February 12, 2025 • 25 mins
In Episode 16 of The Backcourt Podcast, YES Network’s Sarah Kustok and NetsDaily’s Lucas Kaplan dive into the Brooklyn Nets' recent success and impressive string of wins. They discuss how the team’s strong defensive play mirrors Coach Fernández’s philosophy, emphasizing team defense, constant communication, and relentless pressure on opponents. The big men, Nic Claxton and Day’ron Sharpe, have been showing out in the paint, both offensively and defensively. Trendon Watford is also stepping up, contributing on both ends of the floor. The duo wraps up another episode with a round of Nets Trivia.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You are now in the backcourt. A Brooklyn Nets podcast
presented by Ticketmaster. I am Lucas Kaplan, writer for NETS Daily,
covering who else the Brooklyn Nets, also of NETS Film Focus.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
We make some great videos, you know.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Insightful x's and O stuff on the Burroughs basketball team.
And of course joining me is Sarah Kustak down in
Miami covering unrivaled one on one covering the Nets doing
it all. Sarah, how are we doing in book?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Excellent excellent writing, excellent coverage, excellent breakdowns, Lucas, you gotta
we love reading your stuff and watching your breakdowns.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Oh well, I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
So I am doing excellent as well, all around all
around excellence.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Good.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
I felt like you yesterday I went for a run.
It was twenty five degrees. Ooh, I felt like you.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, if you were like me.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I fortunately my rung has been like eighty degrees these
but no, I I appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah, you really bearing through the cold there, I know.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Well, you know, I was like, you know, I can't
show up and face you being a huge wimp.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
So I powered through it.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Yeah, and hey, I almost we almost didn't ask you
back because you know, you missed the last.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Good Luck I know I was. I was waiting for
for Richard to tell me that he was going to
take over and just start doing the podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
He hasn't said anything to you yet. He hasn't teased
you about that yet. That's shocking.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Ready to pop on.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
That is truly shocking because Sarah uh was uh doing
Unrivaled last week I hosted solo and the Nets were
two and zero, and now she's back this week after
the Nets played four games, all at home in the
past seven days, and they went three and one, bringing
(01:54):
them to a nice total of five and one in
their last six games. You know this will come out
on Wednesday, and Wednesday night the Nets play the Sixers
at home, and then they'll be at the All Star Break.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
So you know, almost no matter what way that game.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Goes, Brooklyn has some real momentum heading into the break.
Obviously another win would be nice, but five and one,
you know, when you're waking up after Unrivaled, when you're
loading up the film, what.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Are you seeing that is driving this team?
Speaker 3 (02:24):
But it's like sitting right next to me, Lucas, I
feel like I've continued to continue to watch it both
during and after. It's been so much fun to watch.
I think we've seen different iterations of this group throughout
the course of the entire season. But the resiliency, I think,
the resolve and more than anything which I know you've
(02:46):
got a lot of numbers to dig into the defense,
and so much of their success, their wins, their stretches,
where they are finding areas of dominance, has come on
the defensive end. And I think that it's interesting thinking
back to season into training camp and Jordy Fernandez talking
about how he wanted the team to play of a
techn of pressure defense and just being locked in in
(03:08):
terms of connectivity and coverages, and that has been on
display in full. It hasn't mattered who's been in the lineup,
what things look like. I think we're seeing all of
those things come together in the sense of just how
engaged everyone is. I think now too, that we're past
the trade deadline and everyone knows this is the group,
this is the team, this is how we're going to
(03:29):
move forward with things. I also think there's a level
of just any relief or composure that continues to show.
But overall, I think that's been the hugest part of
it and just a group that continues to play for
one another and just play extremely hard.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
I think that is pretty indisputable how hard they're playing.
And I do think, you know, the vibes of just
the feelings of being secure post trade deadline. It's hard
to quantify, but how could you not be impacted by it?
You know, we media got to speak to Cam Johnson,
who's obviously floated in a lot of rumors just noise,
(04:05):
you know, around the larger NBA landscape leading up to
the trade deadline, and he was all smiles. We talked
to him actually at a Friday morning shoot around, So
twelve hours after the trade deadline had passed, you're still
in Brooklyn and just you know, you're one of your
best players, your leaders kind of just is emanating these
very positive, smiling vibes, happy to be part of the team.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Still.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
That has an obvious trickle down effect. One just you know,
piece of news buttoning up things should have led with this.
That's bought out Ben Simmons last week. So now the
roster you would imagine, is really set. Obviously a couple
more things could happen, but the guys they got are
the guys they're rolling with they're playing hard, and they're
playing great defense.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
In their last six.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Games this five and one stretch, their first in defensive rating,
they're first in block shots per game, and there's more numbers.
There's first in field goal percent really, any way you
slice it. You know, they are have been the best
defense in the league for about two weeks now, but
even going back before that, you know, they came home
from that West coast trip that ended in Oklahoma City
(05:12):
ten games ago, and over those ten games, they're the
second best defense in the league. So it's not just
the smallest sample size possible in this winning streak, you
know that we're looking at it is an overall effort
and free throw rate for the opponents way down they're
forcing their third and turnover, turnovers forced per cleaning the
(05:34):
glass over these six games, first in effective field goal percentage.
