“Das war schon frustrierend,” Moritz Wagner said after the Brooklyn Nets absorbed a 130-93 defeat against the Dallas Mavericks, according to reporting by de.nachrichten.yahoo.com.
The 28-year-old German big man did not mince words following the lopsided loss at the American Airlines Center. Wagner explicitly questioned his new team’s mental toughness when facing adversity on the floor.
Second-Half Collapse in Dallas
The game slipped away from Brooklyn decisively after halftime, prompting harsh evaluation from Wagner. Wagner pointed out that the team’s heads dropped collectively as soon as the Mavericks applied pressure.
“Wir liegen schon zur Pause mit 20 Punkten hinten, aber wir haben nicht fürchterlich gespielt,” Wagner said via the YES Network, as reported by de.nachrichten.yahoo.com. “Sie waren stark, wir haben unsere Würfe nicht getroffen, aber sie schon.”
Dallas shot 62 percent from the field during a dominant first half. Wagner emphasized that the group lacked the maturity required to handle tough stretches in the match.
“Ich habe das Gefühl, dass wir, wenn wir auf Widerstand treffen, nicht wirklich damit klarkommen,” Wagner said, according to de.nachrichten.yahoo.com. “Man merkt, wie dann die Köpfe hängen. Uns fehlt als Gruppe die Reife.”
Nets Fall to 2-8 Record After Disappointing Loss
The defeat drops the Nets to a 2-8 record through their first ten games of the NBA regular season. Only the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks are worse.
Wagner stated that losses are acceptable only when the underlying process shows effort and purpose. He noted that Wednesday night’s performance failed to meet that basic standard.
“Es gibt Spiele, die du verlierst, und trotzdem kannst du mit erhobenen Haupt vom Feld gehen, weil der Prozess dahinter zu sehen war,” Wagner said, as reported by de.nachrichten.yahoo.com. “Das kann ich von dem heutigen Spiel nicht behaupten.”
Wagner and Flagg Provide Bright Spots in Nets Loss
Against Dallas, Wagner provided one of the few bright spots for Brooklyn. He contributed 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, including 1-of-1 from three-point range, in 15 minutes of action.
Cooper Flagg recorded 25 points, shooting 8-of-13 overall and 3-of-5 from deep, while adding a career-high 12 assists. Meanwhile, the Nets struggled heavily as a unit, shooting 38.8 percent FG% and 28.2 percent 3FG%.
Wagner signed a two-year contract worth nearly 18.5 million dollars with Brooklyn in the summer. He is adjusting to his new role after previously playing for the Orlando Magic alongside Paolo Banchero and his brother Franz.
“Es ist ein Dilemma,” Wagner said regarding the contrast in team expectations, according to de.nachrichten.yahoo.com. “Du willst positiv sein, aber solche Niederlagen frustrieren natürlich. Als jemand, der viel kommuniziert, ist es auch meine Verantwortung, zu versuchen, den Laden zusammenzuhalten und positiv zu bleiben.”
Upcoming Schedule for Brooklyn
Despite the team struggles, Wagner is maintaining efficient individual production. He averages 10.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 18.2 minutes per game while shooting 55.4 percent from the field.
The Nets return to the floor in the night from Wednesday to Thursday to face the New Orleans Pelicans. New Orleans enters the matchup following two consecutive losses after a four-game winning streak.
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