The Brooklyn Nets took on the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first contest of 2023 Summer League, Las Vegas’ flagship basketball event. What better setting to bring the NBA world together to evaluate and/or gawk (a certain No. 1 overall pick was playing next door during the Nets game) at their young talent than the middle of the desert in July?
At first, the young Nets looked like they were competing outdoors, suffocated by a triple-digit heat that their opponents weren’t subject to. At the half, they were down 52-38 to Cleveland’s young guns; their offense resembled the sluggish mess it did at last year’s event, where the admittedly athletic roster they brought to Vegas featured a stark dearth of ball-handlers.