So I just think they're executing, and I think it
makes sense that it, you know, took them a couple
trades a couple months, but it does feel like they
are more connected than ever. At least that's what I watch,
That's what I feel like when I'm in person. I
don't know if you see the same thing you know
(05:54):
on film.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Yeah, because I also think just watching how they continue
to communicate, watching the communication from the coaching staff on
the bench, and you know, you bring up players, I
think across the board, even when players have been injured
or not playing. To bring up Cam Johnson still with
the team thankfully, and of course everyone thrilled to have
him around. But the communication on the bench of different
(06:17):
guys helping one another, even those within the game. I
think all of those things circle back to the buying,
the gate, engagement, and the game plan discipline each and
every night out. And so for those reasons like that's
exactly what you look for, because I think sometimes when
teams struggle, so much of it does circle back to
(06:38):
the defensive end. And I think in that same vein
they have also not allowed any misshots or times they're
stagma on offense. Sometimes that can affect you on the
defensive end, and whether it's mentally, whether it's just it
presses you quite a bit. And I think they've done
a really nice job in making sure that their foundation
(06:58):
starts at that d n to the floor.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
So I want to ask you a question because you
hear and I think it'll be insightful because you hear
players and coaches talk all the time about being locked
into the game plan and understanding coverages and whatnot. And
you know, for me, and I think a lot of fans,
you might wonder, well, what goes into that? Besides obviously
(07:21):
pick and roll coverage is a big one, right, you
want to know if you're switching, if you're trapping, whatnot.
But certainly defense as a whole in the NBA is
more than just how you're guarding the pick and roll.
So Dayiron Sharp said it postgame, you know, in Brooklyn's
most recent win, a Monday night win over the Charlotte Hornets,
(07:42):
he said, we're really just understanding the coverages. You hear
those words a lot. So what are some examples, you know,
you don't have to get too specific, but like, what
does that mean beyond just hey, like we're going to
trap LaMelo ball or we're going to go under this guy,
and it kind of a grander sense, I.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
See, the biggest part of that is involutely that And
so when you're talking about, for example, picking little coverages
or trapping, or what you're doing with the ball screen,
whether you're switching, you know, other actions or other off
ball screens, what is everyone else doing? And I think
that's where breakdowns happen most often for teams, is the
(08:19):
rotation on the back side, where you know where where's
your low man going, who's the next pass away? Are
you most concerned about taking away the middle of the floor,
taking away the baseline, taking away that week side three point,
There's there's so many quickness of rotations off the pass
and off when guys do get blitzed, do get double team,
we've seen more of that and the angles of things
(08:41):
like those. If you're blitzing, if you're hedging, if you're
whatever you're doing, there's small nuances that I think this
scene is continuing to understand and learn, and that's the
details of it, exactly where you need to be because
we use the word connectivity, and a big part is
that if there's one breakdown, if there's one play out
of place, if there's one movement, that that can bust
(09:03):
up your whole possession. And so I think just in
terms of that of understanding the coverage, it's not just
about Okay, you're going to go under on this player.
And we talked so much about knowing your personnel and
knowing tendencies of the opponent. But it's not just Okay,
we're going under on this guy. We're going over on
this guy. We're going to trap this We're no, no, no,
it's where is everyone else to make sure when those
(09:24):
players make those passes, or make those plays, or get
to the middle of the floor or potentially beat someone
that they weren't supposed to, is everyone else in position
to respond to that and to counter that. And I
think that's where you've seen so much progress from this group.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Yeah, there were There was one possession in the Miami
game last night that in my memory jumps out in
terms of what you were saying. And it's unfortunate because
Tyler hero made a tough pull up shot, but it
was pull up fourteen foot off glass. It's the type
of shot you want to force guys into. Tyler Heroes
(10:01):
an All Star. He made a tough shot, but you know,
the nets hedge kind of trap at the level. Bam
rolls to about fifteen feet something like that, and Nick
can't recover to him on the speed of the pass.
So the low man, it might have been Cam Johnson
steps up and takes Bam. So now Nick is in
(10:21):
no man's land, right, he's finding someone to guard. His
teammates point him to the opposite wing, and as Bam
kind of turns around and gets into a handoff with
Tyler Hero, you know, dribbling upcourt, Nick takes the initiative
to fall back to the corner guy. So now if
there's a play at the rim, you know, now he's
the low man and Trendon's up at the wing. And
(10:45):
you talked about angles the nets have. This is what's
really stood out to me. They're funneling drivers towards the
sideline and into.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
The rim protectors.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
So Tyler Hero, instead of being able to drive to
the middle of the floor, is forced into the kind
of the short corner towards the sideline and he ends
up making you know, fifteen fourteen foot off the glass.
But if you were to go to the rim, you know,
Nick Claxon, that's what you want, protecting the rim. And
he started to play you know, at the top of
the key above the three point line. So to me,
that was communications, it was angles. I posted another similar
(11:17):
play in the home victory against the Rockets from a
couple from you know, three wins ago. But stuff like
that really just you see it in all the details,
as you mentioned. And I think the interesting thing about
when we talk about funneling drivers and making sure when
you're closing out you're taking away the middle is the
nets are first in block shots over these last six
(11:41):
games where they're five and one.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
That doesn't just reflect.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Nick and Dayron and like the traditional rim protectors, but
to me, I think it kind of reflects the perimeter
defense too, like they're forcing guys towards the right spots.
