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Brooklyn Nets: Five Worst Games of the 2016-17 Season

By Christian Milcos

Dec 18, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dives to keep the ball in play during the fourth quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers won the game 108-107.Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dives to keep the ball in play during the fourth quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers won the game 108-107.Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 29, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) dribbles the ball between Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) dribbles the ball between Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Oct. 29: 110-108 Loss to Bucks

It’s no secret that losing on a buzzer beater is one of the most painful ways to squander a basketball game. Many “what if’s” pertaining to minuscule instances in this type of game are analyzed, as perhaps that may have been the difference between a win and a loss.

Brooklyn was coming off their first win of the season as they headed into Milwaukee for this contest. With Lopez taking the night off for rest, John Henson dominated on the boards and ultimately tipped home the game-winner.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo truly began his “Most Improved Player” campaign with a stellar performance in this game. He posted a double-double along with two blocks and two steals. This contributed to his overall averages of 23 points and nine rebounds per contest over a handful of games in October. Brooklyn had nobody to matchup with the “Greek Freak,” as most teams typically do not. Bogdanovic and Hollis-Jefferson gave their best efforts, but Antetokounmpo and his seven-foot wingspan were too much to handle.

As for the game-winner itself, the Nets displayed a textbook defensive breakdown. To begin the play, Jabari Parker started with the ball and was able to blow by Trevor Booker on his way to the hoop. Justin Hamilton smartly rotated over and made Parker’s shot attempt very difficult. The issue came when Henson (Hamilton’s man) was essentially left alone. Nobody had the awareness to body up Henson, which effectively ended the Nets’ chances at being above .500 for the first time in years.

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This was an easily preventable mistake, which doesn’t help this game’s watchability for Nets fans. Brooklyn would fall to 1-2 after this loss, only to be blown out by Chicago on Halloween a few nights later.