The Brooklyn rookie endured multiple lapses against the Atlanta Hawks including during the fourth quarter collapse.
Jordi Fernandez witnessed his Brooklyn Nets endure a massive meltdown Sunday -- getting outscored 24-2 in the final eight minutes.
Yet that fourth quarter collapse in the 115-104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena wasn't the only thing the head coach addressed.
He watched his impressive rookie Nolan Traore struggle throughout the night -- from mistimed shots to losing the basketball.
Traore executed a costly turnover at the 4:20 mark. Then he rushed a two-point shot with 3:11 left. Atlanta took advantage of a bad Traore pass three seconds after the missed two-pointer. He then missed a 26-footer near the 2:10 mark of the fourth -- but also a missed layup with 52.6 left.
Traore then turned the ball over one last time with 38.3 to go. Again, Traore's personal fourth quarter collapse became a subject of discussion after the 11-point loss.
But Fernandez opted to defend his young playmaker postgame.
"You go through the experience, and you learn," Fernandez began via the YES Network. "Some of the rushed shots and turnovers…you gotta learn how to be composed."
Fernandez state something similar involving Traore's passing.
"You gotta learn how to put everybody in [the right] place and take good shots," he said.
However, he believed this wasn't just a Traore problem -- but team wide.
"So next game it is," Fernandez said.
Still, he acknowledged the difficulty of fathoming a difficult loss like this one.
"This is tough because wins in the NBA matter. You have to play to compete and play to win," Fernandez said.
Traore finished with just 11 points -- but made just 4-of-14 from field goal range. He banked just one three-pointer. Traore led all Nets players by committing five turnovers.
He managed to become one of three Nets players to grab two steals alongside Noah Clowney and Day'Ron Sharpe. But Traore's scoring production came in 35 total minutes of action -- joining Michael Porter Jr. in earning the most time on the floor. Scoring 11 points in that span of time isn't always going to fly in the NBA...especially for those desiring to become an NBA All-Star or world champion.
Traore will aim to redeem himself with the rest of the Nets Tuesday -- as top overall pick Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks come to town.
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