NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets have been one of the more disappointing teams in the NBA as they have underperformed in a significant way since beginning this season with a 13-10 record. More than just the amount of losses that were piling up, Brooklyn looked like a team that was giving up when the going became tough.
“We have pride as a team,” Nets center Nic Claxton said after Saturday’s 114-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks to bring themselves within two games of the Hawks in the Eastern Conference standings. After a 108-81 loss at the Orlando Magic on Feb. 27, Claxton said that it was “inexcusable” for the team to play with no energy. He expanded on how the team should play moving forward following Saturday’s victory over Atlanta.
“We don’t want to feel like our roster is weak,” Claxton explained. “We have enough talent. We shouldn’t go out and ever get beat like that so at the end of the day, everybody, individually, we have to have pride.” If the past two wins over the Hawks have proven anything, it’s that Brooklyn is showing that pride that they displayed at the start of this season and are starting to get their confidence back as well.
Claxton, who put up his 21st double-double of the season on Saturday by notching 12 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks, has been one of the players who has been doing his part to get the Nets back on the winning path. “We all have to look ourselves in the mirror and figure out ways to be better and come together and have results like today,” Claxton said.
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