TORONTO — From the time the Nets began their rebuilding project by cleaning out the front office last February and hiring new general manager Sean Marks, the extant theory has been that the shortest path to respectability would be to trade the team’s leading asset, 7-foot center Brook Lopez, for future first-round draft picks.
With Lopez sitting out to rest as prescribed by the organization’s performance team, the Nets suffered a 116-104 loss to the Raptors Tuesday night at Air Canada Centre that only served to underline the notion of how difficult it would be to part with their franchise center. The Nets’ starting lineup managed only 45 points without the club’s leading scorer and sorely lacked the rim protection Lopez provides as the Raptors outscored them in the paint, 60-44.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the Nets (7-20) with 19 points off the bench, Spencer Dinwiddie added 14, and Jeremy Lin had 12 points and four assists in 25 minutes in his first start in four games since he returned from his hamstring injury.
Kyle Lowry topped the Raptors (20-8) with 23 points, Norman Powell added 21, and DeMar DeRozan was held to 15, which is 13 below his average.
In addition to Lopez’s planned rest, the Nets also were forced to sit out rookie point guard Isaiah Whitehead with left foot soreness. The hope was they might offset that loss with a heavier dose of Lin, but there was no point in pushing him in blowout conditions when the Nets face a brutal back-to-back at home tomorrow against Golden State before meeting the NBA champion Cavaliers Friday in Cleveland.
Coach Kenny Atkinson said the positive about the decision to rest Lopez would be the chance to “grow the roster” by giving more playing time to big men Luis Scola, who started at center, Anthony Bennett and Justin Hamilton. It was a special occasion for Scola, who played for the Raptors last season, and Bennett also previously spent time with Toronto.
Atkinson spoke glowingly of the leadership Scola has provided, saying, “He’s been a big culture-driver for us, not with his mouth but with his work. He’s been phenomenal for the organization.”
The coach also said he’s pleased with the progress shown by Bennett, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, who has struggled to live up to expectations. “I think the big thing with him is confidence,” Atkinson said of Bennett. “The more he plays, the more comfortable he is and then the better he plays. I hope we can keep this upward trend with him.”
It worked well enough for a little more than a quarter as the Nets trailed by just one point at 29-28 early in the second period. But even though the game was close, it was clear the Nets missed Lopez’s paint presence as the Raptors had a series of four rim-rattling jams in the first half.
When Lin hit a three-pointer midway through the second period, the Nets still were within four at 47-43. But that’s where the Nets hit one of their offensive lulls, even with Lin in the game. The Raptors ended the half on 17-3 run that included six points by DeRozan. The Nets made only one of their final nine shots of the half and committed three turnovers in that span.
Sean Kilpatrick scored the first six points of the second half to cut the Nets’ deficit to 12, but that was as good as it got. The Raptors responded with a 12-2 run that pushed their lead to 76-54, and the Nets never cut the margin below double digits the rest of the way.
..... - Newsday