Brooklyn Boro

Hollins says Nets are ‘not good enough’

Admits Nets Currently Lack What it Takes to Put Together Winning Streak

December 17, 2014 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Lionel Hollins (left) and the Nets were all wet Tuesday night at Barclays Center thanks to a leak in the roof and a loss to the Miami Heat. AP photo
Share this:

The Brooklyn Nets endured a 31-minute delay due to a leaky roof, watched helplessly as Dwyane Wade torched them for 28 points and suffered the final insult when head coach Lionel Hollins informed the media that his team simply didn’t have what it takes to put together anything longer than a two-game winning streak. 

“We’re not good enough,” Hollins admitted after Brooklyn’s 95-91 loss to Wade and the Miami Heat in front of 16,827 fans at Downtown’s Barclays Center.

“You have to be good enough to win multiple games in a row,” he added, when asked why his 10-13 unit has been unable to string together a decent run through its first 23 contests. “You win two and you lose. You win one and then you lose. We’re working at it. We’ve made progress. But we’re not there yet.” 

Brooklyn trailed 24-21 late in the first quarter when officials noticed water on the court due to a leak in the state-of-the-art arena’s new “green” roof.

After being sent back to their locker room, the Nets returned to a patched roof, a dry court and a Heat team that appeared more ready for action, resulting in a 55-45 halftime deficit.

“[Following the break], they rushed it up to [a 13-point lead],” Hollins said.

“We just stood out there and waited until they told us to go into the locker room. They just came out with more energy afterwards.”

The Nets actually trailed by as many as 15 in the second half, but rallied late and appeared to have a prime opportunity to knot the contest at 93, or even take the lead, when Wade misfired on a desperation shot with 12.5 seconds remaining.

But Bojan Bogdanovic was called for a loose-ball foul on the rebound and Luol Deng hit a pair of free throws to bury Brooklyn, which failed in its fourth bid of the season to complete a three-game winning streak.

“If I knew, I’d bottle it,” Hollins said when queried about his team’s inability to go on an elongated run. “But I don’t know the answer. They’re professional players and you have to make plays.” 

Wade made them all night, helping the Heat (12-13), who were without starting center Chris Bosh (calf injury), move within a game of the .500 mark. Deng finished with 18 and six boards for the four-time defending Eastern Conference champions.

“Dwyane Wade made a special statement that he’s still a special player,” Hollins said. “You have to give him his due. He was carrying them down the stretch.” 

Mason Plumlee, again starting in place of injured pivot man Brook Lopez (back), scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Nets, who were already on their way to Toronto to face the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors on Wednesday night. 

Joe Johnson added 16 points and Deron Williams had 15 and 11 assists as Brooklyn fell for the sixth time in its last eight home contests.

”I didn’t even know it was raining outside,” Johnson said of the unexpected delay, the first of its kind at the arena. ”I was like ‘How the hell we got a leak if it ain’t raining.”’

There were significant leaks in the Nets’ offensive attack as well. Brooklyn committed 17 turnovers that turned into 20 points for the Heat, who won the battle of the boards, 41-37. 

“We were trying to stay close, which is what we did, and then we kind of dropped off again,” Hollins lamented. We turned the ball over and couldn’t make a shot.” 

When you’re “not good enough”, those types of things happen quite regularly.

 

Nothing But Net: The Nets paid tribute to Jeffrey Vanchiro prior to and during Tuesday night’s game. Brooklyn players donned neon-numbered shirts with Vanchiro’s alias, Gamblero, on the back and the No. 44, which the recently deceased self-described “superfan” always wore. Williams went as far as to wear neon green sneakers in honor of Vanchiro, who died Sunday after jumping out of a second-floor window at his Queens home. “On behalf of ownership and the entire organization, I am terribly saddened to learn about Jeffrey’s death,” Nets and Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark said in a statement. “A proud Brooklynite, Jeffrey was a passionate Nets fan and one of our most visible and loyal supporters. I was delighted that he joined the team on our trip to London last season and always enjoyed his enthusiasm while dancing and cheering during Nets games at Barclays Center. The entire organization expresses our deepest condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed.” … Lopez, who missed his fifth consecutive game with what has thus-far been described as a lower back strain, was not expected to play against the Raptors, and will likely be unavailable again when the Nets visit LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. … Brooklyn trails Toronto by eight games in the Atlantic. This will be the Nets’ first visit to the Air Canada Centre, and first meeting with Toronto, since they ended the Raptors’ season with a Game 7 victory there in the opening round of last year’s playoffs. Of course, Jason Kidd was still the Nets’ head coach then and Paul Pierce, now with Washington, blocked Kyle Lowery’s bid at a game-winning layup at the buzzer to preserve the triumph, which is the biggest in Brooklyn Nets history since the franchise relocated here three years ago.

Subscribe to our newsletters


Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment