Coach Jordi Fernandez rued the Nets’ failure to find the net after Monday’s loss in New York, according to Howie Kussoy of the New York Post. Brooklyn limited its city rivals to 103 points—a total that should win most games—but the offense sputtered, posting a season‑low 90 points and shooting just 3‑of‑16 in the fourth quarter while committing five turnovers. How can a team that limits opponents still score so little?
“It’s really about our lack of organization,” Fernandez told reporters. “When possessions are empty, nobody ends up in the right spot. We avoid the paint, we stop moving, we fail to reverse the ball, and the shots we get are either non‑existent or terrible. Everyone must do their job—play or not, you have to run to your spots. We missed that repeatedly, and it showed. When we execute, results are good; when we don’t, they’re bad.”
Kussoy notes that Brooklyn tried to upgrade its firepower this summer, adding Julius Randle, signing Keon Ellis and Moritz Wagner, and drafting Mikel Brown Jr.. The early picture is grim: the team sits 29th in scoring (105.6), 28th in offensive rating, 29th in assist‑to‑turnover ratio (1.21), 28th in turnover percentage (18.3) and 28th in field‑goal percentage (41.7). For my money, those offseason moves haven’t paid off.
“Just stay disciplined,” Randle said. “We know our roles… you can’t lean on one player. It’s a five‑person game, so communication and awareness have to improve. All five of us need to step up.”
More Nets news follows:
- Fernandez keeps Chaney Johnson in the starting lineup despite his modest scoring, C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News reports in a subscriber‑only piece. Johnson logged 19, 31 and 28 minutes over the last three games, yet managed only 12 points total. “He can guard any position, makes clutch plays, and has earned his spot,” Fernandez said.
- Discussing second‑year players Drake Powell and Ben Saraf, Fernandez explained that G‑League stints should mirror the roles they’re expected to fill in Brooklyn, Holmes adds. The goal is to make those minutes count, not simply pad stats against weaker competition.
- Before Wednesday’s matchup, Fernandez said he was working to create better looks for Randle, one of Brooklyn’s primary offensive options, according to Holmes’s tweet. “I see it as my job to place him in spots where he’s comfortable and efficient,” he explained. Will his adjustments finally unlock Randle’s potential next week?