Entering the 2013-2014 NBA season, the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets were looked upon as franchises capable of making a strong run through the regular season and into the playoffs. While teams like the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers were viewed as legitimate title threats, strong play from both New York teams would easily put them in the title discussion. Combining to win just eight games this season, fans and higher-ups of both organizations are now beginning to rethink the high expectations placed on their respective professional teams.
Coming off a 54-win season, the Knicks and Carmelo Anthony were excited about the chance of competing with the Heat and Pacers in the East. Dropping their last nine and playing to a 3-13 overall record however, New York is now just looking to get out of the bottom portion of the Eastern Conference. Luckily for the Knickerbockers, their next opponent isn't exactly playing up to form either. After acquiring future Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from the Boston Celtics during the offseason, the Brooklyn Nets (5-13) looked like a serious title contender. Adding the two veterans to a team that already possessed point guard Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez was supposed to give the Nets the top starting unit in the game but it's been the complete opposite for first-year head coach Jason Kidd and company.
"There are no excuses," Kidd said recently. "You have to try and win and that's the bottom line, and so whatever any owner decides to do, that's his decision. And so we have to get guys ready to play, no matter who it is, injuries or no injuries. You have to have guys ready to play. Communication is the first start to anything offensively and defensively. So with some new pieces, with injuries, there's always a lag time. So right now they're doing great things; it's just the small things in the sense of just finishing the play, could be as simple as getting the rebound, and that's what we have to work on."
While the Nets continue to struggle - coming off a 111-87 loss to the Denver Nuggets - the New York Knicks have been worse. Taking a nine-game losing streak to Barclays Center in Brooklyn Thursday night, Mike Woodson's Knicks (3-13) are in desperate need of a win. With recent rumors suggesting that Woodson could be relieved of his duties as head coach if the 'Bockers fall to the rival Nets, the Knicks boss said that his only focus is to get things turned around. The fact that no one is running away with the division is another tool of motivation the former Atlanta Hawks coach is using as well.
"You've got two teams that expectations were high coming into the season and we've both have had our struggles," he said. "But again, if they're looking at it like we're looking at it, nobody's running away with the division and I still think our team can win the division. I've had the opportunity to come in here and coach a team and turn a team around, and right now we've had our ups and downs, this early season, but am I going to throw in the towel? Absolutely not. I'm still the coach of this team, we've got a big game tomorrow night, which I think we can win, so we've just got to stay focused and stay the course."
New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets: DATE, TIME, TV & STREAM INFO
DATE: Thursday, December 5
TIME: 7:00pm, ET
TV COVERAGE: TNT
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE
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