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The Brooklyn Nets went into San Antonio and, well, ran into the Spurs, which resulted in a loss. A ugly, ugly, ugly loss that we can only hope is rock bottom.
"Abominable," said P.J. Carlesimo, who lost for the first time as Nets coach. He was sugar-coating it.
It was a tough game for the Nets from the start, with the Spurs finishing the first half shooting 64.9% from the floor and taking a 8-point lead into halftime.
Deron Williams shot just 1-of-5 from the floor in the first half, resulting in three points to Tony Parker's 15 first-half points. It wasn't even close as to which point guard was in All-Star mode. The Nets hung in, though, trailing by eight at half.
And then, it happened: THE THIRD QUARTER
Look, the Nets scored two points in the first 10 minutes of the 3rd quarter -- 5 in the entire quarter, trailing 85-52. Against the Spurs, that's game-set-match. Heck, 92' Dream Team probably would have had a tough time coming back from that kind of deficit against the Spurs. It was historic ineptitude.
It certainly didn't help that Gerald Wallace was out in this one, with a bruised left knee, but that wasn't the sole reason as to why the Nets were unable to topple the Spurs. The offense was "OK" in the first half and downright awful in the second, while the defense was non-existent. You can't let the Spurs shoot 60-plus percent from the floor and expect to win. It just can't be done.
Deron Williams, who scored just eight points and handed out just two assists, suggested the Nets may have hit bottom in San Antonio.
"I think we are a little out of whack right now as a group. I know I am, individually," he said. "I’ve got to play better. I’ve got to find ways to get better. Even on bad nights, I don’t play like this. This doesn’t even feel like it’s me out on the court. I’ve just got to snap out of it. I put a lot of pressure on myself early. I was really excited about this year. Coming into the season, I felt like we had a great team. I still feel like we have a great team and I want to be able to help the team more and play better. And tonight was another night I didn’t help."
Can we pretend this one didn't happen? Please?
For more on the Spurs, see: Pounding The Rock
- Nets at Spurs - December 31, 2012 - Boxscore - NBA.com
- Nets vs. Spurs: First half (Video) - NBA.com
- Post-Game Plus (Video) - Nancy Newman - YES Network
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Fratello and Eagle on Nets' loss to the Spurs (Video) - Ian Eagle & Mike Fratello - YES Network
- Deron Williams breaks down Nets' rough third quarter (Video) - YES Network
- Carlesimo on dissapointing loss to the Spurs (Video) - YES Network
- Deron Williams takes some responsibility after Nets are routed in San Antonio - Rod Boone - Newsday
- Gregg Popovich deflects further comment on Avery Johnson firing - Rod Boone - Newsday
- Nets, With P.J. Carlesimo, Break Down Against Spurs - Howard Beck - New York Times
- Vindication for Popovich - Spurs’ Vigor - Jake Appleman - New York Times
- Deron Williams’ struggles continue as Nets get blown out, 104-73, by Spurs - Stefan Bondy - NY Daily News
- San Antoni-no: Third-quarter deluge sinks Nets - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
- Deron: ‘I’ve just got to snap out of it’ - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
- Rapid Reaction: Spurs 104, Nets 73 - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Gerald Wallace out for Brooklyn Nets due to bruised knee - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Nets beat by Spurs in first part of test vs. west’s best (Video) - Jason Schott - Brooklyn Fans
- Ever Wonder What A Shot Chart For The Worst Quarter In Franchise History Looks Like? - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game
- Proof that Leonard’s return behind recent defensive surge - Mike Monroe - San Antonio Express-News
- Spurs ring in New Year by ringing up Nets - Jeff McDonald - San Antonio Express-News
- Year of Pop: How a career rose higher - Mike Monroe - San Antonio Express-News
- First Half Game Thread - NetsDaily
- Second Half Game Thread - NetsDaily