Takeaways from Brooklyn Nets’ ugly loss to Detroit Pistons

Photo by Luke Hales/Getty ImagesHere’s what I know: The Brooklyn Nets just lost to the Detroit Pistons — yes, those Detroit Pistons — and now sit four losses behind the Atlanta Hawks for the East’s final Play-In spot, undoing all the good work they did in their two-game mini-series with Atlanta to begin the month.

Yes, the Nets were down three major rotation players, plus Ben Simmons, but still. The Detroit Pistons. God help me, let’s see how this one went down.

First Quarter

12:00 — Starting Dennis Smith Jr. over Lonnie Walker amid Cam Johnson’s absence feels like overthinking. I have no problem with Dennis x Dennis [Schröder] lineups, but mostly as a wildcard bench unit. Why not start your…