Nets get a lesson from Rebuild-Success Magic

Hopefully the Nets took plenty of notes.

Beyond the normal lessons they can learn from every loss, the Magic gave them an ideal rebuilding plan because it represents so much of what these Nets want to eventually become.

But they’re at a much different place than the Magic in their rebuild, and that was evident when the Nets were beaten 123-100 by the red-hot Magic on Friday night at Barclays Center, falling to 9-11 on the season. The Nets have just begun their organizational reset, while the Magic have emerged on the other side and begun to find success.

Friday’s loss ended the Nets’ three-game winning streak and marked the Magic’s 10th win in their last 11 games, despite being without star Paolo Banchero since early November.

Franz Wagner led the Magic with 29 points, 21 of which came in the first half. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 19 points, including two 3-pointers, which halted any momentum the Nets had in the third quarter.

The Magic put the game in the air late in the second quarter, using a 15-5 run to extend their lead to 12 at halftime. They then opened the second half with a 13-5 run and increased their lead to 20.

Dennis Schroder missed Friday’s game for personal reasons and the Nets felt his absence.

Ben Simmons was more aggressive in attacking the rim and as a playmaker without Schröder and recorded eight assists, but could not replace Schröder’s goals with just four points.

The Nets’ identity was lost even without Schröder as chief of staff. They entered the game averaging 40.9 3-point attempts per game, but only needed 29 on Friday and made 14 of them.

Shake Milton led the Nets with a season-high 22 points.

Tyrese Martin, making his first career start after scoring 30 points out of nowhere against the Suns on Wednesday, cooled off and finished the game with eight points. Jalen Wilson hit all three 3-pointers he made in the first quarter to give the Nets an early upset, but was quiet after that and finished with 11 points.

The Nets may be exceeding most low expectations heading into this season, but the Magic should be a real playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. It will take well over 20 games to close this gap.

However, there are many similarities that give the Nets hope.

Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, like Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez, was a highly valued assistant before getting his first head coaching opportunity two years ago.

The Magic – which the Nets valued – collected as much young talent and draft picks as possible. The Magic, like the Nets, were at the bottom of the standings before they tore it down and started again.

The Nets are now 0-2 against the Magic this year, but will quickly take another look in a rematch on Sunday in Brooklyn.