I don't know, you don't typically think of block shots
as like a perimeter stat but to me, I think it's,
you know, a statistical example of what you're talking about.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
I'm not sure if you've noticed that as well.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Yeah, you said it. And one is where you're forcing
guys to and two with still maintaining your position, whether
it's off the hip, whether it's coming from the understanding
of where your big is going to come from, and
a lounging there in Tannbert Serriki into and that all
Lucas's you brought up earlier circles back to the lower
free throw weight by opponents.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Yeah, and so a.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Big part of that is positionally how we're looking at
so all of it tied together is something to me
that's been really really impressive.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
With that fact, Hey, neck 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
(12:57):
up close to hearing the squeak of the sneakers on
the whole had put that 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 (13:09):
So because their initial positioning, their initial work is good,
they're not being put in, you know, this advantageous positions
where they have to foul.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
That's an interesting point.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
I also do think there's a bit of reputation going
on where now that they've established this league wide rep
as a team that plays really hard and brings it
every night, they are, you know, have plummeted in foul
rate in a good way. You know, at the beginning
of the season was all they filed a lot how
to be physical without fouling. I think it's human nature.
You know, the officiating crews are respecting the Nets as
(13:43):
a team that plays hard and is physical in the
proper ways, and so you know.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
You build cachet that way.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
But I shout out the perimeter defense to then bring
it to Brooklyn's finest. You know, if you're a new listener,
this is an award we give out every week to
just guy.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
We want to shout out for that week.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
A lot of candidates in a three and one week obviously,
and you know for you two weeks ago, they're now
five and one, But I do have to give it
to I think Nick and Dayron.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
I'm cheating a little bringing up both bigger.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Right, you can pick one and I'll pick Fiato because
I'm right there with you.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Eight. I'll talk about day Ron. I have a couple
of stats pulled for him.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
I mean, just you got what you got, all the stats.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
I do have, all the stats. You have the eye tests,
which I think is more important. You know, I maybe
I use stats as a crutch, but uh, Dayron man,
I mean they're in total, they're getting forty eight minutes
of really solid center play at night and you that's
just like a life raft for any NBA team, forty
eight minutes of just consistent presence in the paint. But
(14:45):
with dayiron Man, I feel like I talk about him
every week. He just gets better and better. And he
in his fourth year in the league. Now per NBA
dot Com, opponents are shooting just fifty six percent when
he's the nearest defender inside the paint inside six feet
that is of fifty eight centers. The NBA's tracks nineteenth,
(15:06):
so he's in the top third of the league. And
just as you know, a point of reference, his last
two years, he was at over sixty two percent you know,
field goal percentage allowed. So I think it matches the
eye test. He's going up vertical, he's blocking shots. Some
of his timing, you know, is great. He has these
flashes where he's taken away cutters and doing his work early.
(15:28):
And as he continues to cement himself as a really
valuable big man in this league, that is a skill
of his that is not only boosting his value, but
it's part of what has made the Nets this really
awesome defense over the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
So that's what I'm seeing.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
That's the biggest thing I'm seeing from dayiron And if
I were to point to one skill, why I'd give
him Brooklyn's finest. So I'm curious to see what you
have to say about Nick. I'm sure there's what you've got.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
The numbers on Nick?
Speaker 2 (15:55):
What do you what do you have?
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Where are your numbers on Nick? I'm gonna let you
get to those first.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
You're on Oh man, My numbers on Nick are that
he is still in the top upper echelon of defensive
field goal percentages allowed, so he's in the low fifties,
and you know, you get close to names like Rudy
Gobert and not you know, not quite chet Holmgrin, but
guys like that. His finishing over the last month has
(16:19):
really rebounded. On the other end, That's what I've noticed.
You know, he had a bunch of four thirteen or
like four of twelve games, you know, mid January early January.
Now he's up to like eight of eleven, seven of twelve,
you know, and he's really finishing inside at the rates
that we expected him to. And so that, you know,
just again a two way presence on both ends for me.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Yeah, and I think when it comes to Nick, in
particular and day Ron we I feel like we've talked
about in as we should of him coming back, how
he's starting in the perimeter, or his movement. Everything he
picked me up. When it comes to Nick, I felt
like there was certain stretches at that early part of
the season. He even admitted to where he understood he
to be better, he needed to be more impactful, and
that was both ends of the floor. I think one
(17:05):
you're starting to see that defensively, and two on the
offensive side. You do have to acknowledge there's been a
lot of changes in the point guard role and who
he's playing with and what the offense looks like, where
he's getting his shots from, and sometimes it affects Biggs
or would affect a player of his skill set differently
(17:25):
than it would others. And I think that's why we've
applauded this team so often of their just versatility and
how they continue to adapt to what the lineups look like,
who's available in everyone has been a part of that. However,
I think Nick is one player that that may affect
most so one I really like to see that and
(17:48):
how he's continuing to create that chemistry. And the last
thing about you. I don't know how many weeks ago.
I don't have a game, I don't have the numbers
you may, but there was points that his frustrations was
at on the floor and whether it was picking up text,
whether it was flagrants, whether it was an injection, and
it feels like he made a conscious decision to try
and channel those emotions in different ways and not respond
(18:11):
necessarily in ways that would hurt the team at certain
junctures of the game. And I think you've just seen
an added level of maturity and that leading to leadership
and that leading to things that this team has needed.
So really just impressed with that type of evolution here
for him throughout the course of the year.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Yeah, I completely agree.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
You know, he scored in double figures in five of
his last six, you know, seven of his last nine,
like after having a few games in single digits, And
it was a lot of that in between period where
they had traded Dennis Shrewder but not yet acquired D'Angelo Russell.
So I think that stretched the season, hurt him. Didn't
(18:51):
have a pick and roll operator, but I loved his offense,
specifically against Charlotte last night, they switched a ton and
so Nick would go down to the post seal, try
to create an advantage, get offensive rebounds, just all the
little things. And I really really credit him for kind
of changing the momentum of his season in the middle
of it.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
He could have waited to All Star Break.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
He could have said, I get a week off, you know,
that'll be my time to lock in. But he did
it just middle of January, and so big props to
him for that. He could be our next net you
know who were really watching moving forward?
