The tough luck that has clouded the Nets franchise from East Rutherford, N.J., to Brooklyn will not lift easily. How else do you rationalize just when the Nets appeared to be changing the fortunes of their franchise, injuries have decimated the club to a point assistant coaches could be asked to suit up for practice?
“Prigioni still thinks he’s an NBA player,” Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson said of assistant Pablo Prigioni, whose professional career spanned 20-plus years from the Spanish League to the NBA. “He might be right.”
Atkinson, speaking before Monday night’s game against the Bucks, chuckled a bit. But it’s not a laughing matter. Joe Harris (hip) was ruled out of the game, joining the list of wounded Nets that includes Allen Crabbe (knee), Spencer Dinwiddie (thumb), Jared Dudley (hamstring) and Caris LeVert (foot).
The depleted roster was no match for the league-leading Bucks, who got 30 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo and cruised to an easy 113-94 win at Barclays Center.
A few weeks ago, this game could have been viewed as a barometer of whether the Nets (28-27) could contend with Milwaukee (39-13). But the home team had no chance Monday night, shooting just 32.4 percent from the field and just 5-of-42 from 3-point range.
“We couldn’t score,” Atkinson said. “We struggled to shoot the ball.”
Yet, there was good news. Atkinson confirmed Crabbe and LeVert would begin practicing with the Nets G-League team in Long Island and could possibility return before the All-Star break though that seems unlikely.
“The best scenario would be to start integrating those guys slowly into the lineup,” Atkinson said. “It’s going to be a big boost for us.”
The Nets have four games remaining before the break. It doesn’t sound like much, but the outcomes could speak volumes about whether they should be taken seriously this year.
We will see whether the Nets use this adversity to prove they’re a stronger team physically and mentally than their predecessors in Brooklyn, which seemed devastated when anyone of note wasn’t in the starting lineup. The 2017-18 season became a waste when Jeremy Lin was injured in the opener.
The Nets have now lost four of their past five games, sounding more like the same old Nets than the new and improved group that went 19-5 from Dec. 7 to Jan. 25. Which version is closer to reality could be evidenced by how they finish before the break.
Atkinson is confident his team won’t cave because of the injuries.
“We worry and the media worries about guys being out,” Atkinson said. “But those guys don’t blink an eye. They all think they’re good players.”
Though it wasn’t apparent Monday night, Atkinson said depth is actually one of the team’s strength, a result of solid development and preparation.
“It’s a sign of a good program when you have guys that don’t shy away and don’t fear even though they haven’t been playing a ton,” Atkinson said. “Those guys aren’t going to back down. We pay 17 guys. We’re ready to roll.”
Contributions have come from reserves Theo Pinson, who had 10 points Monday night, Ed Davis (three points) and Mitch Creek (eight points, five rebounds).
“Pretty much everybody that has come off the bench has stepped up,” Atkinson said. “I think our depth is a big strength of ours.”
Among those who have faith in the Nets is Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer. He gives most of the credit to Atkinson, who was his assistant when both were in Atlanta.
“I think it’s phenomenal what he’s doing,” Budenholzer said. “Hopefully, he’s getting the credit that he deserves. Obviously, the players deserve a lot of credit for how they’ve worked and developed. I’m certainly biased in believing Kenny has a big hand in that and the staff has a big hand in that.”
The Nets will try to tread above .500 until they can get healthy and then maybe Prigioni can keep wearing a suit instead of sneakers.
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