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Brooklyn Nets: Top 10 Moments of the 2016-2017 Season

By Alexander Cuesta

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 17: Kenny Atkinson of the Brooklyn Nets reacts during the game against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on March 17, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 17: Kenny Atkinson of the Brooklyn Nets reacts during the game against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on March 17, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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9. First Win of the 2016-2017 Season

A WIN! Yes, they were far and few this season, but the first one happened in the second game of the year. It was Oct. 28, the first home game of the season, and the Nets faced the Indiana Pacers. It was the return of forward Thaddeus Young after being traded in the offseason. And Brook-Lin spoiled it.

Lin played well for the second game in a row, scoring 21 points with nine assists and nine rebounds. Lopez added 25 points and reserve Sean Kilpatrick scored 18 off the bench. The game gave Nets’ fans hope that the season may not be as hopeless as it first seemed.

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Most teams don’t highlight their first win of the season. But for a team that only won 20 games, every win matters. Fans didn’t know when to expect the first win. Seeing the Nets beat a team with ensemble of decent players allowed fans to take a collective sigh of relief.

It wasn’t only the win that mattered, it was the way that they won. The Nets found themselves down at the end of both the first and third quarters. But they fought to get the nine-point victory. There was a resilience about the team that fans latched onto right away.

This toughness and grit defined the Nets season. It gave birth to the hashtag #BrooklynGrit that both players and fans took pride in. Brooklyn would win its next three out of seven games before going on a seven-game losing streak. But this win showed how well the Nets can play when they fire on all cylinders.