Acquiring Kevin Garnett (center) and Paul Pierce (right) has not paid dividends in Brooklyn. (AP)
The Nets made colossal moves this summer expected to alter the Eastern Conference landscape, acquiring future Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from the Boston Celtics and transforming their lineup into a potential championship contender.
So far, that hasn't worked out.... MORE →
In the beginning of September, Brooklyn Nets forward Reggie Evans did the unthinkable: he shaved his legendary-in-Brooklyn beard off, sporting a clean chin unlike anything we've seen in Evans's tenure with the Nets. Evans refused to tell anyone why he shaved his face-locks off, but promised to bring the beard back ASAP.
Sure enough, within two months the beard's back to his lumberjacky, Duck-Dynasty-esque glory.
Matt Stucko of YES Network had a chance to talk to Reggie about Movember, and Evans offered information and analysis on the fine art of beard growth and maintenance. Watch above.
RELATED: REGGIE EVANS AND BEARDED GREATNESS
Reggie Evans (AP)
Joe Johnson was the Nets' only starter in uniform Saturday, leaning on the remnants of the roster to assist. (AP)
LOS ANGELES, C.A. -— No player, coach, or GM will ever tell you openly that a team's priorities lie anywhere other than squarely on winning a game on any given night. Saturday the Brooklyn Nets tiptoed carefully along that line, bolstering the suspicion that they're playing the long game: less concerned with nightly results and fixated instead on the holistic process.
Ask any of the Nets about their 110-103 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers, and he'll stress that this was a process loss, with the obligatory lip service that a win is a win and a loss yields nothing.
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Today and tomorrow, we're going to look at six things we've seen from the Brooklyn Nets in the first six games. Here's part one.
Kevin Garnett has been more of a wart than a stalwart on defense this season. (AP)
Reggie Evans (AP)
After a wild offseason, it’s hard to believe that we’re just seven days away from opening day. With all the movement in the NBA, one would think that a new contender might be in prime position to dethrone the two-time defending champion Miami Heat.
Nope. In a survey completed by all 30 NBA general managers, the Miami Heat’s chances of repeating have gone up from last year, increasing from 70 to a 75% of becoming back-to-back-to-back winners. Other teams receiving votes to win the NBA Finals included Indiana, Chicago, Oklahoma City, San Antonio and the L.A. Clippers. The Brooklyn Nets? Nowhere to be found.
The Nets, however, were runaway winners for the Atlantic Division, posting 75.9% of the vote -- with the crosstown rival Knicks coming in with the remaining 24.1%.
Here's where else the Nets earned votes:
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Garnett (left), Evans (AP)
"I'm excited as hell."
Since media day AKA first day of NBA school on September 30th, Kevin Garnett and Reggie Evans have been effusive in their praise of one another. On media day, Evans talked of a mutual respect between he, the ferocious rebounder, and Garnett, the future Hall of Famer. Garnett acknowledged yesterday that he would not have waived his no-trade clause had Reggie Evans left the Nets, citing him as a "dog, a workhorse" that he always respected. In this preseason interview with YES, Evans stresses his excitement once again. Check it out.
Garnett, Evans last season (AP)
Evans relished in playing against Garnett throughout his career (they've gone against each other in the regular season 30 times in Evans's 11 years), and was effusive in his praise of his teammate on media day, citing him as someone he could learn from and improve against every day. "I'm so thrilled, I'm so happy. ... We just have a mutual respect for one another on the court. So by us going hard with each other, we talk a lot of noise to each other. There's no letups."
Evans is known almost exclusively for his rebounding (and his suddenly-mysterious beard) set an NBA record last season in that department, pulling down 26.7% of all available rebounds when he was on the floor last season. That's a higher percentage than any player (minimum 50 games) in NBA history. He also set an NBA record in defensive rebounding percentage, pulling down a ridiculous 38% of all defensive rebounds available, and led the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage.
"Had a great time hooping in Jamica. #Respect" (Image via Reggie Evans on Instagram)
Brooklyn Nets center Andray Blatche's list of off-court transgressions are numerous and lengthy, and they're usually not positive. But each offseason, Blatche does do a bit of good quietly, and invited a teammate along with him this time around.
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