The Nets’ extended funk has put even their playoff hopes on life support.
They will be tied unless Brooklyn wins the next two games from Atlanta.
“We have to win both games,” Day’Ron Sharp said. “We need both because we’re trying to get into the playoffs. So we’re going to come in and be fully focused so we can win both games so we can get into the playoffs.”
The Nets will host the Hawks on Thursday night and again in a Saturday afternoon matinee. By Saturday night, their playoff hopes will either be revived or left in the middle of the court at Barclays Center.
Otherwise, they have no illusions.
“I see. We were just talking about it,” Sharpe said. “So we just have to remember, get past [Tuesday’s loss]put it in the past and prepare for the next two.”
The Nets sit at 22-36, four games behind Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the East with 24 games remaining on their schedule.
It’s a deep hole, but a back six with 22 remaining seems deeper than the Mariana Trench — especially for a Nets team that has dropped five of its last six, Mikal Bridges is struggling and Cam Thomas is injured.
“Yes, you should [turn it around]. If we sweep them – beat them twice – then I feel like that puts us in a really good position,” Nick Claxton said. “So we have to have a short memory and be ready for those two games at home.”
On the surface, the Nets are hoping desperation and opportunity combine into victory. They will face a Hawks team missing All-Star guard Trae Young with a torn radial collateral ligament in his left ring finger.
“Oh, with Trae out, they’re going to be free to run more of their offense,” Claxton said. “So I’m just stopping probably [Dejounte] Murray, it starts with Murray and just being steady and focusing on our principles.”
But the Hawks have not only won eight of 13, they’ve won their two games since losing Young by a combined 44 points. Atlanta routed Orlando by 17 — just two nights before the same Magic beat the Nets 108-81 — then blanked Utah by 27. Murray had 42 points, 22 and 13 rebounds and will be a test.
“It’s good to be home. Go home, learn from it and do a nice little home workout and try to make a run,” Bridges said. “Of course, but I feel every game is extremely important, so I don’t really look at any other game. Our toughest game is the next one, no matter what the problem is.”
One of the biggest concerns for the Nets is Bridges’ form. Their leading scorer, Bridges, has seen his production drop off a cliff as of late. He was a combined minus-78 over the last five games, bottoming out in Orlando.
Bridges is averaging just 12.2 points on 32.9 percent shooting over his last five games and a horrendous 19.5 percent from deep. A career 84.8 percent shooter from the foul line, he shot 55.6 percent during that slump.
“I feel like when I’m open I’m going to take 3s. Everyone feels good, but unfortunately it just doesn’t go in, which isn’t fun,” Bridges said. “Just keep taking what the defense gives me, keep being aggressive. The only way to get out of this slump is to keep shooting.”
Bridges missed 26 of his last 28 3-point attempts heading into the late stages of their blowout loss at Toronto in Kevin Ollie’s interim debut.
And on Tuesday in Orlando, facing constant pick-and-roll blitzes with Thomas sidelined, Bridges was held to four points on 2-of-14 shooting and 0-of-7 from deep. It was his worst outing as a Net.
“I’ve got to do a better job trying to hold on to Mikal more,” Ollie said. “He was just trying to make the right play and when he got opportunities to get looks, he just didn’t knock them down. But he had a good look and hopefully we can get that look when we get back home.
