After another season went by that saw the Brooklyn Nets remain bottom feeders in the Eastern Conference, their front office should look forward to a busy and productive offseason. But before that process begins, ex-NBA Commissioner David Stern has some criticism to say about the organization resting their players in the season finale against the Chicago Bulls on April 12th.
Kenny Atkinson and the Nets elected to rest starters and core players Brook Lopez, Jeremy Lin, and Trevor Booker in a matchup against Chicago that held playoff implications. Stern went off on Brooklyn on USAToday’s “NBA A To Z” Podcast earlier this week:
“I have no idea what was in the mind of the executives of the Brooklyn Nets – none – when they rested their starting players…
Here we are, the Brooklyn Nets are out of the running. They have the lowest record in the sport. But they have an opportunity to weigh in on the final game with respect to Chicago. And they sit their starters? Really? It’s inexcusable in my view. I don’t think the commissioner maybe can, or even should, do anything about it. But shame on the Brooklyn Nets.”
Obviously as the ex-commissioner of the league, David Stern is more than aware of the controversial subject that resting healthy players has become. It was even more damaging for Brooklyn to make this decision considering what was riding on their game against Chicago. The Bulls were in a tight race for the eighth and final playoff spot with the Miami Heat. The Bulls would end up cruising their way to a playoff-clinching 39-point win, ending Miami’s season.
The decision from Brooklyn was certainly questionable, especially when you consider that it was the last game and there was absolutely no reason for the Nets to rest their starters. Moving forward with their offseason, the Nets should hope to add some talent and reverse their losing ways after years of subpar play.