Speaker 2 (19:25):
But I'm going to turn that over to you.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
I don't know if you have somebody in mind who
you really watching over you know.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
The next I guess they only have one more game
for the break. But in going forward, I think.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
We should be very excited about Trended Offered, just he's developed,
how he's played and coming back to I think I
don't want to say he was a forgotten injury casualty
early on in the season, but because he got hurt
in training camp and didn't really play the early part
of the season and then had that little bit of
a setback, I think the injury list had been so
(19:58):
long in so many cases that you kind of forgot
the impact that he can make, and he has shown
that he has shown that very much so throughout the
course of this last five games strive five to six
game stretch. And I also think the areas of you
stress and again, I know you always have these numbers,
but in terms of taking care of the basketball, how
(20:21):
he facilitates what he sees on the floor and reining
it in in a way that he can do so
in a really controlled environment while still being aggressive, while
still being assertive, and kind of picking and choosing when
he should have that scoring mentality and when he should
continue to find teammates. And that's part of the evolution
(20:41):
that I think we've seen out of him. And I
think you forget and we've often We've said this before
about Keon Johnson. Our a handful of players like he's
still young, he's still gaining experience. You've got to have
patience sometimes with players to understand that that's part of
it when you get consistent run and consistent time and
inconsistent roles. And I think he's someone who lately has
(21:03):
absolutely taken advantage of that.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
I love that the Nets have committed to playing him
as this big jumbo ball handler. He had this mis
mishmash of skills coming into the league, and the Nets said,
you know what, this is what you are, this is
what you're good at. We're putting the ball in your
hands and we're going to let you go through growing
pains and trendon. Watford said it yesterday after the Charlotte win.
He's like, this growth is just part of year three
to year four. I have a consistent role. The Nets
(21:27):
are ten and seven when he plays. They have won
their last five games this five and one stretch. He
only missed the Washington loss, played all five. They are
a different team when he comes off the bench. He
snagged that backup point guard role. And the big question
with him last year was, Hey, if you're gonna be
this big primary ball handler, we need you to shoot
(21:47):
some threes because you can shoot, but it's just about
getting them up and we need you to curb the
turnovers a little bit again. Charlotte four assists, no turnovers,
three to five from three. You know, three pointers are
way up. He's taking twenty seven percent of his shots
from three. That's almost double his previous career averages, and
his turnover rate is the lowest it's ever been so
(22:09):
small sample size, but if those things continue, you have
a really fun jumbo guard. And I'm glad we talked
about some of the Nets offensive stuff they've shown in
the last week, but man, is it really about the
defense and it is fun to watch. And whoever tells
you they don't play defense in the NBA, no more,
tell them to watch the Nets. It is the first
(22:29):
time that they've allowed under ninety points in two consecutive
games since their initial season in Brooklyn, which was, of course,
as you know, thirteen. Yeah, they did it actually in
three straight games in March of that year. And so
(22:51):
what was the starting lineup in all three of those games?
I believe this was also your first year.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
With the team. It was okay, good, I'm glad I
got this.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
So Gaylan Williams correct, Joe Johnson.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Of course, Lopez indubitably Chris Humphreys. No, I'm smart. It
was late. They made a little bit of a change
at the.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Power Gerald Wallace.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
Yes, yes, that's what That's not what you're talking about.
That's not who replaced Chris Humphreys in the lineup.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
That wasn't they.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
I don't think they would be. That wasn't the Reggie Evans,
here was it?
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Oh, of course it was. Of course it was.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
This is very exciting.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
I'll give that's a five for five, even though you
kind of said it very you know, you kind.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
Of suggest that I forgot that with Chris and yeah, no,
well I didn't for some reason. How are years did
Reggie play with the Nests?
Speaker 2 (23:55):
He had the two years he had, he had the
next year as well.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Yeah, I feel like the next year was felt more.
I think that's why it was.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Yes, he came on at the end of that year.
Fun Evans fact the Heat won the title that year
was a lockout year. Reggie Evans said the next year, Hey,
they won in a lockout year, doesn't mean anything. He
didn't quite say that, he said, you put an asterisk
on it. A lot of a lot of trash talk.
Nets went four and oh against the Heat that regular
season against the heatles don't ask what happened in the playoffs.
(24:25):
Shout out to Reggie Evans, It's my guy forever and
this is your Brooklyn Nets podcast forever, I hope, presented
by Ticketmaster. Big shout out to them, Big shout out
to Sarah doing unrivaled watching three on three basketball, one
on one basketball, making time to watch five on.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
And this drops tomorrow night. I'm excited to get bad.
It will be sitting watching.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Live five on five some.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
Five on five. Brooklyn saby, I, well, the fingers crossed,
Lucas that I'm not a you know, a bad luck charm.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Yeah, they better win on Wednesday night, as you usual.
But if they lose, you know, we'll have an easy
target to blame.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
No offense. Now.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
We want you back. Everyone wants you back. Maybe not Richard.
I'm sure he's gonna.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Give you a lot of hell. But that about does
it for us.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Episode fifteen, Vince Carter's Jersey Number Watch From Daytona Beach
to Brooklyn.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
It's the documentary.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
We were all at the premiere at the Paramount Theater
last month. It's a fantastic documentary. By the time this
podcast is out, From Daytona Beach to Brooklyn, Vince Carter's
story will be out on YouTube. Every NETS fan should
check that out. You know I already have. And that
about does it for us. Thank you guys for watching,
Thank you guys for listening. Like, subscribe, rate us whatever
(25:39):
it is. We'd appreciate it and have a good week,
We'll see you next time.
