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For the first time since the Nets last season at IZOD, the 12-70 debacle, pundits are unanimous this week in declaring the team the worst team in weekly power rankings.
It is of course no surprise after
The Nets cemented their spot in the Eastern Conference and Power Rankings basements with another loss to the Sixers on Sunday. And they probably won't have another chance to climb out of either until they play the Heat twice in the last seven days of January. They've had some decent defensive games of late (they held the Cavs to just 43 percent shooting and nine threes on Friday), but have scored less than a point per possession as they've lost 11 of their last 12. Only three of those 12 games were against teams that rank in the top 10 defensively, but five of their next eight (including two against New Orleans) will be.
The Nets have been almost respectable at home, but their familiar issues with second-half fades popped up again Sunday in a battle of basement-dwellers in the Atlantic Division that wound up sending Brooklyn to a sixth straight defeat despite an 11-point lead at the half. Brook Lopez leads all NBA centers in 3-pointers, with a 63-51 lead over Memphis' Marc Gasol, but we're hearing that the Nets would be willing to part with him before the Feb. 23 trade deadline if a team out there is willing to surrender two first-round picks. Next up for the team with the league's worst record: Atlanta import Kenny Atkinson coaches against the Hawks for the first time.
The Nets need to be willing partners in any three-team deal squads are looking to make. They don't have anyone worth holding onto, and should be actively cycling guys through to see if they can hit lightning in a bottle. This team still executes fairly well, they just don't have much talent, and none of it fits together.
Losers of six in a row, and they recently had a stretch of 7-in-10 at home and went 0-7 at Barclays. Still no timetable on Jeremy Lin’s return as the Nets are being cautious. In a “rearranging a the deck chairs on the Titanic” move, the Nets have released Anthony Bennett so they can sign Quincy Acy.
Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated (30)
After another loss to the Sixers…it’s probably time to trade Brook Lopez and cash out.
AJ Neuharth-Keusch, USA Today (30)
The Nets are on a five-game losing streak and have won just two of their last 14, further solidifying their spot at the bottom of the NBA standings.
Grant Hughes, Bleacher Report (30)
It took a few weeks of work, and it happened despite replicating the three-heavy style of the league's best offenses, but the Brooklyn Nets have done it.
They've slipped to the very bottom of the league in winning percentage and net rating.
It's a talent issue, of course. Brooklyn has all the right ideas and all the wrong guys to execute them.