January 30, 2025 • 33 mins
In Episode 14 of The Backcourt Podcast, YES Network’s Sarah Kustok and NetsDaily’s Lucas Kaplan look back on the emotional Vince Carter Jersey Retirement Weekend, reflecting on the impact Vince had on the Nets and their fans. They also discuss the heartwarming presence of Nets legends and alumni who came to celebrate his legacy. The duo also tackles the current challenges the team is facing with injuries, but shines a light on players like Day’Ron Sharpe and Tosan Evbuomwan, who are making the most of their expanded roles and contributing big minutes.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
You are now in the backcourt of Brooklyn Nets Podcast
presented by Taking Master.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
We thank them very much.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I am your host, Lucas Kaplan of NETS Daily, where
I cover the team, and of NETS Film Focus, where
we make great insightful videos about Brooklyn Nets basketball, and
of course alongside me, as always is Sarah Coustak, woman
of many, many talents and ventures, including just returning from
Miami for where she covered Unrivaled.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
How was that?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
It was fun, extraordinary experience. I will get to do
that at times throughout the course of the year, despite
being sad and missing all of you in the Nets
and in some of these games and moments. But yeah,
it is really special to watch the tweaks and the
adjustments and the talent of these women because it was
(01:01):
on display and I got a little bit of sunshine, Lucas.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
So I'm never I'm never going that at that.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Yeah, you missed not the worst weather, but being in
Miami certainly seems like a step up from New York
City in terms of January weather. And yeah, Unrivaled pretty
cool on TV. You know, anytime you get the best
basketball players in the world and you just put him
out there, you know how bad can it be? Is
my not super in depth takeaway from that. One of
(01:30):
the moments, probably the moment that unfortunately you were not
in Brooklyn for, was Vince Carter's jersey retirement, And you know,
we talked about him last week on the podcast, but
just being there for the moment, you know, I didn't realize.
(01:50):
I didn't know what the Nets had in store. It
was just a fantastic weekend. Honestly, they premiered from Daytona
Beach to Brooklyn, Vince Carter focused documentary on his journey.
He lit up the Empire State Building and classic red,
white and blue New Jersey Nets colors, and then of
course Saturday, Brooklyn's game against the Miami Heat, he gets
(02:12):
his jersey retired and the halftime ceremony just feels like
the Nets, which just was so well done what I
wrote about it. You know, few people have loved being
a Net and representing the organization more than Vince Carter,
and that's the type of guy he is, and it
felt like the love was reciprocated back to him from
(02:33):
the organization, from the fans. I saw so many throwback
jerseys in the crowd and it just made me want
to ask you, because we heard from his former teammates,
guys I grew up loving and rooting for, rooting for
I did not expect to see Boss John Knockbar and
Devin Harris, and I got a little starstruck all these guys.
(02:55):
But they all speak about Vince Carter, the teammate, the person.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
The smile.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
You know, Iron Eagle spoke about that, Lawrence Frank, everybody
seems to have this common refrain, and so I'm just
wondering from your perspective, you know, in the documentary they
talk about this new phase of his career as a
broadcaster back with the Nets.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
What is he like as a teammate from your perspective.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Extraordinary as you would imagine, the best of the best.
Let me first start by say it was a very
challenging decision for me to the unfortunately not be there
and have other work obligations. However, what I will say
is to your point, everything about Vince is top notch,
first class.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
He is a pro of a pro.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
So I think in return, what the Nets were able
to do to honor him was so special, And leading
up to those weeks, not only talked to Vince and
not only of course congratulated him and everything that was
going about it, as he is an excellent and just
extraordinary teammate as we will get into. But talked with
Devin Harris. Course, Richard Jefferson, like Devin Harris, gave me
(04:02):
his whole run. I should have asked him to come
on the pod with us because of the enthusiasm talk
with Jkid, who couldn't be there and was asking Jay
about just different things, saying I know, iron Egle of
course did an extraordinary job. I got to watch everything,
a halftime ceremony, everything leading up to it. But I
think that was the part that, you know, rich just
(04:22):
being so bumped he couldn't be there longer, but was
able to at least get in for the night for Thursday,
Devon there for the whole time, and it was just
blown away by how extraordinary it was, and wanting to
be there to honor Vince again. Same deal the Jay
on the on the scoreboard at least being able to
leave a message. I think there's so much love and
respect for who he was and understanding the magnitude of
(04:43):
this moment and what it means and for us every
time we step into Barclay Center to see that jersey
saying in the rafters that means something, but it was
more about the entirety of the weekend that I know.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
You could speak to because you were there.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
That just felt so perfect, And that's what Vince deserves
now seeing I talked about it in the pod last week.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
I think it's been such a beautiful progression who he
was as a player.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
The career that he had met, honored and paid tribute
to the game with the way he finished it, lifting
others up, the next generation of young players, teaching and
talking and caring for and pouring in that support, and
now doing the same thing as a broadcaster. And I
think for all of us just hearing those experiences, listening
(05:30):
to his stories, how much he wants to excel at
this new phase in his career, what it means to
be around him, and I think we all see that
and we experience it. But that is such a beautiful
trait to be able to carry that off, no matter
what chapter you are in in your professional life or
life in general, to be able to give that. And
(05:52):
I think too to seeing that with his son being
the ball boy and him talking about the importance of
that and his family and the kids being so close
with doctor J. Like, all of those things continue to
me to show how special the game basketball is, and
I think sport is because it transcends what you're watching
on the court, if it really is something that we
(06:15):
are able to feel at life. And so I think
for all of that, it just it just felt like
such an extraordinarily special weekend that that truly did justice
to the player and the person that he is.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah, I've you know, witnessed it for the first time
in person. He just had I did not want to
be Vince Carter for most of the weekend in terms
of all of the obligations he had to do, you know,
having your jersey retire.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Don't given the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
I'm not saying I would reject it, but man, he
was a busy guy. He just had so many photo
ops and interviews and you know, not being pushed and pulled,
but kind of going in so many different directions. And
on Friday, you know, I got to talk to him
and write up an interview for nets Daily, and it
(07:04):
was like the last I.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Was like last in line, and I was.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Like, you know, oh, man, he's been through, Like he's
talked to like thirty people just this morning and this
and that, and he was just so gracious and had
a smile, and I was asking him, you know, kind
of introspective questions about his career, and he was just
so thoughtful and warm and genuine in his responses, and
it was pretty shocking. It was just you could tell,
(07:31):
you know, you were in the midst of a pretty
special person. And therefore it's so fitting that Vince was
the centerpiece of this great night for the Nets. I mean,
you think about their historical relationship with Julia serving for
him to come back and embrace the Nets family and
talk to the crowd and talk to his former teammates,
(07:53):
that's a big deal for many Nets fans, and the
fact that Vince was the catalyst for it is just
you couldn't be more fitting. You know, as I said,
loved being a Net, loves being part of the Nets
family still the organization. The fans feel the same way,
and so for him to be around all that especial night,
(08:14):
and of course, in classic Vince fashion, not just make
it about him is you know, you'd expect nothing less.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
