Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

KD: L's will pile up without attitude adjustment

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Saturday, 01 January 2022 21:29

NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant didn't mince words after a disappointing 120-116 loss to a severely undermanned LA Clippers squad on Saturday night. He was frustrated by not only the fact that the Nets dropped their second straight game, but that they did so against a team he thought Brooklyn took for granted.

"We just relaxed too much," Durant said. "We get up 10, miss a layup or turn the ball over, and they get a fast break, give up a 3, straight-line drive -- like coach [Steve Nash] said, we didn't deserve to win this game. We came in here with a f---ed-up attitude. Thinking we were just going to walk into a W."

The Nets allowed a Clippers team -- playing without Paul George (UCL tear in right elbow), Kawhi Leonard (right ACL rehab), Nicolas Batum (right ankle sprain) and a variety of other players who are dealing with a combination of injuries and health and safety protocols, as well as coach Tyronn Lue (health and safety protocols) -- to hang around all night. Both Durant and Nash acknowledged the team's intensity wasn't where it needed to be from the start.

"It's natural when a team is missing so many players," Durant said when asked why the Nets' attitude was the way it was. "They're going through so much over there. [We] relaxed. You don't think you could lose an NBA game like this. They're missing how many guys? They're playing guys that are up from the G League. Xavier Moon came in and hit some shots for them. Keon Johnson, James Ennis -- they all made an impact I felt on the game, and I think we came in too chill to start."

The Nets added to their own issues by turning the ball over 15 times -- but it was the lack of attention to detail, especially on the defensive end, that did Nash's group in.

"I just think [giving up] 71 points in the second half is unacceptable," Nash said. "We just never really had the care factor. Turned it up, we had a chance up nine, 10, 11 in the third and fourth at different times and just took our foot off the gas and got what we deserved, really. All those guys in there, I think they know it, they're disappointed of course, but it's a disappointment for all of us -- that was obviously a very winnable game that we let get away."

Nash said his team would have to take the performance "to heart and rebuild" moving forward. Nets guard James Harden said he didn't know why the "care factor" wasn't there for a Brooklyn team that is now 23-11 on the season.

"I'm not sure," Harden said. "That's a good question. I don't know. Obviously, I knew we wanted to win -- it's just, are we willing to do the things to secure the win or to do what we're supposed to do? And I don't think we did that from the beginning of the game and we give a team confidence and let them hang in the game for four quarters and stuff like this happens."

Durant, who was as outwardly frustrated as he has been in a while, is hoping his team will learn from its mistakes after such a poor performance.

"Hopefully a loss like this, it's in your brain until [Sunday]," Durant said. "Go out there and understand what your job is as an individual and how you can be the best at that job and how you can bring it to the collective. It's always about the collective. So if you ain't feeling like s--- after this game, then you got to look yourself in the mirror."

Nash noted that both players and coaches needed to speak up in the wake of that kind of loss.

"Obviously I tell them that can't be us," Nash said. "And that can't be the level that we are gonna accept. And that we have to decide what's acceptable for us and what's not."

Durant echoed a similar sentiment when asked how confident he was that the Nets would be able to bounce back after this type of loss to a much weaker opponent.

"We're going to continue to get our ass kicked if we don't approach the game in the proper way," Durant said. "It's about the group. It's about how we're going to come out here and be the best that we can each possession. Tonight wasn't one of those nights."

Read 267 times

Soccer

Man City face 'tough' season after late collapse

Man City face 'tough' season after late collapse

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPep Guardiola said Manchester City are in for a "tough" season afte...

Man City need more than Haaland as season sits on knife's edge

Man City need more than Haaland as season sits on knife's edge

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMANCHESTER, England -- For 75 minutes on Tuesday night, Manchester...

10-man PSG drop to 26th in narrow loss to Bayern

10-man PSG drop to 26th in narrow loss to Bayern

Bayern Munich battled past 10-man Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the Champions League thanks to Kim Min-...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMIAMI -- Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for Tues...

Sources: Kings closing in on deal for Crowder

Sources: Kings closing in on deal for Crowder

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFree-agent forward Jae Crowder is close to a deal with the Sacramen...

Baseball

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- A full postseason share for the World Series champion L...

Starter or reliever? Stay with the Phillies or go elsewhere? All-Star Jeff Hoffman opens up on free agency

Starter or reliever? Stay with the Phillies or go elsewhere? All-Star Jeff Hoffman opens up on free agency

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJeff Hoffman is one of the most sought-after relievers in this offs...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated