After giving it their absolute all, the Nets fall to the defending champion Raptors 150-122 on Sunday to end their season. This completes the first season sweep in franchise history for Toronto.
Although this one was a blowout, the Nets made it close a few times in this series, to some’s surprise, so definitely not a lack of effort.
“We talked about [how] we have extreme resilience as a group, a competitive nature about us as a group and sacrifice as a group, for the men who came,” said Nets Head Coach Jacque Vaughn. “[I’m] extremely grateful for this group and the time that we spent together. We’re forever linked. I appreciate everyone who stepped on that floor, and everyone who helped the men step on that floor.”
As we all know, this season was a season of firsts for everyone, even beyond the Nets and Raptors. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic for the first time ever the season was suspended, which resulted in a bubble format in Orlando where no fans are allowed, where seeding games were being implemented as well as play-ins.
A side effect of this bubble format was this team having to add in substitute players due to players getting excused as a result of Coronavirus, social injustice and nursing preexisting injuries.
The Nets arguably got hit the hardest with the excused absences having to go down to Orlando without Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan, Wilson Chandler, Nicolas Claxton and Taurean Prince.
With that being said, it was already known that any success the Nets had in the bubble (especially in the postseason) would be them playing with house money, but Brooklyn didn’t have that mentality, as they played every game like they had something on the line in Orlando.
In the eight seeding games the Nets went 5-3 and nearly eliminated the Portland Trailblazers from playoff contention as they were fighting for a play-in game. This was a game the Nets didn’t even have to try too hard in because they had locked up the 7th seed in the East already.
Once making it into the playoffs the Nets knew it would be an uphill battle though since they were not only facing the defending champions but also a team that finished at 53-19 (second in the East and second in the league).
Brooklyn threw everything but the kitchen sink at Toronto, having a few games where every active player got some minutes, but it ultimately wasn’t enough.
Throughout the series the Nets averaged 105.8 PPG, 25.8 APG, 52.5 RPG, 39.7% FG and 33.6% 3FG.
Going forward Brooklyn has a lot to look forward to as Kyrie and KD will join the lineup this upcoming season and most likely add more pieces to this team with a bright future. However, there is some uncertainty with this team. Firstly, regarding who will be the next head coach (since Vaughn is serving as the interim). Secondly, when it comes to expiring contracts.
This offseason the following will be free agents: Joe Harris (UFA), Garrett Temple (team option), Wilson Chandler (UFA) and Chris Chiozza (RFA). All would be great role players for a championship run if health is on this team’s side.
Fortunately for the Nets, the aura around the locker room is that guys who were on the Nets this year want to come back to contribute to that run. “In terms of having JV [Jacque Vaughn] I think that would make it a little more consistent obviously,” said Garrett Temple. “He was with us at the end of the regular season before the pandemic hit. He’s a face that people know. The guys that will be coming back have played for him obviously being an assistant for the last three or four years here. So, it’s going to be interesting. I’m definitely a fan of JV with what he was able to do with us here in the bubble. It’s been tremendous. But also, just his demeanor. The way he’s able to communicate he’s shown that he deserves to be a head coach in this league…I personally hope to be back here next year as well.”