With that.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
The Nets also played basketball over the last week. They
had four games at home against the Knicks Sons. Kevin
Durant made his second return to the Barclays Center Heat
and Sacramento, and it was unfortunately a winless week for
the Nets. But you know, that definitely doesn't capture the
(08:46):
whole of it. You know, I'm wondering what just general
takeaways you might have seen from Miami. I know you
were locked in watching film on the road per usual,
So what did you kind of grasp from your viewings.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I think as we continue to watch this team and
do so with some missing pieces and parts, there's always
throughout the course and stretches of these games that there's
flashes of syptimism, things to pull from it, those that
you like, layers of foundation to build film, and then
a lot of areas where you look at the group
and the team and how they perform that needs to
(09:21):
get better. And I think it was the same type
of balance of that and some of the same issues
that I think at times you can understand. You look
at the issues of turnovers, for example, most recent game
against Sacramento and how it was at Bay for the
most part in the first half, and then that was
a vulnerability in the second half and allowed for the
(09:42):
game to get opened up what was happening in the
post and some of the post plays. There are certain
characteristics of this team that they are mindful of and
they do a good job and then at some point
it turns. And sometimes that can be the depth they're
talent out on the floor of the opponent, and the
other times, I think it's just the continued learning process us.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
But I think.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Overall you are seeing we do on this and I
know we will on this podcast every week thanks to you,
lucas the Next Net or Brooklyn's And I think that
is such an important trade of Okay, what are we
seeing in certain players that it may be more consistency,
but is there opportunities that it would be something that
(10:22):
would translate in the future, And not necessarily even just
for the Nets, but a lot of these players that
we're watching or trying to really make it in the
league and cut their teeth in the league, and I
think you're seeing flashes of that and then just becomes
a question of Okay, how can you put that all
together at the same time to translate that into a win.
And so I think again, overall, some tough losses, I
(10:44):
think the toughest of all of those that KNIXT game,
no question, and so it's hard to keep circling back to.
But that's a team that's looking to compete for the
Eastern Conference championship. That's a team that's looking and they
had pretty much all of their pieces and the Nets
take then down to the wire, unable to close that out.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
But I think some of those things we need to.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Take a step back in all larger view and realize
that there are strides being made, but it's just harder
to evaluate when it's the losses that keep stacking.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
I totally agree. You know, I sit on media row.
I supposed to be impartial. I am impartial, But I
wanted that NIXT win. You know, I grew up in
nets Fan, I grew up in Manhattan, I grew up
in nets Fan.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
I want I want those wins.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
But obviously, in the bigger picture, that was a really
strong game for the group. That was the only game
this week where D'Angelo Russell and Cam Johnson played, and
the last time that happened, they hung one hundred and
thirty two on the Portland Trail Blazers. When this team
is healthy or you know, no team in the NBA
(11:51):
at this point of the year is fully healthy, but.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Man, the Nets are.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
If they could get even you know, halfway healthy, it's
just unfortunate. They would probably have an easier time getting buckets.
And I think because of the kind of rotating door
of available players and some of the health issues, it
kind of compounds these things, you know that you're talking about,
(12:15):
whether it's turnovers stabilizing for three and a half quarters
and then having five in a six minute stretch, or
whether they're cleaning up the paint and the glass and
then they give up again five offensive rebounds and half
a quarter when offense is harder to come by. Those
you know, mistakes or just stretches, natural stretches in a
(12:35):
game feel like death blows.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
And I will say it didn't happen in every game.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
You know, they really had a chance the whole way
against the Knicks. They really played well. I thought for
most of the Sacramento game. If you know, they just
shot ten of thirty six from three, there are six
they are league averaging three point shooting, they make four
or five more. It's right down to the wire, and
they are playing well, especially on the defensive end. I
(13:05):
would like to point out. So you know, they gave
they had an one hundred and twelve defensive rating over
this past week. That's around top tennis mark in the
NBA if you were to extrapolate it. They are cleaning
up the glass really well. Again, you know, I've said
this a few times on this podcast, but those early
season issues with fouling all that stuff, they are preventing
(13:29):
free throws, they are rebounding, they are being physical without
all that stuff. And so you can see the long
term growth of the group and then the long term
growth of individuals.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
It's not linear.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
You know, Tosan a Woma comes on the scene, for example,
and has a bunch of great games. You know, he's
probably not gonna shoot sixty five seventy percent for the
whole year. And in a game where the nets were
the most depleted and he's like the primary ball handler,
he shoots two of fifteen, and you know that stuff
is going to happen, and it's all about how you
respond from that. And then I thought on in the
(14:00):
last game of the week against Sacramento, he played really well.
Let me pull up the box score right now, because
I remember he just had a bunch of nice takes.
You know, he shot ten yeah points eight boards, yeah,
and just the flashes. You know, you can see him
using his physicality, his length, his footwork on drives, all
(14:20):
that stuff. So you know, we talked about this at
the very beginning of the season, what we're going to
look for, you know, this season, what this season is
going to be about.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
And it's tougher to keep the big picture in mind.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Sometimes if you go zero to four in a week,
that's understandable. The NBA is about winning, but it's also
about the big picture. And I think we are still
on track, you know, in my opinion at least. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
And I think the last thing I'll say on that
is it's where I feel for Jordy Fernandez, a coaching staff,
the players like keeping an eye and a focus on
that when it is about losses, because you could feel
ways as fans and for those of us covering the team,
but it is all about these individuals do not get
(15:08):
to this level without having a just absolutely despising losing,
understanding the implorums of feeling a win. So I think
continuing to string together these type of effort, the showcasing
of what they're doing on the floor, to me is
so impressive because that's that's hard to keep showing up
(15:29):
with the same energy, the same focus, the same mentality,
the same in ways positivity when it is lost, stacking up,
And I give so much credit, and I'm so impressed
by this group with how they have played together and
stuck together the way that they do still feel like
there is a chemistry off id rooting from one another,
(15:49):
and the way the bench looks, all of those things
are still present.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
It's things that you hold for and expect. But I
think that's easier.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Said than done, and we're continuing to see that play out.
And so for as much as we can talk about
big picture, for these this is their career. So this
is their livelihood, this is their profession, This is their
day to day. They are the ones pouring in the
work and the sweat. So it is not about big picture, man,
It's about the next game, the next play, the next
thing that.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
They're having to do.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
And I am just so impressed with how they continue
to show up with that mentality of purpose and intensity
each and every day. And that's what I've loved to
watch and see about them. Despite the way the win
loss record looks right now.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah, and I thank you for bringing that up, because
that really should be what we lead with. This team
plays very hard and with that, it's something Nets fans,
the players themselves, the coach and staff can be proud of.
