BROOKLYN — The Brooklyn Nets are doing everything possible to provide variety this season, except in the win column.
On Tuesday, Brooklyn suffered an agonizing 125–124 overtime loss to Boston when Jayson Tatum hit a buzzer-beating jumper.
Three days later, the Nets lost 110–94 to Detroit in an NBA Cup game, demonstrating that they are equally capable of losing without requiring anyone's heart rate to reach dangerous levels.
The two performances could hardly have looked more different.
Against the Celtics, Brooklyn pushed a strong opponent to the final possession. Rookie Mikel Brown Jr. supplied a dramatic late three to force overtime, Michael Porter Jr. scored 27, and the Nets came within seconds of an impressive road win.
Against the Pistons, Brooklyn briefly built a 10-point lead before Detroit dismantled the operation.
The Pistons took control before halftime, outscored the Nets 36–17 in the third quarter and eventually built a lead as large as 30.
Brooklyn's offense committed 23 turnovers, ensuring that Detroit had plenty of chances to score without going through the inconvenience of defending a completed possession.
For a rebuilding team, both defeats offer teachable moments.
The Boston game demonstrates how difficult it is to close out a superstar. The Detroit game demonstrates how difficult it is to close out almost anything when the ball keeps changing hands.
The Nets have discovered multiple ways to lose basketball games.
Now comes the difficult part: determining whether any of those methods can be adapted into winning one.
