by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni
Hours after learning of the firing of their head coach, a depressed (and philosophical) New Jersey Nets team walked into Staples Center in Los Angeles, and made history. Unfortunately for them, it was the ignominious kind.
With their 17th consecutive loss, New Jersey matched the record for most losses to begin a season. It is a mark shared with such forgettable squads as the 1988 Miami Heat and 1999 Los Angeles Clippers.
The Nets must now look to the future, where things don’t figure to get any easier anytime soon. For their yet-be-named new coach, the work ahead is daunting, if not impossible.
The Star-Ledger breaks it down:
The season is lost, consigned into history as a disaster, yet not without talent and assets. Before long, four more guys will get back from injury, but the new guy will have to rework the rotation and find the chemistry that comes with familiarity.
Polish the résumé. There is virtually no chance that anyone from the coaching staff will return this summer, which is just as well — most of them will be working with Frank, who by then will probably have a better job.
There is a host of candidates for Frank’s old gig, though it’s hard to determine why anyone would ever want to step into that minefield. One man who isn’t afraid, is Patrick Ewing.
So, you’ve got that going for you, Nets fans. Best of luck.
