The Brooklyn Nets have faced a bit of adversity early on in the 2024-25 season with injuries to some of their key role players, but that has not stopped the team from having promising performances. Brooklyn possesses a 5-7 record 12 games into the season, placing them eighth in the Eastern Conference standings. Nevertheless, their second Boston Celtics loss of the year was hard to swallow.
The Nets kept up with Boston at the beginning of Wednesday night's contest, but the Celtics jumped out to a commanding lead in the second half and did not look back. In the end, Brooklyn lost 139-114 after another 30-plus point outing from Jayson Tatum. Losses happen, but in Jordi Fernandez's eyes, the Nets failed to do something crucial.
Jordi Fernandez is serious about Nets' effort
Brooklyn put up a good fight to start Wednesday night's game. They even led 14-5 early on. Yet, it seemed like the team lost juice, especially late in the third and fourth quarters. Fernandez recognized that something was off and issued a stern message about the team's effort after the game:
"I'm okay with losing, but I'm not okay with not fighting. You can never ever quit or look defeated, whatever the case may be," Fernandez said, per Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.
Fernandez's message is consistent with his commitment to doing things the right way and with proper effort. The accountability the head coach has shown proves he wants the Nets to grow outside of just wins and losses. Surely, Brooklyn will take Fernandez's words seriously and keep growing.
A mixed bag of injuries
The Nets received a concerning injury update on Wednesday when it was reported that Ben Simmons was getting an MRI on his left calf after being ruled out for the Celtics game with tightness in the area. Brooklyn is awaiting the results of the test, but hopefully, things are okay and Simmons can make a speedy recovery.
Dorian Finney-Smith was also ruled out of Wednesday's Celtics game with a left ankle sprain. The news is significant, as Finney-Smith is one of Brooklyn's most versatile forwards whose veteran presence is highly valuable to the team. The Nets eagerly await his regained health.
Finally, on a positive note, Bojan Bogdanovic's rehab is progressing well, according to Jordi Fernandez. Bogdanovic had surgery on his foot and wrist in April of 2024 before joining the Nets, but it seems Brooklyn is slated to get his services back soon. The vintage Nets forward's shooting and veteran leadership will prove to be great assets for the team.
Brooklyn continues its campaign with a marquee NBA Cup matchup against Mikal Bridges and the New York Knicks on Nov. 15.