Step 1 for the new-look Nets? Start talking the identical language.
In Mikal Bridges’ first sport as a Nets starter after Kevin Durant’s commerce to the Phoenix Suns, he unintentionally known as a play the Suns used to run with he and Cam Johnson.
Something related occurred in Spencer Dinwiddie’s first sport again in Brooklyn: He and Dorian Finney-Smith, each acquired within the Kyrie Irving commerce to the Mavericks, spoke utilizing terminology they utilized in Dallas.
In the NBA, many groups run the identical performs however assign them completely different names. Streamlining the language utilized in Brooklyn is precedence No. 1 because the Nets enter the All-Star break — a weeklong interval the place groups are prohibited from training by NBA regulation.
“There are a few things as far as really getting terminology down and getting that to guys over the break just to make sure that they understand that. A little bit of sending our playbook with them also,” head coach Jacque Vaughn stated forward of tip-off in opposition to the Heat on Wednesday. “We’ve been able to collect some video with the footage of these guys a little bit and what we want to run, so that piece of it also.”
It’s no shock the Nets are missing chemistry after a pair of blockbuster trades altered the muse upon which the franchise was constructed.
Starting middle Nic Claxton is the one remaining starter from the Seven-Eleven Nets. Royce O’Neale and Joe Harris have been moved to the bench, and Vaughn inserted all 4 newcomers — Bridges, Johnson, Finney-Smith and Dinwiddie — into the beginning lineup the second they every cleared physicals and have become eligible to play.
The Nets have been as soon as an offensive juggernaut with holes of their defensive coverages. With each Durant and Irving out, they have to now lean on what’s develop into a promising protection in Brooklyn. Whether or not the Nets will have the ability to generate sufficient offense may dictate their success within the second half of the season.
“I think we have a group of guys who really enjoy playing defense so there’s nothing wrong with that. We’ll lean into that let that be our staple on a nightly basis that gives you a chance to win,” Vaughn stated. “Then we’ll just improve on the offensive end of the floor. We’re really starting to hone in hopefully on different groups and what plays we run with different groups and what different lineups looks like. I think there’s definitely some growth on the offensive end of the floor that I’m looking for too.”
Opposing groups know the Nets are nonetheless figuring issues out. It’s a course of that might drag into the offseason with so many shifting components on a revamped roster.
That doesn’t imply opponents view the Nets as meals. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra stated Brooklyn continues to be a risk to win on a nightly foundation even with out the star energy as a result of the roster has develop into extra versatile at virtually each place.
“I’ve watched them. They have hard competing guys. And they have two-way players. They have a lot of length at the wing positions. They can do some unique things defensively,” Spoelstra stated pregame on Wednesday. “I think they’re set up to be a really good defensive team. You cannot sleepwalk on this group for sure at all. You know, we’ve been in that situation before. Real hard competing teams, they’re tough teams to play against. I hope we’re viewed as one of those as well.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com