Jacque Vaughn says struggling Nets guilty of trying to ‘be cool’

It’s hard to know if the Brooklyn Nets are a playoff team, a play-in team or headed toward the draft lottery.

But one thing that won’t work is falling short of playing the right way, according to coach Jacque Vaughn.

“We got to go into every game with a sense of desperation no matter who we’re playing, and not be cool and not throw behind-the-back passes when you don’t need to, and take advantage of every single possession,” Vaughn said, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “And we’re not doing that.”

Vaughn was speaking after the Nets’ 110-104 loss to the lowly Wizards on Friday — Brooklyn’s eighth defeat in 10 games.

It likely didn’t help that the Nets allowed Wizards to shoot about 51 percent from the field, including 40 percent on 3-pointers. 

“Just couldn’t get stops,” Vaughn said. “And a lot of it was man to man, and being able to guard your yard and guard the dude in front of you.”

The Nets (15-17) next head south for a three-game trip that consists of stops in Oklahoma City, New Orleans and Houston.