Jordi Fernández Calls Out Nets' Biggest Issues After Losses

The Brooklyn Nets had a difficult weekend on the road, falling to the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks in back-to-back losses. Despite setting up a win against Atlanta on Saturday night, Brooklyn struggled to carry that momentum into Sunday's contest against Dallas, resulting in a disappointing two-game stretch.

Following both losses, head coach Jordi Fernández addressed the team's struggles, pointing to turnovers, defensive breakdowns, and a lack of consistency as some of the biggest reasons behind Brooklyn's inability to come away with victories.

The Nets appeared to be in control for much of Saturday's game against Atlanta, building a 17-point lead before watching it disappear in the closing minutes. Brooklyn ultimately fell 124-121, marking another frustrating loss for a team still trying to find its footing early in the season.

Fernández was particularly disappointed with how his team handled the fourth quarter, emphasizing that the issues went beyond simply missing shots.

"We were not consistent enough to do the right things, and it's not about making shots," Fernández said. "It's about trying to do the right things."

Turnovers were a major problem for Brooklyn, which committed 22 of them against Atlanta, leading to 28 points for the Hawks. The Nets also surrendered 24 second-chance points, something Fernández felt was especially disappointing given the team's ability to rebound.

"That's not acceptable. That's where you lose the game," Fernández said. "The second-chance points also made the difference."

Brooklyn also struggled to contain Atlanta's offense, allowing 70 points in the paint. Fernández acknowledged that the Nets initially defended well but eventually lost their ability to keep the Hawks out of the lane.

The loss was particularly frustrating because Brooklyn had an opportunity to secure a road victory but couldn't make the necessary plays when it mattered most.

"I was excited to have a chance to win this game. We were right there and we couldn't," Fernández said. "So obviously, we've got to figure it out. Me first."

The Nets had little time to dwell on the disappointment, returning to the court Sunday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Unfortunately, the result was even worse, as Brooklyn struggled defensively and suffered a 130-93 defeat.

Fernández once again pointed to turnovers as a major issue, with the Nets committing 17 that resulted in 24 Dallas points. He also wasn't pleased with how disconnected his team looked defensively, particularly against Dallas' talented backcourt.

"We were not connected, and we made a lot of mistakes," Fernández said. "A team like this, when they're in a rhythm with the players that they have, you can get hurt."

The Mavericks received strong performances from Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg, who combined for 46 points. Fernández recognized the difficulty of defending both players, particularly Irving's ability to operate in pick-and-roll situations, but made it clear that Brooklyn needed to be better defensively regardless of the opponent.

Offensively, the Nets generated some quality opportunities but couldn't consistently convert them. Fernández felt the team created good looks, although the combination of missed shots, turnovers, and defensive struggles made it difficult to remain competitive.

There were some positives to take away from the weekend, including the playmaking of Brooklyn's guards. Fernández praised Day’Ron Sharpe after he recorded 13 assists against Atlanta, calling that type of assist-to-turnover production elite.

He also discussed the decision to stick with Mikel Brown Jr. during the fourth quarter against Atlanta. Brown had found a rhythm offensively, and Fernández felt it was the right decision to keep him on the floor rather than continue making substitutions. However, he acknowledged that there was no guarantee it was the correct call.

Despite the disappointing results, Fernández isn't interested in changing the team's overall approach. Instead, he wants Brooklyn to learn from these performances and continue working toward becoming a more consistent group.

"I hope it hurts enough that when you're in the same situation, we're better as a group," Fernández said after the Atlanta loss.

The Nets will need to take that message seriously. Their inability to protect a significant lead against Atlanta and their struggles on both ends of the floor in Dallas highlighted several areas that need improvement.

Fernández believes the group will respond, but Brooklyn will have to show that progress on the court rather than simply talk about it.