Brooklyn Nets: 3 takeaways from 116-79 loss to Indiana Pacers

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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 13: Edmond Sumner #5 of the Indiana Pacers goes to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 13, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Effort just wasn’t there Friday

We get it — it’s been a tough session in Vegas. The Nets were winless, two guys went home with injuries — including one (Ding Yanyuhang) before the Summer League even began — and things never quite gelled well.

But when it started to get away from them on Friday, for the first time in five games in Las Vegas, this group just folded.

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Some of these players may get looks in NBA training camps. Others are likely ticketed for the G-League. Some will have to head abroad to find contracts.

But one thing evaluators always look for is effort, regardless of the score of the game. Keep playing hard, try to make the right play, move your feet defensively, execute crisply.

Very little of that happened for Brooklyn on Friday, particularly once Indiana blew the game open in the third quarter.

Tyler Davis battled inside on the offensive end, even if his defense was sort of telephone pole-like (I’ll stand here and be really tall). The lane opened up like a freeway for much of the game as the Pacers basically enjoyed a conga line to the basket.

Shawn Dawson left the game with an injury after a tough collision in the second half with Tra-Deon Hollins.

Yuta Watanabe went essentially radio-silent after he was demolished on a steal/block/I don’t quite know what it was but WOW! defensive play by Edmond Sumner when it appeared he had a clear path to the basket.

https://twitter.com/Pacers/status/1017880054741852160

Theo Pinson probably showed enough over the eight days in Vegas to get a training camp look with someone, if not Brooklyn. Ditto for Watanabe, who showed a nose for the ball, a little bit of shooting touch and a need to put on some bulk.

Dawson also played well for most of the week, but likely won’t stay in the U.S. for a G-League deal, not when he can go home to Israel where he is already a four-time All-Star.

James Webb showed flashes, including nailing three 3-pointers in six attempts Friday.

Davis is big, but can be more than a step slow in rotating defensively, struggles to defend against the pick-and-roll and — if it were possible — could stand to pass off some of his bulk to some of the Nets’ thinner dudes.

As for Bryant Crawford, Semaj Christon, Kamari Murphy and Trevor Thompson, they may have to look at next summer as a way to/way back to the NBA.