#brooklyn-nets

#brooklyn-nets

Rebuilding Brooklyn is just 1-11, entering the weekend tied with the Wizards and Pacers for the worst record in the NBA, and the best odds in the lottery. That makes Sunday's tilt huge for the tank. A victory would be Pyrrhic. Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) goes to the basket against Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the first quarter at Kia Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

At 1-10 after losing to the Toronto Raptors, with the 30th ranked defence in the league, one might think that's bad enough. But 30th doesn't cover the true pestilential stink of the Brooklyn defence. Coming into the contest against the Toronto Raptors, the Nets were allowing 129.8 points per 100 possessions. The worst defence last season allowed 120.2. That's an inconceivable gap between the Nets and a normal worst-in-the-league defence, the same as the gap between last season's 30th-ranked team and a top-10 defence.

I'm just appreciative of wherever I came from. [Brooklyn was] just one stepping stone where I was at before I was here. So just appreciative,

Cunningham was 13 for 18 from the field and made all six of his free throws to help lead Detroit to its fifth straight victory and a 7-2 record. The All-Star point guard has averaged 29.8 points and 11.2 assists while shooting 54% from the field during the streak. Ausar Thompson had 14 points, and Caris Levert added 10 for the Pistons. They have won their last four meetings against Brooklyn.

All the coaches are coaches for the same club. We've had great communication; we have a system in place... It's more important for the players to see what their path is to get better. Obviously, the work that you put in day to day is important, but there's no more important thing than playing real minutes. And real minutes are in the NBA, real minutes are in Long Island.

For the second season in a row, they know exactly who they are, staying focused on development, not wins, with a young, raw roster that's intentionally rebuilding. Brooklyn's roster reflects that approach. It is inexperienced, high-upside, and built for growth rather than immediate success. That is not a criticism, it's the plan. Brooklyn's front office has made an organizational commitment to be bad this year, understanding that the surest way to accelerate a rebuild is to hit the bottom first.

"I'm still not over it," Reznick, 89, told the Daily News. "I was there for 26 hours, and I felt like I was there for a week. You have no idea what they did for us and how they treated us. All the stars were there. It was unbelievable, absolutely wonderful."

Nolan Traore showed the burst and change of pace that made him one of the most intriguing prospects in his class, pushing the tempo and attacking the paint with confidence. Ben Saraf brought steadiness to the floor, highlighted by an 11-assist performance in his latest outing, orchestrating the offense with poise and finding teammates in rhythm. And Drake Powell, despite joining training camp late, made his mark defensively by forcing turnovers, jumping passing lanes and showcasing the athleticism and energy that define his game.

"Just something I wanted to do," Thomas said. "My last two years, I wanted to put on a little more weight, try the strong, bulky route. I mean, it was cool. I never liked how I looked, honestly. But the results were still good. At the end of the day, it's about how you look and how you feel, so I feel like I look better and I feel better. We'll see how it goes this year."