Nets ‘can’t get used to losing’ as search for fix to struggles drags on

NEW ORLEANS — It’s a new year.

Will it be the same old Nets?

As the calendar flips and the Nets put 2023 behind them, they’re hoping to leave the struggles in the past as well.

But that’s going to take work.

And trust.

And more internal fortitude than they’ve been showing.

“Yeah, it’s really what we talked about the beginning of the year: Can we be a team that plays extremely hard every single night?” coach Jacque Vaughn said as his Nets prepare for Tuesday’s tilt with the Pelicans. “So, going back to some of the pillars that we talked about at the beginning of the year: Being physical and connected and versatile as a group, and enjoying what we do for a living.

“So that’s the challenge for our group to hopefully finish the year this way, and with that message and then go into the new year.”

The Nets limped into New Orleans and the new year losers of eight of their last 10.

“Just energy, getting to the ball, maybe picking up full court some. It’s on everybody; it’s on me too. Just being locked in, being there for your teammates,” Nic Claxton said.

“We just can’t get used to losing. Need to figure out solutions and figure out ways to fix it.”

It clearly needs fixing.

Their defensive rating (122.7) and net rating (minus-9.3) are both fourth-worst in the league over that span.

It’s a damning indictment that those numbers aren’t a shock anymore, that end of the court being a season-long issue.

But in this extended funk, they’re next-to-last in both effective field-goal percentage (.505) and true shooting (.540).

“We can’t give up 120-plus points every game, and we’ve just got to figure out a way offensively to attack the rim more,” Claxton said. “I don’t know; I guess we’ve just got to hit shots and then get stops.”

So both ends are a mess right now.

Sunday’s loss at OKC actually saw the Nets share the ball and get the shot profile they wanted, but miss good look after good look, 12 of 46 from behind the arc.

League average for left corner 3s is .392.

The Nets made just 1 of 8.

Average from the right corner is .394; yet they were somehow even worse at 1 of 9.

But more troubling is the Nets have started letting bad fortune on offense turn into bad form on defense. It’s a mental frailty they can ill afford.

“We’ve got to do what we’re supposed to do; just follow the game plan, follow our defense. We just have lapses in what we’re supposed to do,” said Mikal Bridges, who went 0 of 5 on corner 3s on Sunday. “We’ve just got to help each other when one person messes up. But it’s tough. We’ve just got to all be five guys out there on a string defensively, and knowing where to be at all times.”

All too often lately, they’ve let go of the rope.

Or seen it snap altogether.

“[The key] is just staying constant, still trusting the process, trusting each other,” said Cam Thomas. “[Sunday] we had good looks, good offense, the ball was moving: We just weren’t making shots. … Defensively, we’re still growing in that aspect, still figuring out what works for our team.”

Talk quietly with players and the word ‘trust’ keeps coming up.

It’s an area they desperately need to grow in.

“A lot obviously. A lot,” Thomas said. “Obviously everybody feels like if nobody has your back on a rotation then we’re not going to help as much. That’s with anybody. So obviously that’s a part of it we can still grow.

“But I’d say not getting down when teams go on runs, that’s the main thing. It’s the NBA; everybody goes on runs. But we can’t get down, start putting our heads down just because a team goes on an 8-0, 10-0 run. Whether coach calls a timeout or not, just push the ball and get a good shot up, make or miss. Just keep playing, because the tables will turn. It’s a basketball game. Everybody has a run, so we’ve just got to stay focused and not get down when teams go on runs.”

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Dorian Finney-Smith was added to the Nets’ injury list, probable with left knee soreness.

Ben Simmons (left lower back — nerve impingement) and Lonnie Walker IV (left hamstring strain) are both still out.