The NBA is very similar to nature. It is much easier to be the hunter than to be hunted.
The Nets remembered that Sunday in Charlotte.
Brooklyn recovered and paid for it, suffered 106-104 by the hungry Hornets in their first loss of the season.
In addition to Kevin Durant (29 points) and Kyrie Irving (25), the Nets are not used to playing with a target in the back. But with its healthy, active stars, Brooklyn may well add a colorful target to the back of its Basquiat-inspired t-shirts.
“It is definitely disappointing. … I think we could have played better. I know we could have played better, ”said Jarrett Allen. “I know we could have gone out and had a lot more energy. I know that we were not playing to our full potential.
“Being in the position that we are now with KD and Kyrie back and we are a complete team, we will definitely have the target in the back for every game. We will definitely get 100 percent from each team. Therefore, we must always be ready. “
The Nets were nowhere near ready, after two sloppy first quarters with an even worse third. They lost 16 in fourth place, before an 18-4 run reached two. But they didn’t come any closer.
“It’s good to have that target on your back,” said Durant. “It will get the best of you.”
Durant lost a potential draw loss just 7 seconds from the end, and the Nets suffered their first loss of the season after defeats at Golden State and Boston.
“I don’t think we [had] a sense of urgency. We were a little passive, ”said coach Steve Nash. “We are going to have a target in the back and we have to be up to the occasion.
“Do you think you can be a better team, [but] you will have a much better team than last night, because they see the names on the back of the shirt and will be up to the occasion ”.
For a Nets team accustomed to being a hunter, this will require an attitude adjustment. They are in the rare position of being hunted, although they have yet to gain anything.
“As a Net for my entire life, it is definitely something I will have to be used to,” said Allen. “Don’t disrespect us, but we were never the top team. We have always been the oppressed fighting and looking at other people as targets. And now the roles are reversed. “
The Nets were overcome in painting 64-26, partly due to some defensive switch failures and partly due to 19 changes that allowed Charlotte to enter the transition and the initial attack. Spencer Dinwiddie left the game with a knee injury in the third quarter and did not return.
Still, the Nets lost only 84-81 in the fourth quarter, when they surrendered to a 13-0 streak, with Miles Bridges retreating 3 to 97-81 with 7:59 to play.
The Nets tried to recover, scoring 10 consecutive points with a Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot 3 pulling them to six.
The race reached 18-4, with Allen winning a trip to the line with 2:20 to play. But after sinking the first, he lost the second to drop the Nets by 101-99. Then, Irving was blocked, which led to a corner 3 of Devonte ‘Graham. The Nets lost by five points and never got over the hump.
Another Luwawu-Cabarrot 3 pulled them 104-102, and they had a chance after PJ Washington missed two free throws. Durant played a two-player game with Irving, got the chance for a 3 dagger, but took a few dribbles and pulled up a distance of 2.7 meters. His kick rolled and came out with 7.4 seconds to go.
Terry Rozier’s free throws ensured that there would be no OT.
“I thought I was going to enter. It looked good, ”said Durant. “I am sure that we will recover this situation throughout the season and I can capitalize on that.
“It was good to be playing a fourth period game again, playing a game that we had to fight up and fight to get back in the game. … They made more moves than us. But it was fun to play in that environment again. “