3 Takeaways from the Brooklyn Nets snoozer vs Trail Blazers

This is the 19-win team we dreamed of. Yes, it was a nightmare.

Referring to the Brooklyn Nets 2024-25 season as “odd” is perhaps the most political, yet still true take one can have on the campaign. Working to establish a winning standard — but overachieving at it to the point that they’re hindering their other goal of building for the future — it’s pulled us all in different directions with every step.

But for as odd as its been, it’s one they haven’t walked alone. Also the winners of a few too many games to pursue franchise-altering draft talent, yet pleased with their teams competitive growth behind young talent, the Portland Trail Blazers are right there with them this season.

Heck, they even both have score-first guards at their helm, one’s who were once understudies; one’s who their fans still can’t tell if they want them to use them as true building blocks or merely an entertainment during these bridge years.

Tonight, Brooklyn met their traveling companion for the second time this year. The road had many bumps — and bruises. But that’s what two team’s hellbent on beating the odds are all about. Here’s what we learned in the process.

CT Needs to Reintegrate with the Offense

When you’re put on the planet to do one thing — and then you’re not allowed to do it for months — it’s understandable to want to kick down the door when the next opportunity to practice that craft arrives.

Cam Thomas did so tonight, putting up 17 shots in 21 minutes of play. But in hindsight, he should have opened it ajar.

Even with Thomas missing the bulk of the season, Portland’s defense treated him like any other 24+ point per game scorer tonight, fighting through screens and bringing backside pressure to suffocate him in the half court. With him handling the rock but unable to find his teammates, sucking up time on the shot clock, and pulling contested looks, the offense lost its rhythm. Brooklyn tripped into 22 turnovers tonight, only dishing 19 assists in the process.

Now, Brooklyn’s offense has been an eyesore at several points this season largely due to Thomas’ unavailability. It should go without saying, but with his extended absence, Thomas also had an unprecedented amount of rust to shake off tonight. After all, he had only played two games since the menu was topped by turkey back in late November. Long time.

However, the Net offense, even if not efficient, had been fluid and fast of late. They certainly shared the wealth last night and cashed in collectively, earning their fifth most assists in a contest last time out too. So to see it go from that to what we got this evening was simply too noticeable to not write about.

It’s not my goal here to ramble on about Thomas’ lacking vision as a player. That’s as boring of an exercise as jumping jacks. I’m not here to deem him a bench player at best unless he changes his ways. His shot-making talent, off-ball gravity, and already improved passing this year argue oppositely to an even greater extent.

However, the perfect formula involves him finding a way to make it work with what has worked of late. He needs to reintegrate with Brooklyn’s offense — because his game is mysterious and important.

PG2 Trendon Can Still Be a Thing

The Nets originally bestowed the backup point guard title on Trendon Watford in somewhat of a designated survivor situation. After trading away or buying out three ball-handlers over the course of the season and with Thomas suffering that hamstring injury, he found himself at the head of the offense a few weeks ago.

Nevertheless, he’s made it seem like something he’s been doing since October, running the second unit with poise and fortitude. Since the Nets bought out Ben Simmons, he’s averaged 12/4/4.

After adding another ball-handler to the mix tonight in Thomas, Watford’s minutes went down slightly with him playing his fewest since the Simmons departure. His ability to make an impact, however, remained evident.

Although the Nets couldn’t put it together to seriously challenge Portland at any point beyond the first quarter tonight, the closest they got was the end of the third, when they cut the Blazer lead to just nine. The driving force behind that pressure was none other than Wat, who sparked a 12-4 run not long after entering the game.

It’s a small sample size, but a good one at that. Jordi Fernández never makes any promises with his rotations — and he made that clear with us on day one. But the productivity argues we’ll continue to see Watford field minutes even as the team heals up.

Fight on Down Low

What might be lost in tonight’s matchup is Brooklyn’s determination on the glass despite being down almost all evening. Brooklyn only finished +9 on the boards overall but won at the offensive end by a 21-9 margin.

Day’Ron Sharpe, naturally less impactful this game as he was the last, still pulled down four. Tyrese Martin and Keon Johnson both matched that, waiting and crashing from the wings much like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Alright, not quite that.

Now, Brooklyn only translating that advantage into a mere +8 extra chance points is the sour side of that equation. But the fight was there. I’ll admit, praising feels stale at this point, but such things are what building a winning foundation is all about.

It’s easy to look up and see yourself down 20 points and not crash as hard, especially when you know you’re playing the front end of a back-to-back. But they didn’t take the easy way out, even if it was an ugly exit overall from the homestand.