Then Jordi has done a good job emphasizing that and
talking about how he's proud of how the team has
done just that.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
And it's funny, you know.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Vince Carter in his pregame press conference mentioned that he
has been proud of the team and stoke that they
keep showing up and playing hard and that's really what
it's all about.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Hey, that fans dunks, dimes and no looks are great
on TV, but nothing compares to catching them irl. And
that starts with buying tickets. A Ticketmaster, the official ticket
marketplace of the Nets in the NBA. Ticketmaster gets you
to the game so you can catch every highlight in person,
from seeing your favorite Nets stars up close to hearing
the squeak of the sneakers on the hardwood. Put that
(17:28):
jersey collection to use and get tickets a Ticketmaster. There's
no better brag than saying you saw it live, see
your courtside, Brooklyn.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
In terms of short term injury news. I know we've
been talking about it a lot. Jordy Fernandez gave updates
on really all four Nets that have been that are
around a return to play, possibly before the Sacramento game,
and we got some really good news on camp Thomas
and Trendon Watford. Specifically camp Thomas, he said that there
(18:01):
will be a scan for his hamstring on Wednesday and
then a timeline to return to play. We're recording this
Wednesday morning. By the time we finished recording, there might
be a camp Thomas update, so that is good news.
On Trendon Watford, also dealing with a hammy, Jordi said
he looks great and he's been working hard and we'll
(18:22):
see him back within the next week. So we don't
know what game yet, but Trendon around the corner. And
then Cam Johnson, you know, dealing with an ankle sprain.
He's gonna get reevaluated in next week, so that's another
couple of games. And then Ben Simmons, you know, he's
been sick, which was unfortunate, and he's just listed as
(18:43):
day to day with a back.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
So there's there's.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Definitely optimism that the Nets get healthier within even you
know two or three games and they have a more
full complement of players. But with that being said, the
players that are on the court, who would you like
to give your Brooklyn's Finest Award of the Week two.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
I would like to give my Brooklyn's Finest to day
Ron Sharp. I think there's so many areas of growth
steel for Dayron, but I think it's important to remember
the injury and training camp and what that took them
when he finally did return at the start of a season.
(19:24):
For as much as people come back, and they may
be one hundred as Jordi says, two hundred percent healthy,
there's still an acclamation process or reacclamation I should say,
speed of the game, game action, all of those things.
I think it took him a little while, and I
do still think there are so many areas that you'd
like to see steps. But I say all that to
say that I think we've seen a ton of growth
(19:45):
from him, and what you expect out of him is
always rebounding, a lot of rebounding in the offensive end.
He's done that. He has an act for lot. I
think he said that at some point, I think are
making triplet on the netsam Yes, and asked him about
offensive reboundies.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
It's just what I got, no answers. This is what
I do.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
But I do think in so many ways, the angles,
the positioning that's instinctual to him, and that's something you
can't always teach with the player despite their size. But defensively,
and Lucas, I know you deep dove into this because
you were asking him the questions and you wrote articles
on this and did a breakdown, But there are visible
difference on the defensive side, and I think sometimes you
(20:23):
do see breakdowns or out of posision or areas that Again,
there's still areas for growth. But I think overall what
you want to see out of him in the jump
of what Jordi Fernandez is asking this defense to do,
he's done a really nice job in trying to make
those strides. For all of those things, I think there's
(20:43):
credit that goes into the work that he's put in
in and just the ways that he has performed when
the nets had been shorthanded and had been needing more.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Of a presence in the post.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Yeah, and he played his season nine minutes against the
Kings and he won is men that's yet again, that's
all he seems to do off the bench. You know,
you can trust him to anchor a bench unit and
give you good minutes twelve to ten in you know,
still just twenty three minutes, so it's not like he's
playing a ton. But even then he's still putting up
you know, strong numbers, three steals, and it really is.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
The defense that has popped.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
I mean, if you can think back, you know, you know,
two three years ago, at the beginning of Dayron's career,
the question very much was, you know, can he be
the anchor of strong defensive lineups down low? Is his positioning, verticality,
you know, fouling, is all of that going to get
to an NBA level? And you know that's not disrespect
(21:43):
he was a late first round pick. You're not always
sure you know you're gonna find a bona fide NBA
rotation player at those type of draft slots. Obviously Dayroon
had things he needed to work on. The defense has
gotten better every year and this year I think it's
just clearly at you know, his peak, and I think
the stat that really illustrates that is foul rate. You know,
(22:08):
as a big sometimes you have to sacrifice a little
bit of the shot blocking, you know, for the fouling
and per cleaning the glass. Right his block rate is
down a little bit. It's closer to league average for
big men. It was actually, you know, above that his
last couple of years. But the foul rate has jumped
(22:30):
from six percentile his rookie year, eighth percentile, eighth percentile
to now fiftieth percentile. That's a huge jump, and you
can see it in his film, the way he goes vertical,
you know, the way he seems better at like tracking
the ball. He had a great block on a lefty
layup from I want to say Malik Monk against the
(22:51):
Sacramento Kings where he jumped, floated in the air and
had to wait mid air until Moleak extended the ball,
you know, to go lay up and he swatted it.
That's great stuff and it goes such a long way
for day Ron's NBA career. So, you know, I'm really
happy for him because that is for bench biggs, you know,
(23:11):
even if he becomes a starting big in the future,
that is just so such a massive area of improvement
for him. And then it's just all the mobility stuff,
the positioning. You know, he's taken away cutters. He's stealing
the ball more, his deflections are up. So I'm really
glad that you picked Dayron, and I was gonna pick he,
you know, he was one of my options.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
And it's not even just about the last week for him.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
It's about like even like longer, you know, and he
really did shine this past week. But just thinking about him,
I'm really happy over this, these past couple of years
of development, and like you said, he did not have
an easy road to getting better this year. He's heard
at the beginning of the year, he kind of just
dealing with stuff. He's coming off the bench, he's trying
to get a flow, and he really has. And like
(23:59):
you said, I like to answer to Megan Triplett about
offensive rebounding and battling with Demontes Sabonis, who's not easy
to battle with.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
You know.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
He wasn't even Darn's not trying to be cool. He's
not too cool to give good answers. He's not, you know,
anything like that. But she asked, what is it about
your offensive rebounding and he was genuinely stumped. He was like,
I don't know, I just do this and it's hard
to argue with him if you want more percentiles offensive
rebounding the first four years of his career among big
(24:30):
men one hundred percentile, ninety ninth percentile, ninety seventh percentile,
ninety eighth percentile per cleaning the glass.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Eight.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
That's big.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Tells you all you need to know.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
He has three games this year already with at least
eight offensive rebounds, and he's playing like twenty minutes off
the bench. So again, love to watch Dayron and love
that he's getting better. My Brooklyn's finest. I gotta give
it to D'Angelo Russell. He's just been man to get
traded mid season and to organize the offense. We're gonna
have some fun trivia even about him in a came Yeah,
(25:04):
that's how good he's been transition.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
I've written about it a lot.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
His hit ahead passes, reading the open floor at the
end of the shot clock. You know you can give
him the ball and get good offense, which I think
is something the Nets were missing after they traded Dennis
Shrewder and before they got de Lo. I'm assuming you've
noticed the same things. Nothing too complicated now.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
And I think we've talked about him a lot that's it,
and I also just I think that's the biggest improvement,
the sharpness of his passing, just taking care of all
of those things. Since we had him last in Brooklyn.
