To a person, the Nets say that is essentially the most grueling coaching camp they’ve ever been put by means of. They usually declare to be assured they’ll finally reap the advantages, particularly on the defensive finish.
The Nets began to flash indicators of that payoff Monday in a dominant 131-92 rout of the visiting Wizards of their house preseason opener.
The Nets led by as many as 43 factors on a 3-pointer by Cui Yongxi that had the bench in stitches.
Once more, the compulsory disclaimer that wins and losses within the preseason don’t imply a lot. However habits do, and the Nets — who sank into some unhealthy ones final season — are exhibiting encouraging ones.
In a troublesome camp, new coach Jordi Fernandez has harped on conditioning and competitiveness, and careworn protection and tempo.
The Nets harassed Washington into simply 40 p.c capturing and seven of 39 from behind the arc.
The Nets compelled 19 turnovers for 35 factors, and had a 26-7 edge in fast-break factors.
After displaying a powerful transition recreation in final week’s preseason loss on the Clippers solely to lose the battle of the benches late, the Nets poured it on this time round.
Cam Thomas led all scorers with 17 factors on 7-for-13 capturing to go along with 5 rebounds. Reserve guard Shake Milton’s 16 factors and Jalen Wilson’s 14 helped the Nets’ 74-45 edge in bench factors.
“You had the stress and belief in each other to have our again once we get beat. That’s actually the primary key,” Thomas mentioned. “On this league, you’re going to get beat off the dribble. These guys are good offensive gamers. So so long as you may belief your teammates to have your again and canopy for you, I really feel like that’s all that issues. And clearly, the ball stress, us selecting up full-court, we made them miss. So I really feel like that’s actually going to assist us.”
After all, it ought to be famous that — once more — that is preseason, and the Wizards are wretched. However what Nets followers will be aware was the crisp play and ball motion, with 27 assists and simply seven turnovers.
The duo of Dennis Schroder (13 factors, seven assists) and Ben Simmons helped their passing, despite the fact that the latter has to get used to defending facilities rather than injured Nic Claxton. Only one on an inventory of issues to work on.
“I’m joyful proper now,” Fernandez mentioned. “Clearly, I’ve acquired to look at the movie. I’m not impressed as a result of that stretch in that second quarter was not nice, however general proper now I really feel good.
“However yeah, the ball stress was good. All people tried, and it’s good once you begin seeing the fellows simply speaking to one another and telling one another ‘stress the ball; do that.’ That’s when our communication began flowing, and that’s when our protection and our stops in that second half took the subsequent step.”
The Nets trailed, 45-39, after Jordan Poole’s layup with 4:04 left within the first half. However Ben Simmons (11 factors, 5 rebounds in 13 minutes earlier than departing on the half) sparked a 20-1 run that spanned intermission and blew the sport open.
Schroder discovered Simmons for a layup proper earlier than the break to place the Nets forward, 55-46. Then he hit Thomas for a 3-pointer simply 40 seconds into the second half to cap the blitz and push the result in 59-46.
Wilson got here off the bench to assist pad that cushion. His steal and fast-break go to Jaylen Martin gave the Nets an 89-70 edge to finish the third quarter, and his 3-pointer with 9:42 to play made it 99-74.
The three-pointer by Cui, who additionally goes by “Jacky,” was simply the icing.
This Nets workforce has loads of rebuilding to do over the subsequent yr or two, however that construct is beginning with a grueling camp — one which has had high-energy scrimmages and no-nonsense work.
“I’m proud of getting higher. However that doesn’t imply that we’re able to rock and roll one hundred pc,” Fernandez mentioned. “We’re gonna need to continue to grow and hold working, not only for that first recreation however all through the season. That’s the way it’s alleged to work.”