You are now in the backcourt. A Brooklyn Nets podcast
presented by Ticketmaster. I am Lucas Kaplan, writer for NETS Daily,
covering who else the Brooklyn Nets, also of NETS Film Focus.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
We make some great videos, you know.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Insightful x's and O stuff on the Burroughs basketball team.
And of course joining me is Sarah Kustak down in
Miami covering unrivaled one on one covering the Nets doing
it all. Sarah, how are we doing in book?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Excellent excellent writing, excellent coverage, excellent breakdowns, Lucas, you gotta
we love reading your stuff and watching your breakdowns.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Oh well, I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
So I am doing excellent as well, all around all
around excellence.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Good.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
I felt like you yesterday I went for a run.
It was twenty five degrees. Ooh, I felt like you.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, if you were like me.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I fortunately my rung has been like eighty degrees these
but no, I I appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah, you really bearing through the cold there, I know.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Well, you know, I was like, you know, I can't
show up and face you being a huge wimp.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
So I powered through it.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Yeah, and hey, I almost we almost didn't ask you
back because you know, you missed the last.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Good Luck I know I was. I was waiting for
for Richard to tell me that he was going to
take over and just start doing the podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
He hasn't said anything to you yet. He hasn't teased
you about that yet. That's shocking.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Ready to pop on.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
That is truly shocking because Sarah uh was uh doing
Unrivaled last week I hosted solo and the Nets were
two and zero, and now she's back this week after
the Nets played four games, all at home in the
past seven days, and they went three and one, bringing
(01:54):
them to a nice total of five and one in
their last six games. You know this will come out
on Wednesday, and Wednesday night the Nets play the Sixers
at home, and then they'll be at the All Star Break.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
So you know, almost no matter what way that game.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Goes, Brooklyn has some real momentum heading into the break.
Obviously another win would be nice, but five and one,
you know, when you're waking up after Unrivaled, when you're
loading up the film, what.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Are you seeing that is driving this team?
Speaker 3 (02:24):
But it's like sitting right next to me, Lucas, I
feel like I've continued to continue to watch it both
during and after. It's been so much fun to watch.
I think we've seen different iterations of this group throughout
the course of the entire season. But the resiliency, I think,
the resolve and more than anything which I know you've
(02:46):
got a lot of numbers to dig into the defense,
and so much of their success, their wins, their stretches,
where they are finding areas of dominance, has come on
the defensive end. And I think that it's interesting thinking
back to season into training camp and Jordy Fernandez talking
about how he wanted the team to play of a
techn of pressure defense and just being locked in in
(03:08):
terms of connectivity and coverages, and that has been on
display in full. It hasn't mattered who's been in the lineup,
what things look like. I think we're seeing all of
those things come together in the sense of just how
engaged everyone is. I think now too, that we're past
the trade deadline and everyone knows this is the group,
this is the team, this is how we're going to
(03:29):
move forward with things. I also think there's a level
of just any relief or composure that continues to show.
But overall, I think that's been the hugest part of
it and just a group that continues to play for
one another and just play extremely hard.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
I think that is pretty indisputable how hard they're playing.
And I do think, you know, the vibes of just
the feelings of being secure post trade deadline. It's hard
to quantify, but how could you not be impacted by it?
You know, we media got to speak to Cam Johnson,
who's obviously floated in a lot of rumors just noise,
(04:05):
you know, around the larger NBA landscape leading up to
the trade deadline, and he was all smiles. We talked
to him actually at a Friday morning shoot around, So
twelve hours after the trade deadline had passed, you're still
in Brooklyn and just you know, you're one of your
best players, your leaders kind of just is emanating these
very positive, smiling vibes, happy to be part of the team.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Still.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
That has an obvious trickle down effect. One just you know,
piece of news buttoning up things should have led with this.
That's bought out Ben Simmons last week. So now the
roster you would imagine, is really set. Obviously a couple
more things could happen, but the guys they got are
the guys they're rolling with they're playing hard, and they're
playing great defense.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
In their last six.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Games this five and one stretch, their first in defensive rating,
they're first in block shots per game, and there's more numbers.
There's first in field goal percent really, any way you
slice it. You know, they are have been the best
defense in the league for about two weeks now, but
even going back before that, you know, they came home
from that West coast trip that ended in Oklahoma City
(05:12):
ten games ago, and over those ten games, they're the
second best defense in the league. So it's not just
the smallest sample size possible in this winning streak, you
know that we're looking at it is an overall effort
and free throw rate for the opponents way down they're
forcing their third and turnover, turnovers forced per cleaning the
(05:34):
glass over these six games, first in effective field goal percentage.