The jump that that's made has been so fun to see,
and when he's on the floor it makes such huge difference.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Absolutely, we've talked about him a lot. I don't think
there's anything else to say.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
He's just organizing, leading the offense, half court transition and
he's doing it well.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
That brings us to the next so long.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
View, shortview, some one specific skill, whole package.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
You know, who are you looking at? What next time?
Speaker 4 (26:09):
I may have picked him already.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
You may have picked him already, and I already alluded
to it. It's to sound a wom up is to
me as you said it. He came on so strong,
opened up so many eyes. I think a lot of
people didn't necessarily understand and recognize just the skill set
that he might bring to the table. And as we've
watched them, there there have been and there will be
(26:31):
ebbs and flows for all players, and especially too, just
with NBA teams seemed to be more comfortable scouting and
scouting him and knowing who's in and out and.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
Okay, he's someone we need to maybe bump up.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
On our scouting report and so players have better idea
for tendency and feel. But with all that being said,
I think he is the guy that I just I
want to continue to watch him, to monitor and see
what it looks like as the sample size grows.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
I know the Kings wish they bumped him up on
the scattery report because he came in and scored nine
points in like three minutes and I had to call
the time out.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
But yeah, that's what he has to do.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
I am looking to see if he can kind of
drive to pass a little bit more. It's like, we
see that the scoring is there and he's we see
him make some like really high level passes in terms
of placement and like throwing passes with his left hand
and all that. I think if he leans even more
into being a point forward or just shows off a
(27:28):
little bit more of the passing, that'll be great for
his game. I did have the same one, but in
the interest of, you know, keeping things diverse, I will
go with Keon Johnson. I feel like we haven't talked
about him in a little bit on next NET. I
feel like he's figured out a lot of stuff in
terms of his driving game. Even though the three point
(27:50):
shot has kind of regressed a little bit over the season.
You know, hopefully that that will bump back, but back
up that ebbs and flows, but his points on you know,
drives per drive has gone up. It feels like he's
figured out how to get to two feet and be
that awesome athlete that he is. You know, when he's
going off one foot, he's kind of got the D
cell down, and so he's had these games where he
(28:13):
scores you know, twenty twenty something points even though he
might go one to five from three or zero of
four from three. Keeping consistent production as the shot, you know,
as as literally happens for every player waivers. I'm really
happy to see that from him. And you know, this
is a guy again two way contract last year, not
(28:35):
sure if he's an NBA player, having twenty point games,
you know, getting out in transition, finishing, so all of
that stuff just becoming a little bit more consistent for
Keon Johnson. You know, what are your just quick impressions
of him, really, you know, the first year of his
NBA career, he's getting like rotation minutes every night, ball
(28:55):
in his hands, expectations.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
He I think the athleticism jumps through the roof initially
and just pops out as you watch him. But I
do think the understanding of the nuances of the game,
the level of efficiency, how he can best raise the
level of play for his teammates. I think all those
things you've watched a steady improvement and for a player
like him, and Geordie always brings it up that he's
still young, and so despite the fact that he's been
(29:19):
in the league for a while and you think about him,
he's still learning all of those things. And I think
it's been a great, great opportunity for.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Him to.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Know he has run throughout the course of the game,
and so how he adjusted that or even just end
the game situations. All of those things to me have
been impressive to watch and continuing to monitor what that
looks like as the season.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
Goes off, definitely, and you know you saw it this week.
He kind of struggled a little bit against the Knicks
seven points, comes back with twenty points against Phoenix, nine
to sixteen, shooting twenty two points against Miami, get into
the line, getting to the rim, so again with all
these guys. NBA players are so good. You know, everybody
(30:03):
can go off. It's all about the consistency. We hear
it all the time, separates good from the great. And
speaking of great, we will close with some trivia and
it's an opportunity for me to circle back to Giangelo Russell,
who has just been really also as a floor general
(30:25):
for the Nets. I mean, the Nets have needed him
their offense, especially as Cam Johnson and Ben Simmons kind
of deal with injuries and are.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
In and out of the lineup.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Delo has been such a stabilizing force, dealing with his
own injuries too, but you know when he plays, their
offense really takes a jump. And in fact, you know,
small sample size, alert he has assists you know, per
one hundred possessions above fourteen and a half, that would
be the all time mark in Nets history. For a
(30:58):
single season he's only played nine games. His assist percentage,
you know what percentage of buckets he's assisted on when
he's on the floor, he's over fifty percent. That's only
been done sixteen seventeen times in NBA history. So I
will ask you who and maybe when has the greatest
(31:19):
assist season in NBA history will go, you know, assist
per one hundred possessions, so assist per possession.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Who's dishing the ball?
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Literally the history most in that's history for a single season,
is it.
Speaker 4 (31:32):
Can you give me an iteration of an era?
Speaker 1 (31:35):
I feel like that will give it away, and I
almost feel like that gives it away.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
Is it someone I wouldn't anticipate.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
No, you would probably anticipate them.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Are Darren Williams.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Darren Williams, great answer?
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Has the record for assist percentage which I mentioned in
that single season history in twenty twelve forty seven percent
assist percentage assist per possession is Jason Kidd in two
thousand and two.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
I know, I was surprised you in the meeting.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Honestly I was, Yeah, you would have been.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
I'm really glad you got the tougher one because you
would assume, you know, oh, Jason Kids, not really.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
You told me it was obvious, so I should have
thought of the other jersey that's hanging in the rafters.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Excellent, Yeah, you know, at the era.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
But yeah, just to give some context as to how
you know firmly Dilo has taken the reins of this offense,
and uh, you know, over this next week. Then let's
get on the road later today they're in Charlotte, go
to Houston, they come back, play Houston again. So that
those are the three games we'll be talking about this
time next week, Sarah, any parting words.
Speaker 4 (32:47):
No, have a great rest of the week and uh yeah,
just excited to see how things continue to continue to unfold.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Have a great rest of the week. Everybody hashtag VC forever.
