game. They’re trying to bring us back into the game, they get the ball and they try to do too much … simple as that.”
Chicago had no such trouble, as the Bulls outscored the Nets 3015 in the third, capped off by rookie Nikola Mirotic putting the game away with three straight 3pointers to end the quarter, making Barclays Center sound like United Center while sending the Nets into the fourth down 8765.
All that was left was for the final 12minutes to slowly tick away, leaving the Nets to wonder if their season is about to do the same.