So I just think they're executing, and I think it
makes sense that it, you know, took them a couple
trades a couple months, but it does feel like they
are more connected than ever. At least that's what I watch,
That's what I feel like when I'm in person. I
don't know if you see the same thing you know
(05:54):
on film.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Yeah, because I also think just watching how they continue
to communicate, watching the communication from the coaching staff on
the bench, and you know, you bring up players, I
think across the board, even when players have been injured
or not playing. To bring up Cam Johnson still with
the team thankfully, and of course everyone thrilled to have
him around. But the communication on the bench of different
(06:17):
guys helping one another, even those within the game. I
think all of those things circle back to the buying,
the gate, engagement, and the game plan discipline each and
every night out. And so for those reasons like that's
exactly what you look for, because I think sometimes when
teams struggle, so much of it does circle back to
(06:38):
the defensive end. And I think in that same vein
they have also not allowed any misshots or times they're
stagma on offense. Sometimes that can affect you on the
defensive end, and whether it's mentally, whether it's just it
presses you quite a bit. And I think they've done
a really nice job in making sure that their foundation
(06:58):
starts at that d n to the floor.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
So I want to ask you a question because you
hear and I think it'll be insightful because you hear
players and coaches talk all the time about being locked
into the game plan and understanding coverages and whatnot. And
you know, for me, and I think a lot of fans,
you might wonder, well, what goes into that? Besides obviously
(07:21):
pick and roll coverage is a big one, right, you
want to know if you're switching, if you're trapping, whatnot.
But certainly defense as a whole in the NBA is
more than just how you're guarding the pick and roll.
So Dayiron Sharp said it postgame, you know, in Brooklyn's
most recent win, a Monday night win over the Charlotte Hornets,
(07:42):
he said, we're really just understanding the coverages. You hear
those words a lot. So what are some examples, you know,
you don't have to get too specific, but like, what
does that mean beyond just hey, like we're going to
trap LaMelo ball or we're going to go under this guy,
and it kind of a grander sense, I.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
See, the biggest part of that is involutely that And
so when you're talking about, for example, picking little coverages
or trapping, or what you're doing with the ball screen,
whether you're switching, you know, other actions or other off
ball screens, what is everyone else doing? And I think
that's where breakdowns happen most often for teams, is the
(08:19):
rotation on the back side, where you know where where's
your low man going, who's the next pass away? Are
you most concerned about taking away the middle of the floor,
taking away the baseline, taking away that week side three point,
There's there's so many quickness of rotations off the pass
and off when guys do get blitzed, do get double team,
we've seen more of that and the angles of things
(08:41):
like those. If you're blitzing, if you're hedging, if you're
whatever you're doing, there's small nuances that I think this
scene is continuing to understand and learn, and that's the
details of it, exactly where you need to be because
we use the word connectivity, and a big part is
that if there's one breakdown, if there's one play out
of place, if there's one movement, that that can bust
(09:03):
up your whole possession. And so I think just in
terms of that of understanding the coverage, it's not just
about Okay, you're going to go under on this player.
And we talked so much about knowing your personnel and
knowing tendencies of the opponent. But it's not just Okay,
we're going under on this guy. We're going over on
this guy. We're going to trap this We're no, no, no,
it's where is everyone else to make sure when those
(09:24):
players make those passes, or make those plays, or get
to the middle of the floor or potentially beat someone
that they weren't supposed to, is everyone else in position
to respond to that and to counter that. And I
think that's where you've seen so much progress from this group.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Yeah, there were There was one possession in the Miami
game last night that in my memory jumps out in
terms of what you were saying. And it's unfortunate because
Tyler hero made a tough pull up shot, but it
was pull up fourteen foot off glass. It's the type
of shot you want to force guys into. Tyler Heroes
(10:01):
an All Star. He made a tough shot, but you know,
the nets hedge kind of trap at the level. Bam
rolls to about fifteen feet something like that, and Nick
can't recover to him on the speed of the pass.
So the low man, it might have been Cam Johnson
steps up and takes Bam. So now Nick is in
(10:21):
no man's land, right, he's finding someone to guard. His
teammates point him to the opposite wing, and as Bam
kind of turns around and gets into a handoff with
Tyler Hero, you know, dribbling upcourt, Nick takes the initiative
to fall back to the corner guy. So now if
there's a play at the rim, you know, now he's
the low man and Trendon's up at the wing. And
(10:45):
you talked about angles the nets have. This is what's
really stood out to me. They're funneling drivers towards the
sideline and into.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
The rim protectors.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
So Tyler Hero, instead of being able to drive to
the middle of the floor, is forced into the kind
of the short corner towards the sideline and he ends
up making you know, fifteen fourteen foot off the glass.
But if you were to go to the rim, you know,
Nick Claxon, that's what you want, protecting the rim. And
he started to play you know, at the top of
the key above the three point line. So to me,
that was communications, it was angles. I posted another similar
(11:17):
play in the home victory against the Rockets from a
couple from you know, three wins ago. But stuff like
that really just you see it in all the details,
as you mentioned. And I think the interesting thing about
when we talk about funneling drivers and making sure when
you're closing out you're taking away the middle is the
nets are first in block shots over these last six
(11:41):
games where they're five and one.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
That doesn't just reflect.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Nick and Dayron and like the traditional rim protectors, but
to me, I think it kind of reflects the perimeter
defense too, like they're forcing guys towards the right spots.
I don't know, you don't typically think of block shots
as like a perimeter stat but to me, I think it's,
you know, a statistical example of what you're talking about.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
I'm not sure if you've noticed that as well.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Yeah, you said it. And one is where you're forcing
guys to and two with still maintaining your position, whether
it's off the hip, whether it's coming from the understanding
of where your big is going to come from, and
a lounging there in Tannbert Serriki into and that all
Lucas's you brought up earlier circles back to the lower
free throw weight by opponents.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Yeah, and so a.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Big part of that is positionally how we're looking at
so all of it tied together is something to me
that's been really really impressive.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
With that fact, Hey, neck 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
(12:57):
up close to hearing the squeak of the sneakers on
the whole had put that 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 (13:09):
So because their initial positioning, their initial work is good,
they're not being put in, you know, this advantageous positions
where they have to foul.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
That's an interesting point.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
I also do think there's a bit of reputation going
on where now that they've established this league wide rep
as a team that plays really hard and brings it
every night, they are, you know, have plummeted in foul
rate in a good way. You know, at the beginning
of the season was all they filed a lot how
to be physical without fouling. I think it's human nature.