Number fifteen up in the rafters obviously the number I
had to wear middle school, high school, all that. So,
what a great week in NETS world and we will
be back here next week on the backcourt of Brooklyn.
Nets podcast presented to you by Ticketmaster. Like rate subscribe
(33:16):
all that jazz, We really appreciate it, and
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Pop will see you next wee
You are now in the backcourt of Brooklyn Nets Podcast
presented by Taking Master.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
We thank them very much.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I am your host, Lucas Kaplan of NETS Daily, where
I cover the team, and of NETS Film Focus, where
we make great insightful videos about Brooklyn Nets basketball, and
of course alongside me, as always is Sarah Coustak, woman
of many, many talents and ventures, including just returning from
Miami for where she covered Unrivaled.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
How was that?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
It was fun, extraordinary experience. I will get to do
that at times throughout the course of the year, despite
being sad and missing all of you in the Nets
and in some of these games and moments. But yeah,
it is really special to watch the tweaks and the
adjustments and the talent of these women because it was
(01:01):
on display and I got a little bit of sunshine, Lucas.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
So I'm never I'm never going that at that.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Yeah, you missed not the worst weather, but being in
Miami certainly seems like a step up from New York
City in terms of January weather. And yeah, Unrivaled pretty
cool on TV. You know, anytime you get the best
basketball players in the world and you just put him
out there, you know how bad can it be? Is
my not super in depth takeaway from that. One of
(01:30):
the moments, probably the moment that unfortunately you were not
in Brooklyn for, was Vince Carter's jersey retirement, And you know,
we talked about him last week on the podcast, but
just being there for the moment, you know, I didn't realize.
(01:50):
I didn't know what the Nets had in store. It
was just a fantastic weekend. Honestly, they premiered from Daytona
Beach to Brooklyn, Vince Carter focused documentary on his journey.
He lit up the Empire State Building and classic red,
white and blue New Jersey Nets colors, and then of
course Saturday, Brooklyn's game against the Miami Heat, he gets
(02:12):
his jersey retired and the halftime ceremony just feels like
the Nets, which just was so well done what I
wrote about it. You know, few people have loved being
a Net and representing the organization more than Vince Carter,
and that's the type of guy he is, and it
felt like the love was reciprocated back to him from
(02:33):
the organization, from the fans. I saw so many throwback
jerseys in the crowd and it just made me want
to ask you, because we heard from his former teammates,
guys I grew up loving and rooting for, rooting for
I did not expect to see Boss John Knockbar and
Devin Harris, and I got a little starstruck all these guys.
(02:55):
But they all speak about Vince Carter, the teammate, the person.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
The smile.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
You know, Iron Eagle spoke about that, Lawrence Frank, everybody
seems to have this common refrain, and so I'm just
wondering from your perspective, you know, in the documentary they
talk about this new phase of his career as a
broadcaster back with the Nets.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
What is he like as a teammate from your perspective.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Extraordinary as you would imagine, the best of the best.
Let me first start by say it was a very
challenging decision for me to the unfortunately not be there
and have other work obligations. However, what I will say
is to your point, everything about Vince is top notch,
first class.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
He is a pro of a pro.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
So I think in return, what the Nets were able
to do to honor him was so special, And leading
up to those weeks, not only talked to Vince and
not only of course congratulated him and everything that was
going about it, as he is an excellent and just
extraordinary teammate as we will get into. But talked with
Devin Harris. Course, Richard Jefferson, like Devin Harris, gave me
(04:02):
his whole run. I should have asked him to come
on the pod with us because of the enthusiasm talk
with Jkid, who couldn't be there and was asking Jay
about just different things, saying I know, iron Egle of
course did an extraordinary job. I got to watch everything,
a halftime ceremony, everything leading up to it. But I
think that was the part that, you know, rich just
(04:22):
being so bumped he couldn't be there longer, but was
able to at least get in for the night for Thursday,
Devon there for the whole time, and it was just
blown away by how extraordinary it was, and wanting to
be there to honor Vince again. Same deal the Jay
on the on the scoreboard at least being able to
leave a message. I think there's so much love and
respect for who he was and understanding the magnitude of
(04:43):
this moment and what it means and for us every
time we step into Barclay Center to see that jersey
saying in the rafters that means something, but it was
more about the entirety of the weekend that I know.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
You could speak to because you were there.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
That just felt so perfect, And that's what Vince deserves
now seeing I talked about it in the pod last week.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
I think it's been such a beautiful progression who he
was as a player.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
The career that he had met, honored and paid tribute
to the game with the way he finished it, lifting
others up, the next generation of young players, teaching and
talking and caring for and pouring in that support, and
now doing the same thing as a broadcaster. And I
think for all of us just hearing those experiences, listening
(05:30):
to his stories, how much he wants to excel at
this new phase in his career, what it means to
be around him, and I think we all see that
and we experience it. But that is such a beautiful
trait to be able to carry that off, no matter
what chapter you are in in your professional life or
life in general, to be able to give that. And
(05:52):
I think too to seeing that with his son being
the ball boy and him talking about the importance of
that and his family and the kids being so close
with doctor J. Like, all of those things continue to
me to show how special the game basketball is, and
I think sport is because it transcends what you're watching
on the court, if it really is something that we
(06:15):
are able to feel at life. And so I think
for all of that, it just it just felt like
such an extraordinarily special weekend that that truly did justice
to the player and the person that he is.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah, I've you know, witnessed it for the first time
in person. He just had I did not want to
be Vince Carter for most of the weekend in terms
of all of the obligations he had to do, you know,
having your jersey retire.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Don't given the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
I'm not saying I would reject it, but man, he
was a busy guy. He just had so many photo
ops and interviews and you know, not being pushed and pulled,
but kind of going in so many different directions. And
on Friday, you know, I got to talk to him
and write up an interview for nets Daily, and it
(07:04):
was like the last I.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Was like last in line, and I was.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Like, you know, oh, man, he's been through, Like he's
talked to like thirty people just this morning and this
and that, and he was just so gracious and had
a smile, and I was asking him, you know, kind
of introspective questions about his career, and he was just
so thoughtful and warm and genuine in his responses, and
it was pretty shocking. It was just you could tell,
(07:31):
you know, you were in the midst of a pretty
special person. And therefore it's so fitting that Vince was
the centerpiece of this great night for the Nets. I mean,
you think about their historical relationship with Julia serving for
him to come back and embrace the Nets family and
talk to the crowd and talk to his former teammates,
(07:53):
that's a big deal for many Nets fans, and the
fact that Vince was the catalyst for it is just
you couldn't be more fitting. You know, as I said,
loved being a Net, loves being part of the Nets
family still the organization. The fans feel the same way,
and so for him to be around all that especial night,
(08:14):
and of course, in classic Vince fashion, not just make
it about him is you know, you'd expect nothing less.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
With that.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
The Nets also played basketball over the last week. They
had four games at home against the Knicks Sons. Kevin
Durant made his second return to the Barclays Center Heat
and Sacramento, and it was unfortunately a winless week for
the Nets. But you know, that definitely doesn't capture the
(08:46):
whole of it. You know, I'm wondering what just general
takeaways you might have seen from Miami. I know you
were locked in watching film on the road per usual,
So what did you kind of grasp from your viewings.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I think as we continue to watch this team and
do so with some missing pieces and parts, there's always
throughout the course and stretches of these games that there's
flashes of syptimism, things to pull from it, those that
you like, layers of foundation to build film, and then
a lot of areas where you look at the group
and the team and how they perform that needs to
(09:21):
get better. And I think it was the same type
of balance of that and some of the same issues
that I think at times you can understand. You look
at the issues of turnovers, for example, most recent game
against Sacramento and how it was at Bay for the
most part in the first half, and then that was
a vulnerability in the second half and allowed for the
(09:42):
game to get opened up what was happening in the
post and some of the post plays. There are certain
characteristics of this team that they are mindful of and
they do a good job and then at some point
it turns. And sometimes that can be the depth they're
talent out on the floor of the opponent, and the
other times, I think it's just the continued learning process us.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
But I think.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Overall you are seeing we do on this and I
know we will on this podcast every week thanks to you,
lucas the Next Net or Brooklyn's And I think that
is such an important trade of Okay, what are we
seeing in certain players that it may be more consistency,
but is there opportunities that it would be something that
(10:22):
would translate in the future, And not necessarily even just
for the Nets, but a lot of these players that
we're watching or trying to really make it in the
league and cut their teeth in the league, and I
think you're seeing flashes of that and then just becomes
a question of Okay, how can you put that all
together at the same time to translate that into a win.
