“Nobody’s panicking.”
Those were the key words Kenny Atkinson said before the match up with Chicago — one in which he would be missing his top two scorers: Kyrie Irving (shoulder) and Caris LeVert (thumb).
The “next man up” phrase has been used so much since Atkinson took over, almost to the point where it’s become their identity. Spencer Dinwiddie has been the poster boy for that phrase.
The Nets did Nets things. They played well to start the game and took an 11-point lead into the second quarter.