Following the 119-114 loss to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, the Brooklyn Nets have now dropped back-to-back games twice this season, the first instance being losses to the Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers.
Brooklyn, now 4-6 with two games left on the road trip, easily could be heading to Denver at an even 5-5 had they not scuffled late against the Jazz.
This isn’t the start the Nets or their fans were expecting, but Kenny Atkinson doesn’t think Brooklyn’s record is an inaccurate depiction of where they stand at the moment, which he expressed to reporters in Utah:
We are where we are. We’re 4-6. We’re below average. … I think there’s positive things [from Tuesday’s game], I think there’s things to build on. I think our defense has gotta improve for us to take another step. But 4-6 is 4-6. This league is unrelenting, so we are below average. I think our guys understand that.
But Atkinson doesn’t think where the Nets currently stand is where they’ll end up. He’s seen growth, adding:
I do think we’re building something with the new group. I don’t feel like, ‘Ah, you know, we’re not together.’ I feel good about the group. I feel good about our process. I feel good about our system. I feel really good about our players. These are tough games, the Utahs, the Denvers on the road. But I like the way we competed.