And so I think again, overall, some tough losses, I
(10:44):
think the toughest of all of those that KNIXT game,
no question, and so it's hard to keep circling back to.
But that's a team that's looking to compete for the
Eastern Conference championship. That's a team that's looking and they
had pretty much all of their pieces and the Nets
take then down to the wire, unable to close that out.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
But I think some of those things we need to.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Take a step back in all larger view and realize
that there are strides being made, but it's just harder
to evaluate when it's the losses that keep stacking.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
I totally agree. You know, I sit on media row.
I supposed to be impartial. I am impartial, But I
wanted that NIXT win. You know, I grew up in
nets Fan, I grew up in Manhattan, I grew up
in nets Fan.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
I want I want those wins.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
But obviously, in the bigger picture, that was a really
strong game for the group. That was the only game
this week where D'Angelo Russell and Cam Johnson played, and
the last time that happened, they hung one hundred and
thirty two on the Portland Trail Blazers. When this team
is healthy or you know, no team in the NBA
(11:51):
at this point of the year is fully healthy, but.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Man, the Nets are.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
If they could get even you know, halfway healthy, it's
just unfortunate. They would probably have an easier time getting buckets.
And I think because of the kind of rotating door
of available players and some of the health issues, it
kind of compounds these things, you know that you're talking about,
(12:15):
whether it's turnovers stabilizing for three and a half quarters
and then having five in a six minute stretch, or
whether they're cleaning up the paint and the glass and
then they give up again five offensive rebounds and half
a quarter when offense is harder to come by. Those
you know, mistakes or just stretches, natural stretches in a
(12:35):
game feel like death blows.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
And I will say it didn't happen in every game.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
You know, they really had a chance the whole way
against the Knicks. They really played well. I thought for
most of the Sacramento game. If you know, they just
shot ten of thirty six from three, there are six
they are league averaging three point shooting, they make four
or five more. It's right down to the wire, and
they are playing well, especially on the defensive end. I
(13:05):
would like to point out. So you know, they gave
they had an one hundred and twelve defensive rating over
this past week. That's around top tennis mark in the
NBA if you were to extrapolate it. They are cleaning
up the glass really well. Again, you know, I've said
this a few times on this podcast, but those early
season issues with fouling all that stuff, they are preventing
(13:29):
free throws, they are rebounding, they are being physical without
all that stuff. And so you can see the long
term growth of the group and then the long term
growth of individuals.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
It's not linear.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
You know, Tosan a Woma comes on the scene, for example,
and has a bunch of great games. You know, he's
probably not gonna shoot sixty five seventy percent for the
whole year. And in a game where the nets were
the most depleted and he's like the primary ball handler,
he shoots two of fifteen, and you know that stuff
is going to happen, and it's all about how you
respond from that. And then I thought on in the
(14:00):
last game of the week against Sacramento, he played really well.
Let me pull up the box score right now, because
I remember he just had a bunch of nice takes.
You know, he shot ten yeah points eight boards, yeah,
and just the flashes. You know, you can see him
using his physicality, his length, his footwork on drives, all
(14:20):
that stuff. So you know, we talked about this at
the very beginning of the season, what we're going to
look for, you know, this season, what this season is
going to be about.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
And it's tougher to keep the big picture in mind.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Sometimes if you go zero to four in a week,
that's understandable. The NBA is about winning, but it's also
about the big picture. And I think we are still
on track, you know, in my opinion at least. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
And I think the last thing I'll say on that
is it's where I feel for Jordy Fernandez, a coaching staff,
the players like keeping an eye and a focus on
that when it is about losses, because you could feel
ways as fans and for those of us covering the team,
but it is all about these individuals do not get
(15:08):
to this level without having a just absolutely despising losing,
understanding the implorums of feeling a win. So I think
continuing to string together these type of effort, the showcasing
of what they're doing on the floor, to me is
so impressive because that's that's hard to keep showing up
(15:29):
with the same energy, the same focus, the same mentality,
the same in ways positivity when it is lost, stacking up,
And I give so much credit, and I'm so impressed
by this group with how they have played together and
stuck together the way that they do still feel like
there is a chemistry off id rooting from one another,
(15:49):
and the way the bench looks, all of those things
are still present.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
It's things that you hold for and expect. But I
think that's easier.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Said than done, and we're continuing to see that play out.
And so for as much as we can talk about
big picture, for these this is their career. So this
is their livelihood, this is their profession, This is their
day to day. They are the ones pouring in the
work and the sweat. So it is not about big picture, man,
It's about the next game, the next play, the next
thing that.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
They're having to do.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
And I am just so impressed with how they continue
to show up with that mentality of purpose and intensity
each and every day. And that's what I've loved to
watch and see about them. Despite the way the win
loss record looks right now.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah, and I thank you for bringing that up, because
that really should be what we lead with. This team
plays very hard and with that, it's something Nets fans,
the players themselves, the coach and staff can be proud of.
