The last big Barclays Center cheer of the 2014-15 season occurred between the third and fourth quarters on Friday night, when the Nets’ troupe of older dancers, the NETSational seniors, joined forces with their adolescent counterparts, the Brooklyn Nets Kids, to perform a spirited number at midcourt.
Laughing fans stood and clapped and pulled out their phones to take pictures. Nothing in the final period could possibly match that excitement.
There were 12 minutes left to play, but the game — and the Nets’ season — had essentially come to an end. After returning from intermission with a delicate, 6-point lead, the Atlanta Hawks put together a 23-3 run before the third quarter was halfway done, and the Nets withered before their fans’ eyes.