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Andrea Bargnani ejected for trash-talking Kevin Garnett in Knicks’ blowout of Nets (Video)
The Brooklyn Nets' terrible 2013-14 season hit a new low on Thursday night. Hosting the cross-river rival New York Knicks at Barclays Center for a matchup of the NBA's two most disappointing teams, the Nets were blown out 113-83 to run their record to 5-14. Facing an opponent that had lost nine in a row, Brooklyn looked lethargic, overmatched, and simply uninspired. Things are not going well for the franchise right now.
Early in the fourth quarter, we witnessed perhaps the clearest manifestation of how far the Nets have fallen. After nailing an open jumper near the left corner to run the score to 91-61, much-mocked Knicks tall person Andrea Bargnani jawed at Nets big man Kevin Garnett. While Bargnani earned a second technical foul and subsequent ejection for taunting, the mere fact that a player widely thought to have an alarming lack of toughness could talk trash to one of the most intense competitors in NBA history without serious retribution communicates something about the state of the Nets right now.
After the game, Garnett and Bargnani spoke to the media about the incident. From Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press:
Garnett wouldn't discuss the incident, saying ''I don't understand Italian'' - though Bargnani insisted whatever he said was in English. He also downplayed the exchange.
''The most important thing is that we won the game, we played a great game and we've really got to start to build on this,'' Bargnani said.
Bargnani's taunting was most likely connected to this dustup just a minute earlier, when the two players tangled during a rebound, fell to the ground, and got more uncomfortable as they attempted to come to their feet. Each earned a technical for the incident.
With the final result decided, I'm guessing Bargnani didn't feel too ashamed about spending the rest of the game in the locker room.
Although KG and the Nets have serious work to do after this embarrassing loss, it's worth noting that they're still a full game ahead of the 4-13 Knicks in the standings. Somehow, both franchises can look at each other and determine that their situations could be worse.
(Videos via The Point Forward)
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