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Where’s Brooklyn At? Nets lost season proves to be failure

ByDan Stokes|
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

After a headline-making offseason, there were high hopes for the Brooklyn Nets this year. Their 30-34 record and fired head coach show that the team was a huge disappointment.

TheBrooklyn Netscurrently hold the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with a 30-34 record at the point when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver hit the pause button on this season, amid the battle against the deadly coronavirus. An illness that four Nets players, including darling free agent acquisition Kevin Durant, havetested positive for.

To quote The Notorious B.I.G.: “Where Brooklyn At?”

For a team that had new deep-pocketed ownership, an All-Star studded free agency splash, a strong GM/coaching tandem and a top-four seed on its mind… the Brooklyn Nets have vastly disappointed this season.

Nets fans never expected to seeKevin Duranttake the court in the Barclays Center rocking a Nike Swingman jersey in the 2019-2020 season. However, they didn’t think their other perennial All-Star,Kyrie Irving, would be limited to only 20 games, due to a balky right shoulder.

It’s fair to say former head coach Kenny Atkinson got the most out of his players. He turnedSpencer Dinwiddieinto a $34M man. He also helped turn third-year center, Jarrett Allen, into a formidable big man. Atkinson even madeCaris LeVertandJoe Harrisinto building blocks for the franchise.

But with all those positives, Atkinson currently finds himself jobless after his “buddy” GM Sean Marks handed him a pink slipas originally reported in the New York Post.

"“Kenny was instrumental in developing our players and building the identity and culture we have become known for over these past four seasons,” GM Sean Marks said.” The foundation he helped put into place here is one that we will continue to build on in the coming seasons. We are forever grateful for all of Kenny’s hard work and dedication to the Nets and the Brooklyn community.”"

Marks talked about the culture Atkinson helped build, including a surprise trip to last year’s NBA playoffs, and building an identity for the franchise. That’s bunk, Atkinson deserved better and he should be a highly coveted prize for any organization that wants to develop talent and win.

Somebody has to explain why a GREAT Coach like Kenny Atkinson gets fired?

— DeMarre Carroll (@DeMarreCarroll1)March 7, 2020

Atkinson didn’t suddenly lose a team midway through the season like he’s alleged to have done. No, this was the doing of Brooklyn’s “Big Three”… Durant, Irving andDeAndre Jordan. If you think otherwise, you are foolish. They want to have “their guy” in place.

Kyrie Irving has never played for same head coach in more than two consecutive seasons.

2 seasons w/ Byron Scott. Fired
1 season w/ Mike Brown. Fired
1.5 seasons w/ David Blatt. Fired
1.5 seasons w/ Ty Lue. Traded
2 seasons w/ Brad Stevens. FA
1 season w/ Kenny Atkinson. Fired

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer)March 7, 2020

I doubt interim head coach Jacque Vaughn will remain at the Nets helm next year. The GM probably has meetings already set up with free agent coaches Ty Lue, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy. All of course under the direction of Brooklyn’s Big Three.

Nets give Kenny Atkinson a contract extension and fire him as he's exceeding expectations. Sounds dumb. Don't forget, the Nets also fired their CEO David Levy just TWO MONTHS after hiring him.

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA)March 7, 2020

It’s sad to see that one of the NBA’s brightest executives has sadly become a puppet for the overpriced trio he signed. With the infusion of owner Joe Tsai’s cash, Marks ditched Atkinson as well as the organization’s trajectory.

More fromBrooklyn Nets

Instead of building a championship contender through development, they opted for injury-prone veterans in hopes of winning a cheap title.

The Association’s temporary stoppage is probably in the Brooklyn Nets best interests. They are a win-now team with NBA Finals aspirations, yet find themselves with more question marks than solutions.

It’s been a rollercoaster season, that I’d deem a failure. Nets fans, In the KD-Kyrie era, all I can say is hold onto your seats.

Nets fans, do you think this season was a failure? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.

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