The Brooklyn Nets have struggled to get anything going this year, posting the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference with a 7-17 mark. Here's what we've seen from them so far this year:
Best win: 111-101 victory over Boston Celtics on Nov. 22
Brooklyn had lost to Boston by an embarrassing 25 points just two nights before at TD Garden, but really showed some fight for the first time all season, beating a good Celtics team by double-digits.
Worst loss: 105-82 loss to Orlando Magic on Dec. 14
Surprisingly, only three of Brooklyn's 17 losses have come by 20 points or more, though the other two were against the Spurs and Celtics. This one was on the road against a Orlando team struggling to stay above .500.
Biggest surprise: Thaddeus Young
Young is playing his best basketball in three years, averaging 16 points and a career-high nine rebounds per game. Nets head coach Lionel Hollins challenged Young to get tougher - specifically on the glass - since he is playing a true power forward position in Brooklyn's system, and he's answered that call in a big way.
Biggest disappointment: Joe Johnson's decline
Johnson, who is making $25 million in the last year of his contract, was going to be used as trade bait before the deadline in hopes of getting some young assets to build on in the future. However, his trade value has dimished greatly due to his lackluster play this season. He's averaging his lowest point total in 13 years (11.2 per game) and is shooting a career-worst 36.4 percent from the field.
Panic or Promise?
Panic. Brooklyn has shown a lot more fight recently after a dreadful 1-9 start, but they don't have any young players they can develop. To make matters worse, their first-round pick belongs to the Celtics this year. Chalk this one up as a lost season.
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