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The Elating Highs and Deflating Lows of Kenny Atkinson’s First Season

By Zach Cronin

Mar 26, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson coaches against the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter at Philips Arena. The Nets defeated the Hawks 107-92. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson coaches against the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter at Philips Arena. The Nets defeated the Hawks 107-92. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 25, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts during second half against Miami Heat at Barclays Center. The Miami Heat defeated the Brooklyn Nets 109-106.Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts during second half against Miami Heat at Barclays Center. The Miami Heat defeated the Brooklyn Nets 109-106.Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

It Was Bad, Really Bad

The Brooklyn Nets’ 16-game losing streak is almost forgotten after this remarkable stretch. That was, by far, the lowest low that Atkinson and his team has dealt with. Nothing was going right. The defense was a mess. Manufacturing offense was a struggle, and finding lineups that worked was strenuous to watch — let alone coach.

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The Nets lost only four of the games by double-digits, but all the others were lost in excruciating fashion, most notably because of atrocious execution at the end of games. Getting buckets in the second half for the Nets was like pulling teeth, except the teeth were super-glued into the gums and caked in oil so that the pliers didn’t get a grip. It was brutal.

Throughout it all, Atkinson kept his mind clear and his guys optimistic, and he vehemently preached keeping the culture and focusing on improvement over wins. It must’ve been working, because none of the Nets players gripped about the struggles, and no rumors were floating around of his job being in jeopardy.

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Still, it was low, and the odds of the Brooklyn Nets finishing with a semi-respectable record were slipping away fast. Atkinson weathered the storm, and powering through a losing streak of epic proportions, does a lot of good for a coach.