Here’s an early takeaway from the Nets’ first preseason sport — a 19-point loss to a shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers group with extra positives to glean than the rating would point out: new addition Royce O’Neale goes to have a huge impact on this Brooklyn group.
O’Neale earned a league-wide fame as a coveted 3-and-D wing in a number of seasons with the Utah Jazz, so coveted basic supervisor Sean Marks ponied up a first-round decide to pry him from Danny Ainge’s clutches. In his first sport as a Net, O’Neale scored 11 factors and hit two of his 4 three-point makes an attempt.
He additionally introduced toughness and flexibility as a fringe defender, which is one thing the Nets desperately lacked final season.
“Royce is one of those players that you want on your team because he has a lot of experience. He’s been through a lot of battles. He understands the nuances of the game and what it takes to win,” Kyrie Irving mentioned of his new teammate. “I think he brings his intangibles to our team really well. We can utilize him on that wing to be a defensive stopper, which we know he is, but also add some dimension on offense being a space-out shooter. He moves well, plays the game well being in that Utah system for a long period of time. Moving the ball is something drilled in their head. He fits well.”
O’Neale got here off the bench for sharpshooter Joe Harris as head coach Steve Nash’s first substitution. Point guard Ben Simmons immediately discovered O’Neale with a cross-court laser beam of a cross for a wide-open three on the wing. Nash additionally used O’Neale in a smaller lineup the place Harris stayed on the ground and Simmons performed heart on protection when beginning massive man Nic Claxton went to the bench.
“I think [O’Neale] will be a great addition for us,” Nash mentioned. “Incredible IQ, feel for the game on both sides of the ball. I think he’s going to tie the room together on many occasions.”
Which makes the struggle for minutes on the wing that rather more aggressive.
Harris, the beginning wing, performed in his first sport after consecutive ankle surgical procedures and shot simply two-of-seven from the sphere, together with two early airballs. Sharpshooter Seth Curry additionally initiatives to play some minutes as a ground spacer alongside each Irving and Kevin Durant and TJ Warren — who isn’t but cleared to play however is healed after lacking two seasons with stress fractures in his foot — will deliver a scoring punch when he joins the rotation a while in November. There’s additionally second-year ahead Kessler Edwards, who has confirmed able to utilizing his youthful athleticism to protect a number of positions.
O’Neale defends at a better stage than these he’s competing for minutes in opposition to and he’s a 38% profession three-point shooter. He will certainly be in play as a possible starter or member of the Nets’ closing lineups and he’s already left a mark by means of only one preseason sport.
BEN’S BACK
Simmons, a two-time First Team All-Defense choice, says it’s going to take a while earlier than he will get again to taking part in elite stage protection.
“Defensively, getting down in the stance,” he mentioned. “Obviously when you have back surgery, it’s not the easiest to get down in the stance and guard, but it’s all coming back slowly.”
Simmons additionally mentioned he’s nonetheless build up his conditioning.
CLICKING?
First Durant constructed chemistry along with his Oklahoma City Thunder. Then, he immersed himself into the Golden State Warriors’ approach of doing issues. Now, he’s in Brooklyn, with one more roster reinvented to compete for a championship.
After the large three of Durant, Irving and James Harden imploded final season, the brand new massive three of Durant, Irving and Simmons has set its basis. As somebody who’s performed with a number of superstar-caliber gamers over the course of his profession, how will Durant know when issues have began clicking?
“When we win games in the regular season,” he mentioned. “It’s kind of hard to say. I think you know you get used to your teammates everyday. You talk, have conversations about where you see each other and how you can help each other, and go from there. So the dialogue is always on with Kai, Ben, myself, Royce, the rest of the guys. So I think it just happens.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com