They rebounded with the zest and vigor of houseplants. They often shot with the reliability of a ’52 sedan on a frigid winter morning. They didn’t defend. They were more inconsistent than the weather.
Aside from those points, the Nets were rock solid on their just-concluded 2-3 road trip that left them with far more questions than answers.
The overriding question relates to the potential of this team that, one month into the season, limps along with a losing record, having gone from favorite to rise in the East to a team “just going through the motions,” according to Jason Kidd. Is this team, in light of the loss of Alonzo Mourning and the frightening inconsistency shown through 17 games, good enough to come out of the East again?
“I don’t know,” said team president Rod Thorn. “And I say that because some of these teams in the East are better. Indiana’s better. Detroit is better. New Orleans is better. And it’s too early. We haven’t played enough good games for me to say we’re going to be in that caliber…But I don’t know right now. I really don’t.”
Saddled with their first three-game losing streak since March, the Nets continue to make their world an uncomfortable place for coach Byron Scott, working without a contract extension and possibly residing just one bad run away from unemployment despite back-to-back Finals trips. Thorn repeatedly said on the trip that Scott’s job is not in jeopardy, but a few more spiffy starts like the Nets fashioned in Sacramento (60-28 at the half) and Utah (down 10 just 5:10 into the game) and the repercussions are obvious.
“I’m always concerned when we lose three games in a row, especially when we’re not playing the style we’re capable of playing against teams we should beat,” said Kerry Kittles.
The Nets experienced virtually every emotion on their trek. Spirits sank at the start with the disheartening news of Mourning’s deteriorating kidney disease, a crippling blow to the Nets’ fortunes: “With the low-post presence he could bring, we’d be hard to beat,” Thorn said.
Hopes soared with victories over the Sonics and Clippers. Then came the three-game plunge.
“That’s real damaging to a team. It’s a roller-coaster all the time. You want an even keel but it’s not,” said Lucious Harris. “We’re coming out flat in the first couple quarter and it’s killing us.”
Oh yeah, that’s another little nasty habit the Nets have picked up: falling behind by lots, rallying, falling short.
Don’t overlook the nightly ritualistic hammering on the backboards. The Nets, proud owners of the cellar in rebound stats, were nailed, 45.6-36.4 in rebounding on the trip. Utah destroyed them, 51-25.
“It’s something we have to figure out because rebounding doesn’t have a lot to do with skills, it has to do with your will against his will,” Scott said.
