Jeremy Lin has admitted the Nets have no room for error. Luis Scola warned that if they didn’t play hard they’d lose every game.
Monday showed just how true both statements were.
For the first time under coach Kenny Atkinson, Brooklyn looked flat and uninspired, and got thoroughly humbled for it, routed 118-88 by the undefeated Bulls in front of 15,842 testy fans at Barclays Center.
Up until Monday, the Nets (1-3) — predicted to be the NBA’s worst team — had drawn modest plaudits for their gritty play this season. They’d closed out hard on shooters, dove for loose balls, given up their bodies.