Rebuilds usually mean a wholesale turnover of players. The Brooklyn Nets have had 26 players on their roster in a rebuilding year. So, as Brian Lewis writes Tuesday — on the eve of Brooklyn’s first preseason game — chemistry and culture are of primary importance.
There’s a misconception that culture and chemistry don’t matter on losing or rebuilding teams. In some ways, that’s when they matter the most.
Fostering closeness and accountability even on teams that aren’t contenders — teams like the Nets that are going to suffer through a lot of losses — is important.