There’s bullyball, after which there’s no matter form of beating the Pelicans inflicted Wednesday evening on the Nets.
There have been solely two good issues in regards to the Nets’ 130-108 loss: Kevin Durant had an enormous evening and everyone got here by way of it unhurt. Aside from that, it was about as disastrous a season opener because the Nets may’ve pictured of their nightmares, as they have been bodily dominated earlier than 18,003 at Barclays Heart.
The Nets have been hammered 36-4 on second-chance factors. Let that sink in and marinate, earlier than shifting on to the very fact they have been outrebounded 61-39 and outplayed all recreation lengthy.
The Nets trailed by 18 after the primary quarter and have been behind by as a lot as 26.
“They beat us in each class tonight. I feel clearly the beginning of the sport a bit of hectic, a bit of bit rattled,” Nets coach Steve Nash mentioned.
Ben Simmons made his long-awaited Nets debut, becoming a member of Durant and Kyrie Irving. However Durant was the one one who excelled, whereas the others alternated between poor and invisible in opposition to New Orleans and Zion Williamson.
“Simply a type of video games the place you simply don’t do the small issues nicely in any respect: 36-4 second-chance factors. By no means going to win like that,” Durant mentioned. “You bought three of their finest gamers get 20 factors apiece. It’s robust to win.
“First quarter, down 32-14. I got here out and had three turnovers. After which the primary shot I took was only a horrible shot. I simply set a nasty precedent for the remainder of the evening. So I’ve obtained to come back extra locked-in. … I’ve simply obtained to be higher.”
It was telling that Durant was the one shouldering blame. He had 32 factors and 4 blocks, however the remainder of the group struggled.
Each the Nets and Simmons have mentioned he’ll need to be aggressive, and the engine that drives the group. However that engine appeared rusted over in Simons’ first recreation since June 20, 2021. He wasn’t aggressive sufficient on the offensive finish, and took the aggression overboard on protection, fouling out with 4 factors on 2-for-3 taking pictures.
“We advised him within the locker room: He’s a beneficial piece for us and we want him on the market, and fouling out is just not an possibility. Taking part in aggressive is one thing we would like him to do, however we additionally need to play sensible,” Irving mentioned.
“I’ve obtained to settle down. I feel I used to be too excited,” Simmons mentioned. “We obtained outrebounded. … They have been extra bodily, they wished it extra.”
Irving struggled to hit open seems to be. He completed with 15 factors on 6-for-19 taking pictures, however had simply 4 factors on 2-for-9 from the ground within the first half. By that point, the Nets had been bludgeoned and battered round to set the tone.
“That is going to be a well-recognized theme all year long and that’s to constantly play with a aggressive spirit with out us speaking about it on a regular basis,” Irving mentioned. “I don’t need to sit after each recreation ‘We should always’ve completed this, we should always’ve completed that.’ It is a grown man’s league and probably the most bodily group wins.”
Simmons wasn’t the one All-Star coming again after lacking final season. Williamson’s return went much more swimmingly. The burly Pelicans star, who returned from a damaged foot in his first recreation since Could 2021, roughed the Nets up for 25 factors and 9 rebounds.
Brandon Ingram scored 28 to steer New Orleans whereas Jonas Valanciunas added 15 factors and 13 rebounds, six on the offensive glass.
Physicality has at all times been a priority for the Nets, however video games like this elevate the DEFCON stage.
The Nets fell behind by seven proper out of the gate and trailed 32-14 after a wretched opening quarter. They shot 6-for-20, dedicated 9 turnovers and have been outrebounded 18-8.
With the Nets nonetheless down 54-40 with 2:24 left within the half, Durant got here alive with eight factors, two blocks (one on an Ingram dunk try) and a steal the remainder of the way in which. Royce O’Neale’s putback of his personal miss to beat the buzzer pulled the Nets inside eight going into the locker room.
That mini-momentum didn’t final after they got here again out.
Simmons picked up fouls 4 and 5, and an Ingram three-point play left the Nets down 82-59. Ingram hit a 3-pointer to push it to 87-62, and regardless that the clock learn 4:09 left within the third quarter, the bloodletting was over.
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