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Another poor offensive performance for the Nets, as they fall to the Wizards, 89-74

By Tom Lorenzo
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Nets were looking to bounce-back tonight against the Wizards, coming off of a sluggish run in which they've played three times in four nights, with the first two games of this recent set being split -- in terms of wins and losses -- but underwhelming in terms of overall performance.

Tonight, however, was fairly atypical of their recent stretch of basketball. The Nets shot 32 percent from the floor, on their way to being blown out by the Wizards, 89-74. This being the second time this season -- this week, to be exact -- in which they lost to a team under .500.

Asked it he was concerned the Nets have now lost five of their last eight, P.J. Carlesimo responded gravely, "I'm very concerned." So concerned he said he will consider significant changes to the second unit, which again didn't get it done on either end. One change to look for: more minutes for Tyshawn Taylor.

"I can’t afford to give people chances if they’re hurting us defensively or not putting the ball in the basket," Carlesimo said, talking about the team’s second unit. "We need to examine it a little better, because it’s not working right now."

The pace of this one early on was in Washington's favor, as they got out on the run, pushing the ball off both misses and makes. Deron Williams, however, calmed things down midway through the first with his four-point play. It was the turnovers in the first that really hurt the Nets. After coughing up the ball five times, Brooklyn found themselves in a 21-20 deficit after one quarter of play.

In the second, the Nets' struggles continued. They were out-scored 14-1 in the first six minutes of the quarter, shooting 0-of-9 from the floor. It was as ugly live as it reads on paper. With six minutes to go in the second, the Nets found themselves down 35-21. P.J. Carlesimo called a timeout to give the Nets a change to regroup, but it didn't work. The Nets went another three minutes without a field goal, finally getting their first (from Brook Lopez) 8.5 minutes into the second quarter -- to stop a Wizards 22-2 run.

At halftime, the Nets trailed the Wizards 51-31, as they shot 30 percent percent from the floor and turned the ball over 10 times. They had no one in double figures after the first half. No one.

The second half started off a bit better for the Nets, as they went on a 10-0 run late in the quarter to pull within nine points, but Bradley Beal hit a deep three in the final seconds of the quarter to give the Wizards a 12-point lead heading into the fourth.

In the fourth, they battled, but not enough to bring the game to within single-digits. It was just another poor offensive performance from a Nets team that struggled mightily in putting the ball in the basket.

Something needs to change here, and quick. They can't continue to plod along, playing stagnant set after set on offense. Not if they want to be a true contender.

For more on the Wizards, see: Bullets Forever

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