Paul Pierce Calls Out Struggling Brooklyn Nets Coaching Staff

The Brooklyn Nets are paying Paul Pierce for his on-court acumen, not his penetrating honesty. No matter, though, since he's willing to provide such services free of charge.

Following the Nets' 109-97 home loss to the Detroit Pistons, Pierce took a subtle shot at Brooklyn's coaching staff.

"We got to understand teams aren't going to play the same way they did in the first half as they did in the second half because teams make adjustments, especially when they are down," Pierce said, according to CSNNE's A. Sherrod Blakely. "And we got to realize that and adjust to that."

Pierce didn't come right out and point his finger in Jason Kidd's direction, but he may as well have.

Coaches, Kidd's staff included, are responsible for making those "adjustments" Pierce feels so strongly about. When teams come out of the half flat or unprepared, it's easy to blame failures on them—especially in this case.

Brooklyn has been absolutely horrid during third quarters. On the season, they're being outscored by 20.6 points per-48 minutes of third-quarter action, according to NBA.com (subscription required). That's over five points per each quarter, which is more sad than puzzling.

Nothing changed against the Pistons. The Nets came out of the locker room nursing a seven-point lead and watched it wilt away, as they were outscored by 19 points in that third quarter.

At 3-10 and tied with the New York Knicks for the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, the Nets have become a joke. They currently rank in the bottom 11 of points scored and allowed, rebounds and assists per game. Not the kind of results you expect from a team with a nine-figure payroll.

Blame has fallen largely upon the coaches. Kidd is new to this side of the spectrum and, according to Bleacher Report's Howard Beck, he's being questioned for his lack of action and demeanor on the sidelines.

Only so much of the responsibility can fall on those in suits, though; the rest is on the players, the ones who are actually on the floor.

Kidd cannot control Pierce's abysmal 37.9 shooting percentage. He cannot will Kevin Garnett to score more than 6.5 points a contest. A flick of his wrist won't make Brook "Brolo" Lopez and Deron Williams whole again

This season, whatever it turns out to be, is on the Nets. All of them. They thought they could buy a title, buy an identity but they were wrong.

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*All stats used in this article were compiled from NBA.com (subscription required) and are accurate as of Nov. 13 unless otherwise noted.