Then Jordi has done a good job emphasizing that and
talking about how he's proud of how the team has
done just that.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
And it's funny, you know.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Vince Carter in his pregame press conference mentioned that he
has been proud of the team and stoke that they
keep showing up and playing hard and that's really what
it's all about.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Hey, that fans dunks, dimes and no looks are great
on TV, but nothing compares to catching them irl. And
that starts with buying tickets. A Ticketmaster, the official ticket
marketplace of the Nets in the NBA. Ticketmaster gets you
to the game so you can catch every highlight in person,
from seeing your favorite Nets stars up close to hearing
the squeak of the sneakers on the hardwood. Put that
(17:28):
jersey collection to use and get tickets a Ticketmaster. There's
no better brag than saying you saw it live, see
your courtside, Brooklyn.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
In terms of short term injury news. I know we've
been talking about it a lot. Jordy Fernandez gave updates
on really all four Nets that have been that are
around a return to play, possibly before the Sacramento game,
and we got some really good news on camp Thomas
and Trendon Watford. Specifically camp Thomas, he said that there
(18:01):
will be a scan for his hamstring on Wednesday and
then a timeline to return to play. We're recording this
Wednesday morning. By the time we finished recording, there might
be a camp Thomas update, so that is good news.
On Trendon Watford, also dealing with a hammy, Jordi said
he looks great and he's been working hard and we'll
(18:22):
see him back within the next week. So we don't
know what game yet, but Trendon around the corner. And
then Cam Johnson, you know, dealing with an ankle sprain.
He's gonna get reevaluated in next week, so that's another
couple of games. And then Ben Simmons, you know, he's
been sick, which was unfortunate, and he's just listed as
(18:43):
day to day with a back.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
So there's there's.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Definitely optimism that the Nets get healthier within even you
know two or three games and they have a more
full complement of players. But with that being said, the
players that are on the court, who would you like
to give your Brooklyn's Finest Award of the Week two.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
I would like to give my Brooklyn's Finest to day
Ron Sharp. I think there's so many areas of growth
steel for Dayron, but I think it's important to remember
the injury and training camp and what that took them
when he finally did return at the start of a season.
(19:24):
For as much as people come back, and they may
be one hundred as Jordi says, two hundred percent healthy,
there's still an acclamation process or reacclamation I should say,
speed of the game, game action, all of those things.
I think it took him a little while, and I
do still think there are so many areas that you'd
like to see steps. But I say all that to
say that I think we've seen a ton of growth
(19:45):
from him, and what you expect out of him is
always rebounding, a lot of rebounding in the offensive end.
He's done that. He has an act for lot. I
think he said that at some point, I think are
making triplet on the netsam Yes, and asked him about
offensive reboundies.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
It's just what I got, no answers. This is what
I do.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
But I do think in so many ways, the angles,
the positioning that's instinctual to him, and that's something you
can't always teach with the player despite their size. But defensively,
and Lucas, I know you deep dove into this because
you were asking him the questions and you wrote articles
on this and did a breakdown, But there are visible
difference on the defensive side, and I think sometimes you
(20:23):
do see breakdowns or out of posision or areas that Again,
there's still areas for growth. But I think overall what
you want to see out of him in the jump
of what Jordi Fernandez is asking this defense to do,
he's done a really nice job in trying to make
those strides. For all of those things, I think there's
(20:43):
credit that goes into the work that he's put in
in and just the ways that he has performed when
the nets had been shorthanded and had been needing more.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Of a presence in the post.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Yeah, and he played his season nine minutes against the
Kings and he won is men that's yet again, that's
all he seems to do off the bench. You know,
you can trust him to anchor a bench unit and
give you good minutes twelve to ten in you know,
still just twenty three minutes, so it's not like he's
playing a ton. But even then he's still putting up
you know, strong numbers, three steals, and it really is.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
The defense that has popped.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
I mean, if you can think back, you know, you know,
two three years ago, at the beginning of Dayron's career,
the question very much was, you know, can he be
the anchor of strong defensive lineups down low? Is his positioning, verticality,
you know, fouling, is all of that going to get
to an NBA level? And you know that's not disrespect
(21:43):
he was a late first round pick. You're not always
sure you know you're gonna find a bona fide NBA
rotation player at those type of draft slots. Obviously Dayroon
had things he needed to work on. The defense has
gotten better every year and this year I think it's
just clearly at you know, his peak, and I think
the stat that really illustrates that is foul rate. You know,
(22:08):
as a big sometimes you have to sacrifice a little
bit of the shot blocking, you know, for the fouling
and per cleaning the glass. Right his block rate is
down a little bit. It's closer to league average for
big men. It was actually, you know, above that his
last couple of years. But the foul rate has jumped
(22:30):
from six percentile his rookie year, eighth percentile, eighth percentile
to now fiftieth percentile. That's a huge jump, and you
can see it in his film, the way he goes vertical,
you know, the way he seems better at like tracking
the ball. He had a great block on a lefty
layup from I want to say Malik Monk against the
(22:51):
Sacramento Kings where he jumped, floated in the air and
had to wait mid air until Moleak extended the ball,
you know, to go lay up and he swatted it.
That's great stuff and it goes such a long way
for day Ron's NBA career. So, you know, I'm really
happy for him because that is for bench biggs, you know,
(23:11):
even if he becomes a starting big in the future,
that is just so such a massive area of improvement
for him. And then it's just all the mobility stuff,
the positioning. You know, he's taken away cutters. He's stealing
the ball more, his deflections are up. So I'm really
glad that you picked Dayron, and I was gonna pick he,
you know, he was one of my options.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
And it's not even just about the last week for him.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
It's about like even like longer, you know, and he
really did shine this past week. But just thinking about him,
I'm really happy over this, these past couple of years
of development, and like you said, he did not have
an easy road to getting better this year. He's heard
at the beginning of the year, he kind of just
dealing with stuff. He's coming off the bench, he's trying
to get a flow, and he really has. And like
(23:59):
you said, I like to answer to Megan Triplett about
offensive rebounding and battling with Demontes Sabonis, who's not easy
to battle with.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
You know.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
He wasn't even Darn's not trying to be cool. He's
not too cool to give good answers. He's not, you know,
anything like that. But she asked, what is it about
your offensive rebounding and he was genuinely stumped. He was like,
I don't know, I just do this and it's hard
to argue with him if you want more percentiles offensive
rebounding the first four years of his career among big
(24:30):
men one hundred percentile, ninety ninth percentile, ninety seventh percentile,
ninety eighth percentile per cleaning the glass.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Eight.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
That's big.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Tells you all you need to know.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
He has three games this year already with at least
eight offensive rebounds, and he's playing like twenty minutes off
the bench. So again, love to watch Dayron and love
that he's getting better. My Brooklyn's finest. I gotta give
it to D'Angelo Russell. He's just been man to get
traded mid season and to organize the offense. We're gonna
have some fun trivia even about him in a came Yeah,
(25:04):
that's how good he's been transition.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
I've written about it a lot.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
His hit ahead passes, reading the open floor at the
end of the shot clock. You know you can give
him the ball and get good offense, which I think
is something the Nets were missing after they traded Dennis
Shrewder and before they got de Lo. I'm assuming you've
noticed the same things. Nothing too complicated now.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
And I think we've talked about him a lot that's it,
and I also just I think that's the biggest improvement,
the sharpness of his passing, just taking care of all
of those things. Since we had him last in Brooklyn.
