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The Brooklyn Nets dropped their fifth straight game on Wednesday night, falling 117–112 to the Atlanta Hawks. On a night when everything seemed to align for Brooklyn — including Trae Young exiting early with a knee injury — the Nets still couldn’t find a way to secure their first win of the season.
Brooklyn’s start has been far from ideal, but it hasn’t come as a shock to most fans. This season has been widely viewed as a rebuilding year, despite being disguised at times by the offensive firepower of Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. The team continues to search for its identity — whether that’s developing its five rookies or maximizing its veteran talent. Following the loss, Porter Jr. pinpointed one specific issue holding the team back.
“I think it starts with the point guard spot. We have a lot of rookie point guards who are going to be great in this league for a long time, but they're still rookies... I think the point guard position may be the hardest position in the game, and we have a lot of young guys playing that position. So it's really hard to win when that point guard spot isn't solidified,” Porter Jr. told ClutchPoints’ Erik Slater.
As it stands, ball movement remains one of the Nets’ biggest challenges. The team currently ranks 28th in possessions per game, the second-worst mark in the league. Cam Thomas ranks 38th in touches per game among qualified guards, while Porter Jr. sits 29th among forwards. While his comments might sound like frustration over touches, Porter clarified that he understands head coach Jordi Fernández’s commitment to developing the team’s young point guards.
“I think Ben is doing a great job picking things up, and I think Egor [Demin] too, but they're still rookies. I don't think as a rookie I was ready to really contribute to winning. So I think it's going to be a work in progress.”
Ben Saraf has consistently started at point guard for Brooklyn, using his 6’6” frame and two-way versatility to create mismatches. However, his offensive production has been limited — averaging 3.2 points and 3.3 assists on under 22% shooting from both the field and three-point range. Rookie Egor Demin has provided flashes of potential, averaging 7.5 points and 2.5 assists, though all of his attempts so far have come from beyond the arc.
The Nets will need to find answers soon as they look to avoid matching their franchise-worst 0–7 start from the 2015–16 season. Whether it’s Fernández reshaping the rotation or Porter Jr. rallying the locker room, Brooklyn’s next step begins with identifying what’s not working — and fixing it fast.
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