On and off the court, the Brooklyn Nets are a franchise with aesthetic appeal, but no real identity.
Though their status as one of the worst teams in the NBA doesn’t help their cause, there’s more plaguing the Nets than just their record.
While the neighbouring New York Knicks are no powerhouses themselves at the moment, the experience of watching them play at Madison Square Garden is a draw in itself.
A Brooklyn game at Barcalys Center is entertaining in its own way, but after the initial polish rubs off, you’re left with a feeling like something is missing.
That was my reaction anyways after attending the Nets-Dallas Mavericks game – a treat, I know.
It all starts with the exterior, with the arena immediately recognisable from a distance and standing out in what is otherwise a fairly low key area.
Barclays Center has a unique look and modern finish – which it should considering it was only completed in 2012 – yet its surroundings don’t add much to the atmosphere.
Right across the venue is a giant shopping centre, which is so… blah. Madison Square Garden is an unfair comparison for any arena, let alone one lacking in history and tradition like Barclays Center, but the difference between heading to a game in the same vicinity as Times Square and the Empire State Building, and going to one next to a shopping centre can’t be overstated.
The same ‘style over substance’ theme carries over to the interior of Barclays Center.
Let me just say this to make it clear. The franchise has done an amazing job making everything look great, which is no surprise considering Jay-Z was a a minority owner at the start of their relocation and makeover.
From the herringbone-patterned court to an opening from the arena’s entrance to the stands – which allows fans, at certain angles, to see traffic on the roads outside while watching the game – Barclays Center hits a home run.
And the piece de resistance of the whole place is the unique theatre lighting. No other NBA arena has such a dramatic contrast between the lighting on the court and the lighting in the stands, with the Barclays Center putting a spotlight on the floor and having everything surrounding it in the dark. It’s a cool way to take in a game and makes you wish it was more common.
There’s also a lot of black. Like, a lot. Of course there would be because it’s one of the team’s primary colours, but while black is almost always stylish, too much of it can be exactly that – too much.
The sleekness of Barclays Center comes at the cost of charm and character, which isn’t something Brooklyn is lacking as a borough. The arena and franchise, however, just have this expansion team feel, as if you created them out of thin air in NBA 2K.
It’s all relatively new, so you can understand their shortcomings in that aspect. But they don’t do themselves any favour by trying too hard in some areas, such as their excessive use of music in the middle of the game.
The product on the court somewhat mirrors everything off it. The Nets actually play a fun and entertaining brand of basketball with good ball movement and plenty of outside shooting, ranking third in the league in passes per game with 326.6, seventh in assist percentage at 60.8, second in both 3-pointers made (12.3) and attempted (35.0), and seventh in pace with 100.9 possessions.
What has all that translated to? A 22-48 record, the eighth-worst offensive rating at 103.9 points scored per 100 possessions and the seventh-worst average plus-minus at minus-4.2.
If the on-court product is fixed and more talent is drafted and developed, it could just as easily solve the Nets’ identity issues off the court.
Something will be needed soon though because the fresh and new feeling won’t last forever.
