C.J. Holmes: What success looks like for the Nets over their final 40 games

"It's using these final 40 games to figure out what the Nets want to be and how they plan to climb out of this mess. Because the record isn't the story anymore, and never really was. This season was always supposed to be about development, so what matters now is the direction of the franchise and whether Brooklyn comes out of this stretch with a clearer sense of what it's building toward."

"Success for this group doesn't have to look like a miracle run that saves the season. It has to look like becoming recognizable. Brooklyn doesn't need to be a finished product by April, but it can't keep drifting between versions of itself depending on the night. A real identity is the first win. Something that shows up consistently, travels and doesn't vanish the second a few shots rim out. Whether that identity is pace, defense, versatility or some combination, it has to be obvious."

"And habits still matter in a season like this. The Nets can't spend the next two months giving away games with the same repeat mistakes and call it development. The areas that translate are the same ones that always translate, like taking care of the ball, finishing possessions, getting to the line and defending without fouling. You can lose games while building toward something, but you can't keep losing them the same way and pretend you're laying a foundation."

With a 12-30 record and fifth-best draft lottery odds per Tankathon, the Nets are prioritizing clarity and development over chasing the Play-In Tournament. The team is using the final 40 games to determine identity, roles and long-term direction rather than relying on a late-season surge. Consistency must replace nightly drift, with a recognizable identity—pace, defense, versatility or a combination—that appears reliably. Fundamental habits like ball security, finishing possessions, attacking the rim to get to the line, and defending without fouling must improve. Establishing sensible rotations and defined roles will provide a foundation for future growth.

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