You know, the officiating crews are respecting the Nets as
(13:43):
a team that plays hard and is physical in the
proper ways, and so you know.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
You build cachet that way.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
But I shout out the perimeter defense to then bring
it to Brooklyn's finest. You know, if you're a new listener,
this is an award we give out every week to
just guy.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
We want to shout out for that week.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
A lot of candidates in a three and one week obviously,
and you know for you two weeks ago, they're now
five and one, But I do have to give it
to I think Nick and Dayron.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
I'm cheating a little bringing up both bigger.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Right, you can pick one and I'll pick Fiato because
I'm right there with you.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Eight. I'll talk about day Ron. I have a couple
of stats pulled for him.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
I mean, just you got what you got, all the stats.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
I do have, all the stats. You have the eye tests,
which I think is more important. You know, I maybe
I use stats as a crutch, but uh, Dayron man,
I mean they're in total, they're getting forty eight minutes
of really solid center play at night and you that's
just like a life raft for any NBA team, forty
eight minutes of just consistent presence in the paint. But
(14:45):
with dayiron Man, I feel like I talk about him
every week. He just gets better and better. And he
in his fourth year in the league. Now per NBA
dot Com, opponents are shooting just fifty six percent when
he's the nearest defender inside the paint inside six feet
that is of fifty eight centers. The NBA's tracks nineteenth,
(15:06):
so he's in the top third of the league. And
just as you know, a point of reference, his last
two years, he was at over sixty two percent you know,
field goal percentage allowed. So I think it matches the
eye test. He's going up vertical, he's blocking shots. Some
of his timing, you know, is great. He has these
flashes where he's taken away cutters and doing his work early.
(15:28):
And as he continues to cement himself as a really
valuable big man in this league, that is a skill
of his that is not only boosting his value, but
it's part of what has made the Nets this really
awesome defense over the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
So that's what I'm seeing.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
That's the biggest thing I'm seeing from dayiron And if
I were to point to one skill, why I'd give
him Brooklyn's finest. So I'm curious to see what you
have to say about Nick. I'm sure there's what you've got.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
The numbers on Nick?
Speaker 2 (15:55):
What do you what do you have?
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Where are your numbers on Nick? I'm gonna let you
get to those first.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
You're on Oh man, My numbers on Nick are that
he is still in the top upper echelon of defensive
field goal percentages allowed, so he's in the low fifties,
and you know, you get close to names like Rudy
Gobert and not you know, not quite chet Holmgrin, but
guys like that. His finishing over the last month has
(16:19):
really rebounded. On the other end, That's what I've noticed.
You know, he had a bunch of four thirteen or
like four of twelve games, you know, mid January early January.
Now he's up to like eight of eleven, seven of twelve,
you know, and he's really finishing inside at the rates
that we expected him to. And so that, you know,
just again a two way presence on both ends for me.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Yeah, and I think when it comes to Nick, in
particular and day Ron we I feel like we've talked
about in as we should of him coming back, how
he's starting in the perimeter, or his movement. Everything he
picked me up. When it comes to Nick, I felt
like there was certain stretches at that early part of
the season. He even admitted to where he understood he
to be better, he needed to be more impactful, and
that was both ends of the floor. I think one
(17:05):
you're starting to see that defensively, and two on the
offensive side. You do have to acknowledge there's been a
lot of changes in the point guard role and who
he's playing with and what the offense looks like, where
he's getting his shots from, and sometimes it affects Biggs
or would affect a player of his skill set differently
(17:25):
than it would others. And I think that's why we've
applauded this team so often of their just versatility and
how they continue to adapt to what the lineups look like,
who's available in everyone has been a part of that. However,
I think Nick is one player that that may affect
most so one I really like to see that and
(17:48):
how he's continuing to create that chemistry. And the last
thing about you. I don't know how many weeks ago.
I don't have a game, I don't have the numbers
you may, but there was points that his frustrations was
at on the floor and whether it was picking up text,
whether it was flagrants, whether it was an injection, and
it feels like he made a conscious decision to try
and channel those emotions in different ways and not respond
(18:11):
necessarily in ways that would hurt the team at certain
junctures of the game. And I think you've just seen
an added level of maturity and that leading to leadership
and that leading to things that this team has needed.
So really just impressed with that type of evolution here
for him throughout the course of the year.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Yeah, I completely agree.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
You know, he scored in double figures in five of
his last six, you know, seven of his last nine,
like after having a few games in single digits, And
it was a lot of that in between period where
they had traded Dennis Shrewder but not yet acquired D'Angelo Russell.
So I think that stretched the season, hurt him. Didn't
(18:51):
have a pick and roll operator, but I loved his offense,
specifically against Charlotte last night, they switched a ton and
so Nick would go down to the post seal, try
to create an advantage, get offensive rebounds, just all the
little things. And I really really credit him for kind
of changing the momentum of his season in the middle
of it.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
He could have waited to All Star Break.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
He could have said, I get a week off, you know,
that'll be my time to lock in. But he did
it just middle of January, and so big props to
him for that. He could be our next net you
know who were really watching moving forward?
