The glaring issue holding back Nets as team rallies together to turnaround slow start

DALLAS — When Benjamin Franklin said, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately,” the sentiment was about building a country. It also applies to building a team. The Nets are finding that out the hard way. They enter Wednesday’s tilt in New Orleans a disheartening 2-8.And with a rare road practice the day before in Dallas, the Nets went in intent on keeping the morale up, the energy positive and — most importantly — the team together. “That was one of my points after the [Dallas] game; it’s what we need to not only get better, but also come together,” Jordi Fernández said.

“Our practice, the energy was outstanding and we got better.So right now we want to go out there and play a good brand of basketball.” The Nets had played a bad brand of ball in their 130-93 loss to the Mavericks, a desultory defeat in which they were disjointed and disconnected. Getting on the same page was a main point of emphasis in their practice, as was getting in a good headspace. “There’s a lot of things to be down about.

But it’s a long season, and if we get down already, then it’s going to be a longer season,” admitted Michael Porter Jr.“So coming here with good energy and get better was what we needed to do.” The proof will be in the pudding, or against the Pelicans. Brooklyn was disorganized offensively against the Mavericks, with 21 turnovers resulting in 25 points. It’s a recurring theme after coughing up 22 giveaways for 28 points the night before in a heartbreaking 124-121 loss in Atlanta. “Yeah, it’s pretty simple, right? I know the guys are not trying to turn it over, so put less pressure on yourself when you make those decisions,” said Fernández.

“It’s more about our spacing and then how we do from there because we’re pretty unorganized early and then that doesn’t help.So I don’t want them to play tentative; I want them to play aggressive, and making their decisions and playing very...