The Brooklyn Nets are trying not to get ahead of themselves, but after blowing out the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, the team is feeling pretty good about their future. After a disappointing start to the 2013-14 season, the Nets are slowly starting to piece together some wins and most importantly, chemistry.
Kevin Garnett loves what he saw from the team throughout the Monday win. Sitting at 9-15 on the year, the Nets are getting healthier and more accustomed to playing with another. The veteran believes Brooklyn is starting to set themselves up for success.
"I don't want to jump the gun," Garnett said, via ESPNNewYork.com. "Right now, we are taking it one game at a time but understanding that we need to make up some ground. More important, trying to get better as a team overall. Every day we work on something to be better. Things have been simplified and that's good."
Injuries have plagues the Nets to start the year, but that is starting to change. Getting point guard Deron Williams was the first big comeback for the team. Brook Lopez is set to return at some point within the week. Paul Pierce is comfortable coming off the bench while his fractured hand heals.
"We put ourselves in this position," Garnett said. "But we are willing to work our way out of it. Obviously the emergence of having Deron back has been a big plus for us and getting Brook back will be another big plus in trying to put all this together.
While health is certainly starting to work in favor of Brooklyn, Garnett truly believes head coach Jason Kidd is starting to be the big reason the team is succeeding. The veteran notes the coach has simplified things in recent weeks. Everything from the defensive schemes to general communication has become a lot easier and is allowing the Nets lineup to work in sync better.
"More importantly, things have been simplified for the best and the better and we believe in it," Garnett said. "Jason has a lot of belief in us that we will carry out the plan and we have been doing just that."
Of course Monday's win was all about the big game by Joe Johnson. "Joe Cool" decided to have himself a game. In the third quarter alone, Johnson put up 29 points, including eight 3-pointers. He finished the night with a career-high 37 points and 10 3-point shots as the Nets finished off a 130-94 win.
"That was a special performance," Kidd said.
