The Brooklyn Nets will need to postpone their championship banner ceremony.
After an electric January under P.J. Carlesimo, the Nets suffered consecutive losses at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets. The style was less than inspiring and at the very least raises some concerns for the immediate future.
The Nets simply failed to show up against the Grizzlies Friday night, losing 101-77. On Saturday night, the Rockets exposed several Net vulnerabilities as Brooklyn fell, 119-106.
James Harden and Omer Asik proved impossible covers for Carlesimo's team. Harden put up a ho-hum 29 points while Asik gashed the Nets' interior defense to the tune of 20 points and 16 rebounds.
Interior questions will linger going forward for the Nets as they continue to face tougher competition. The Rockets outrebounded the Nets, 50-31, and pounded them in the paint, pouring in 60 points inside.
"We've definitely got to change some things and get back to what we were doing," center Brook Lopez said. "We played a bit at their tempo and they're very good when they're playing at their speed."
The Nets posted a season-high for three-pointers, converting 16-of-36, but the Nets settled for far too many which ultimately led to the Rockets running and getting into the point.
"We shot a good percentage but it's kind of misleading," Carlesimo said. "We took too many threes early in the clock. They were open but it's more the way (Houston) wants to play."
The Nets' shot selection did not allow them to control tempo, and the missed shots turned the game into a track meet.
"Our shot selection hurt us," Carlesimo added. "We knew (the three-pointers) would be there, but we said all along we didn't want quick threes."
Deron Williams also had one of his best efforts of the season wasted. Williams scored 27 points and dished out 11 assists, including a 7-of-7 first quarter good for 20 points. But as Williams cooled down, his teammates never picked up the slack.
The other four starters combined to shoot 36.6 percent from the field and Joe Johnson said the rest of the team needed to better assist Deron Williams.
The Nets return home Monday for a tilt against the Orlando Magic. After splitting a four-game road trip, the Nets will play the next four at the Barclays Center.
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