Speaker 2 (19:25):
But I'm going to turn that over to you.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
I don't know if you have somebody in mind who
you really watching over you know.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
The next I guess they only have one more game
for the break. But in going forward, I think.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
We should be very excited about Trended Offered, just he's developed,
how he's played and coming back to I think I
don't want to say he was a forgotten injury casualty
early on in the season, but because he got hurt
in training camp and didn't really play the early part
of the season and then had that little bit of
a setback, I think the injury list had been so
(19:58):
long in so many cases that you kind of forgot
the impact that he can make, and he has shown
that he has shown that very much so throughout the
course of this last five games strive five to six
game stretch. And I also think the areas of you
stress and again, I know you always have these numbers,
but in terms of taking care of the basketball, how
(20:21):
he facilitates what he sees on the floor and reining
it in in a way that he can do so
in a really controlled environment while still being aggressive, while
still being assertive, and kind of picking and choosing when
he should have that scoring mentality and when he should
continue to find teammates. And that's part of the evolution
(20:41):
that I think we've seen out of him. And I
think you forget and we've often We've said this before
about Keon Johnson. Our a handful of players like he's
still young, he's still gaining experience. You've got to have
patience sometimes with players to understand that that's part of
it when you get consistent run and consistent time and
inconsistent roles. And I think he's someone who lately has
(21:03):
absolutely taken advantage of that.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
I love that the Nets have committed to playing him
as this big jumbo ball handler. He had this mis
mishmash of skills coming into the league, and the Nets said,
you know what, this is what you are, this is
what you're good at. We're putting the ball in your
hands and we're going to let you go through growing
pains and trendon. Watford said it yesterday after the Charlotte win.
He's like, this growth is just part of year three
to year four. I have a consistent role. The Nets
(21:27):
are ten and seven when he plays. They have won
their last five games this five and one stretch. He
only missed the Washington loss, played all five. They are
a different team when he comes off the bench. He
snagged that backup point guard role. And the big question
with him last year was, Hey, if you're gonna be
this big primary ball handler, we need you to shoot
(21:47):
some threes because you can shoot, but it's just about
getting them up and we need you to curb the
turnovers a little bit again. Charlotte four assists, no turnovers,
three to five from three. You know, three pointers are
way up. He's taking twenty seven percent of his shots
from three. That's almost double his previous career averages, and
his turnover rate is the lowest it's ever been so
(22:09):
small sample size, but if those things continue, you have
a really fun jumbo guard. And I'm glad we talked
about some of the Nets offensive stuff they've shown in
the last week, but man, is it really about the
defense and it is fun to watch. And whoever tells
you they don't play defense in the NBA, no more,
tell them to watch the Nets. It is the first
(22:29):
time that they've allowed under ninety points in two consecutive
games since their initial season in Brooklyn, which was, of course,
as you know, thirteen. Yeah, they did it actually in
three straight games in March of that year. And so
(22:51):
what was the starting lineup in all three of those games?
I believe this was also your first year.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
With the team. It was okay, good, I'm glad I
got this.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
So Gaylan Williams correct, Joe Johnson.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Of course, Lopez indubitably Chris Humphreys. No, I'm smart. It
was late. They made a little bit of a change
at the.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Power Gerald Wallace.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
Yes, yes, that's what That's not what you're talking about.
That's not who replaced Chris Humphreys in the lineup.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
That wasn't they.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
I don't think they would be. That wasn't the Reggie Evans,
here was it?
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Oh, of course it was. Of course it was.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
This is very exciting.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
I'll give that's a five for five, even though you
kind of said it very you know, you kind.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
Of suggest that I forgot that with Chris and yeah, no,
well I didn't for some reason. How are years did
Reggie play with the Nests?
Speaker 2 (23:55):
He had the two years he had, he had the
next year as well.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Yeah, I feel like the next year was felt more.
I think that's why it was.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Yes, he came on at the end of that year.
Fun Evans fact the Heat won the title that year
was a lockout year. Reggie Evans said the next year, Hey,
they won in a lockout year, doesn't mean anything. He
didn't quite say that, he said, you put an asterisk
on it. A lot of a lot of trash talk.
Nets went four and oh against the Heat that regular
season against the heatles don't ask what happened in the playoffs.
(24:25):
Shout out to Reggie Evans, It's my guy forever and
this is your Brooklyn Nets podcast forever, I hope, presented
by Ticketmaster. Big shout out to them, Big shout out
to Sarah doing unrivaled watching three on three basketball, one
on one basketball, making time to watch five on.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
And this drops tomorrow night. I'm excited to get bad.
It will be sitting watching.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Live five on five some.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
Five on five. Brooklyn saby, I, well, the fingers crossed,
Lucas that I'm not a you know, a bad luck charm.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Yeah, they better win on Wednesday night, as you usual.
But if they lose, you know, we'll have an easy
target to blame.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
No offense. Now.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
We want you back. Everyone wants you back. Maybe not Richard.
I'm sure he's gonna.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Give you a lot of hell. But that about does
it for us.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Episode fifteen, Vince Carter's Jersey Number Watch From Daytona Beach
to Brooklyn.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
It's the documentary.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
We were all at the premiere at the Paramount Theater
last month. It's a fantastic documentary. By the time this
podcast is out, From Daytona Beach to Brooklyn, Vince Carter's
story will be out on YouTube. Every NETS fan should
check that out. You know I already have. And that
about does it for us. Thank you guys for watching,
Thank you guys for listening. Like, subscribe, rate us whatever
(25:39):
it is. We'd appreciate it and have a good week,
We'll see you next time.
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