BRING IT ON: Nets open preseason vs. Lakers in Las Vegas

Los Angeles Lakers v Brooklyn NetsThings have changed since this time last year. Indeed, only five players remain from the first preseason game on October 3, 2022: Nic Claxton, Ben Simmons, Royce O’Neale, Cam Thomas, Day-Ron Sharpe. The two superstars who the Nets and their fans had hoped would bring a string of titles to Brooklyn are long gone. So is the superstar head coach who was gone by November. In many ways, it was the most difficult season ever for Nets fans. Sure, they only won 12 games in their last year in New Jersey but no one really thought they’d do much better. That was a nightmare, but a nightmare is better than a dream dying.

But that was then and this is now.…