There are two ways the Nets can handle their losing ways.
The losses can be viewed in the context of the lottery standings, which don’t guarantee the first overall draft pick or future success.
Or, the Nets can try to learn from the mounting defeats — 22 over their last 27 games — and apply the lessons going forward.
The Nets had these same two options following an implosion in Atlanta, 115-104, on Sunday that saw them give up a 24-2 run in the fourth quarter.
“Just a team with experience over there,” Terance Mann said after the loss. “You can tell those guys have experience. They knew exactly how to execute down the stretch. We’re still learning.”
That was clear after the starters surrendered the last 18 points just after the Nets bench built an 11-point lead with eight minutes left to play.
Egor Dëmin made a bad pass that led to a turnover and a Jalen Johnson dunk on the other end of the floor that put the Hawks within five.
The rookie then put up a rushed shot, missing a 26-foot 3-pointer.
Dëmin shot 1-for-3 in the quarter.
Nolan Traore later lost the ball out of bounds for a turnover.
He committed two of the Nets’ five turnovers in the final frame and shot 0-for-4 in that span.
The Nets went on to miss 11 of their final 12 field-goal attempts.
Coach Jordi Fernández called it an “unacceptable” performance.
“Obviously Egor, through the experience, he’ll learn some of the rushed shots,” he said. “Five turnovers right there. We had 13 turnovers which is very good, but five were in the fourth. So, that’s part of the run and you gotta learn how to be composed. You gotta learn how to put everybody in place and take good shots and we just didn’t. Next game it is.”
“I trust the starters. I know how good they are, and this is not what I want from them,” Fernández added. “We played a great game until 5:30 to go, and then it goes away.”
The Nets kept the game competitive and allowed 26 points in the final quarter — the Hawks’ lowest total of the game.
All five starters (Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, Nic Claxton, Dëmin and Traore) scored in double digits, the fourth time it’s happened this season and the first since Jan. 19.
However, it was clear that their NBA record five first-round picks on the roster still have a long road ahead to get accustomed to the league.
Additionally, the team acquired Josh Minott and Ochai Agbaji in early February and they’re still adjusting to their new surroundings.
“It’s kind of a new group together, so we’re kinda figuring it out [from] last game vs. OKC and the game before that against Cleveland,” Mann added. “So, we are kinda finding a little groove with that unit and know what exactly to look for and just try to execute that. Today, in that second half, we did that.”
The losing result could be better in the long run, as the Nets (15-41) are third in the lottery standings and sit just one game behind the Pacers following Indiana’s loss to Dallas on Sunday.
Yet, they have an opportunity to turn it around on Tuesday night at home against the Mavericks.
“Tip our hat [to] the second group for getting us the lead, but we just got to be better,” Claxton said.