Yankees
Nets
LeBron James doesn’t seem to treat the Nets the same way he does other teams. Maybe he likes them more.
Maybe he likes them enough to consider them over the summer when he’s a free agent. Maybe not. The Nets can dream.
If James wanted to, he could go for the kill early against the Nets because chances are if he torched them right the opening tap they would have a hard time rebounding from it. Instead he usually waits until the end of the game to let them know he’s in the building.
The Nets knew he was there. They paid extra attention to him and made him make plays for his teammates, which James does and did. The King did it all in a 104-97 victory over the Nets last night that showed once again this team is closer to winning a game, yet so far away.
James’ line at the end of the night was 32 points, 13 in the fourth, and 11 assists. If he made his free throws he could have 35 or 36. But no one’s perfect.
No one’s more imperfect than the Nets. They dropped to 4-47 with this loss and unless they win tonight against Milwaukee, the Nets will take an eight-game losing streak into what will be a much-needed All-Star break for the players and a busy one for team execs.
Some Nets’ players need to get away from this, get away from all this negativity, refresh and rejuvenate. The Nets need a mental break probably more so than a physical one.
There are many unhappy players and frustrated players. Most of the unhappy ones are disenchanted by their roles as much as the losing. The frustrated players are fine with their roles but unhappy with their play and the team’s performance.
You can go down the list starting with Chris Douglas-Roberts, who was benched for the first time this season last night. The former starter-turned-sub said he could see it coming, but it doesn’t bother him any less.
The reason coach Kiki Vandeweghe gave was: “It was really the flow of the game. I thought our wings were playing exceptionally good. … It was more flow of the game and our wings playing so well.”
A better answer to potentially avoid any controversy might have been that he decided to go with defensive-minded Trenton Hassell because he’s stronger and better equipped to guard James.
But the Nets can’t get away from controversy right now. Everything is a controversy, which is how it is when you’re 4-47.
The why Del Harris left story isn’t going away and there are new developments or charges. The latest has Harris saying he came to assist Vandeweghe because he was promised he would be the head coach at some point this season.
That wasn’t happening.
And as we wrote yesterday there will be more drama, more stories to come with the trade deadline Feb. 18 and all the other things swirling over this team. Good teams have issues, but bad teams have serious issues that are usually more pronounced and reported.
That’s why the break can’t come soon enough for the players, let them get away from here and not worry about what’s going on behind the scenes even though it will be splashed on newspapers, blogs and websites and can be read from anywhere.
By the time they come back there could be new players and there should at least be a new attitude.
The players, for the most part, have been as positive as possible under these circumstances. But if they feel better about themselves, put everything that’s happened behind them, maybe they can play a little bit better and finally figure out how to close out games.
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J)
