The Nets lost their last three games to the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers by an average of 27 points. Friday’s beatdown at Barclays Center marked their 51st loss of the season.
“We have to be better,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “I have to find a way to engage our players better, to play the right way. And that’s what we’ve done so far, is whether you win or lose, you play the right way with the right intentions. That gives you a chance.”
And over their final nine games, starting with Saturday’s road meeting with the Washington Wizards, they’ll be locked in a battle with the Philadelphia 76ers for the fifth worst record in the NBA — and could potentially move into fourth place with some luck.
Perhaps landing a Top 4 pick — or higher — in the 2025 NBA Draft is the only thing that could salvage another lost season in Brooklyn.
Until then, Fernandez still has work to do. His biggest challenge down the stretch is keeping his guys engaged. Before Monday’s game against Dallas, the Nets were in the midst of a 2-8 stretch with each loss coming by single digits. Now they’re struggling just to keep games close.
It’s easy for players to check out mentally when losses continue to pile up, especially with few games left and the playoffs well out of reach. It’s Fernandez’s job to keep his roster locked in, as impossible as that may seem.
“It’s my responsibility to engage them, and if they don’t, that’s on me,” Fernandez said following Brooklyn’s 132-100 loss to the Clippers. “So, whatever they’re thinking, I don’t care. I need them to focus on the next game, and the next game is the most important thing, and playing the right way. Playing the right way for the club. Playing the right way to give ourselves a chance… So, that’s my responsibility. If this happened today, it’s 1,000% on me. And now I have to find a way.”
