A Burning Brooklyn Bridge

Okay folks, let's be honest. When the season started, everybody was busy focusing on the new Brooklyn Nets and rightfully so. They made the big trade for former Atlanta Hawks SG Joe Johnson, brought back PG Deron Williams with a new 5-year, $98.7 million and SF Gerald Wallace and C Brook Lopez each on 4-year deals. Not to mention moving from the Prudential Center in New Jerseyto the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. They then took the NBA by storm, sprinting out to an 11-4 record through November, averaging 95.7 PPG while giving up 90.9 PPG. 

But then the honey moon was over when things got colder. In December, they managed just 3 victories while dropping 10. So who is to blame for all this? According to the Nets management (and Deron Williams) the blame falls on Avery Johnson, the Eastern Conference Coach for the month of November. Under his watch, the Nets scoring average was 93.1 while their opponents scored 98.9 PPG during December. But does the blame really stick with him. Deron Williams scored 25+ points only once and has a tendency of missing wide open shots and has a 'history' of getting coaches into hot trouble (anyone remember what he did with iconic Utah Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan last year?), Joe Johnson has made 50% or more of his shots four times, including six consecutive games of below 50 percent shooting, Gerald Wallace has scored over 20 points just once and him, F Kris Humphries, and C Brook Lopez have missed time due to injuries. 

So I ask you, the NBA fans. Who is to blame for the winter Nets swoon? Voice your opinion.

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-Ryan L. Fox