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The Brooklyn Nets are 1-8 on the season, and boast little to hang their hat on. Yes, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson looks "legit," while Brook Lopez continues to be one of the best centers in the game, and we've been some positive moments from Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdanovic. These things are true and all very positive. Still, there's little reason to think that this team can or will turn it around and make a run at making the playoffs this season.
Another slight glimmer of "hope" has come via Shane Larkin, who has turned in his best effort this week in helping the Nets beat the Houston Rockets on the road.
Tim Bontemps, getting one in just before the final buzzer goes off over at the NY Post, wrote about Larkin and what may end up being the turning point of his season.
He writes:
After the Nets began their season with seven straight losses, Shane Larkin went to general manager Billy King and coach Lionel Hollins and told them he was disappointed with how he had played.
Since then, Larkin got the call to put in work against the Houston Rockets, where he played 22 minutes and scored 15 points with 8 rebounds and 2 assists, in the Nets lone win of the season. He played well again on Friday night against the Kings, in a game the Nets "should have" won, but ended up losing by two points. One slap on the wrist, followed by two well-played games, and we have something to write about.
Larkin told Bontemps that he was looking to get more aggressive out on the court, saying that he needed step up his game, noting that he hasn't been all that aggressive this season.
Make no mistake, the narrative for the entire season will be trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents. Some positive play by Larkin is nice to see, but more so him recognizing that he's got to be better than he's been is something we can hang our very, very tiny hats on.
Realistically, it's less about fans wanting Larkin to turn into the next Jason Kidd -- he won't, we know that -- it's more about him leaving what he's capable of leaving out on the court. And if he doesn't then, yeah, some self-deprecating awareness is all anyone can ask for. At this point, accountability may be the best way for players like Larkin to make more fans in Brooklyn during what is turning out to be a dreaded season.
- Shane Larkin’s brutal honesty with Hollins pays off - Tim Bontemps - NY Post