The jump that that's made has been so fun to see,
and when he's on the floor it makes such huge difference.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Absolutely, we've talked about him a lot. I don't think
there's anything else to say.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
He's just organizing, leading the offense, half court transition and
he's doing it well.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
That brings us to the next so long.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
View, shortview, some one specific skill, whole package.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
You know, who are you looking at? What next time?
Speaker 4 (26:09):
I may have picked him already.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
You may have picked him already, and I already alluded
to it. It's to sound a wom up is to
me as you said it. He came on so strong,
opened up so many eyes. I think a lot of
people didn't necessarily understand and recognize just the skill set
that he might bring to the table. And as we've
watched them, there there have been and there will be
(26:31):
ebbs and flows for all players, and especially too, just
with NBA teams seemed to be more comfortable scouting and
scouting him and knowing who's in and out and.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
Okay, he's someone we need to maybe bump up.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
On our scouting report and so players have better idea
for tendency and feel. But with all that being said,
I think he is the guy that I just I
want to continue to watch him, to monitor and see
what it looks like as the sample size grows.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
I know the Kings wish they bumped him up on
the scattery report because he came in and scored nine
points in like three minutes and I had to call
the time out.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
But yeah, that's what he has to do.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
I am looking to see if he can kind of
drive to pass a little bit more. It's like, we
see that the scoring is there and he's we see
him make some like really high level passes in terms
of placement and like throwing passes with his left hand
and all that. I think if he leans even more
into being a point forward or just shows off a
(27:28):
little bit more of the passing, that'll be great for
his game. I did have the same one, but in
the interest of, you know, keeping things diverse, I will
go with Keon Johnson. I feel like we haven't talked
about him in a little bit on next NET. I
feel like he's figured out a lot of stuff in
terms of his driving game. Even though the three point
(27:50):
shot has kind of regressed a little bit over the season.
You know, hopefully that that will bump back, but back
up that ebbs and flows, but his points on you know,
drives per drive has gone up. It feels like he's
figured out how to get to two feet and be
that awesome athlete that he is. You know, when he's
going off one foot, he's kind of got the D
cell down, and so he's had these games where he
(28:13):
scores you know, twenty twenty something points even though he
might go one to five from three or zero of
four from three. Keeping consistent production as the shot, you know,
as as literally happens for every player waivers. I'm really
happy to see that from him. And you know, this
is a guy again two way contract last year, not
(28:35):
sure if he's an NBA player, having twenty point games,
you know, getting out in transition, finishing, so all of
that stuff just becoming a little bit more consistent for
Keon Johnson. You know, what are your just quick impressions
of him, really, you know, the first year of his
NBA career, he's getting like rotation minutes every night, ball
(28:55):
in his hands, expectations.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
He I think the athleticism jumps through the roof initially
and just pops out as you watch him. But I
do think the understanding of the nuances of the game,
the level of efficiency, how he can best raise the
level of play for his teammates. I think all those
things you've watched a steady improvement and for a player
like him, and Geordie always brings it up that he's
still young, and so despite the fact that he's been
(29:19):
in the league for a while and you think about him,
he's still learning all of those things. And I think
it's been a great, great opportunity for.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Him to.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Know he has run throughout the course of the game,
and so how he adjusted that or even just end
the game situations. All of those things to me have
been impressive to watch and continuing to monitor what that
looks like as the season.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
Goes off, definitely, and you know you saw it this week.
He kind of struggled a little bit against the Knicks
seven points, comes back with twenty points against Phoenix, nine
to sixteen, shooting twenty two points against Miami, get into
the line, getting to the rim, so again with all
these guys. NBA players are so good. You know, everybody
(30:03):
can go off. It's all about the consistency. We hear
it all the time, separates good from the great. And
speaking of great, we will close with some trivia and
it's an opportunity for me to circle back to Giangelo Russell,
who has just been really also as a floor general
(30:25):
for the Nets. I mean, the Nets have needed him
their offense, especially as Cam Johnson and Ben Simmons kind
of deal with injuries and are.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
In and out of the lineup.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Delo has been such a stabilizing force, dealing with his
own injuries too, but you know when he plays, their
offense really takes a jump. And in fact, you know,
small sample size, alert he has assists you know, per
one hundred possessions above fourteen and a half, that would
be the all time mark in Nets history. For a
(30:58):
single season he's only played nine games. His assist percentage,
you know what percentage of buckets he's assisted on when
he's on the floor, he's over fifty percent. That's only
been done sixteen seventeen times in NBA history. So I
will ask you who and maybe when has the greatest
(31:19):
assist season in NBA history will go, you know, assist
per one hundred possessions, so assist per possession.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Who's dishing the ball?
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Literally the history most in that's history for a single season,
is it.
Speaker 4 (31:32):
Can you give me an iteration of an era?
Speaker 1 (31:35):
I feel like that will give it away, and I
almost feel like that gives it away.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
Is it someone I wouldn't anticipate.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
No, you would probably anticipate them.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Are Darren Williams.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Darren Williams, great answer?
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Has the record for assist percentage which I mentioned in
that single season history in twenty twelve forty seven percent
assist percentage assist per possession is Jason Kidd in two
thousand and two.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
I know, I was surprised you in the meeting.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Honestly I was, Yeah, you would have been.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
I'm really glad you got the tougher one because you
would assume, you know, oh, Jason Kids, not really.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
You told me it was obvious, so I should have
thought of the other jersey that's hanging in the rafters.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Excellent, Yeah, you know, at the era.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
But yeah, just to give some context as to how
you know firmly Dilo has taken the reins of this offense,
and uh, you know, over this next week. Then let's
get on the road later today they're in Charlotte, go
to Houston, they come back, play Houston again. So that
those are the three games we'll be talking about this
time next week, Sarah, any parting words.
Speaker 4 (32:47):
No, have a great rest of the week and uh yeah,
just excited to see how things continue to continue to unfold.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Have a great rest of the week. Everybody hashtag VC forever.
Number fifteen up in the rafters obviously the number I
had to wear middle school, high school, all that. So,
what a great week in NETS world and we will
be back here next week on the backcourt of Brooklyn.
Nets podcast presented to you by Ticketmaster. Like rate subscribe
(33:16):
all that jazz, We really appreciate it, and
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Pop will see you next wee
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