February 19, 2025 • 36 mins
In Episode 17 of The Backcourt Podcast, YES Network’s Sarah Kustok and NetsDaily’s Lucas Kaplan kick things off by discussing the Brooklyn Nets' strong win streak heading into the All-Star break. They dive into how Head Coach Jordi Fernández continues to impress in his first year and how the team has been playing for each other. The duo also looks ahead to post-All-Star break expectations and highlights key players to watch in the final stretch of the season. Plus, stick around for some fun Nets trivia at the end!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
You are now in the backcourt of Brooklyn Nets podcast
presented by Ticketmaster.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Thank you guys for listening.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I'm Lucas Kaplan, writer for NETS Daily covering who Else
the Brooklyn Nets, also of nets Film Focus. We make
some great insightful videos on the team, x's and o's
player development, all that stuff. And joining me as always
is Sarah Kustack. Sarah, how are we doing.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
We're good, We're good.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
We're ready to come out of the All Star break
and get this, get this final run going.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, we had a little time off.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
We're recording this on Tuesday afternoon, after the All Star festivities,
but before Brooklyn kicks off the second half, second final
third of their season. If we're being really accurate about it,
the Nets did play one game since we last recorded.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
They closed the pre All Star portion of.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Their season with a home victory over the Philadelphia seventy
six ers. Sarah, you were in the building for that game,
as was I. It felt like a very fitting end
to not only the first half of the season, but
what's been a very strong run into the All Star break.
The Nets finish, you know, they are five and one
over the last six, six and one over their last
(01:19):
seven actually, So what have your you know, more short
term takeaways been, whether from that game recently, you know whatever.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
I think both from that game, but more so you're
talking about that stretch where they've been six and one.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Is just the collective.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Way in which they continue to find ways to win
so much as predicated. I know you've got the numbers
and we've talked about it on what they're doing on
the defensive end, but it just once again felt like
a complete team effort, and throughout the course of the game,
there was so many different circumstances and I feel like
the score doesn't do a justice. Maybe the reserves came
(01:55):
in and the way things finished wasn't exactly the hope
that the Nets had, but they were able to build
that sizeable lead and hold on to it and do
an excellent job of just getting contributions top to bottom.
And I think it was obviously good to see a
lot of players back on the floor for Brooklyn, But
I think that's a hope of looking at what had
happened pre All Star Break and now as you get
(02:16):
set for post All Star break, getting players back healthy,
and what.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
That will look like when you have the compliments of
a more four to five roster.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Definitely.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
You know, the Nets for a huge chunk of the
first half were one of the I guess the least
healthy teams in the league just looking at the amount
of players they had on the shelf. And now they
kind of went into the very end of that portion
getting healthier, one of the healthier teams in the league.
You know, they played a Sixers team without Embiid and
(02:47):
Tyrese Maxi and now we just you know, we're kind
of waiting on camp Thomas to come back.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
We think that's going to be soon.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Noah Clowney also dealing with an ankle sprain, but slowly
but surely, you know, everyone who's contribut you did so
far this season seems to be maybe getting everybody you
know on track. The Nets won that Philly game one
hundred to ninety six. You know, they were really up
by ten or twelve until the last minute, minute and
a half of the game. Six Ers had a couple
(03:16):
you know, fringe garbage time buckets, but overall, just another
solid defensive performance and that's really what's carried them, you know,
over the past couple weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
But something that was really you know.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Encouraging for me is that the nets had thirty one
makes in the paint, they shot thirty one to fifty
two in the paint.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
They shot fifty.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Nine percent from two overall, so they were really able
to get to the rim even as threes weren't falling,
and able to get high quality looks inside.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
How did you think they did.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
That that that's such a huge aspect of it, and
I'm glad.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
You brought that up one.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
I think it was there aspects of who the seventy
six ers were playing, not having a presence of a
Joel and beat on the inside, but the recognition of
how they wanted to attack and where they wanted to
get on the floor. And I think you understand in
terms of a personnel of Brooklyn. You even look at
who you know starting five Dangel Russell, Kean Johnson, Cam Johnson,
(04:21):
Nick Claxton, and.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Zi Zi, like.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
There's quickness, there's length, there's slash ability, and they did
such a great job of utilizing that, whether through penetration
to pick and rolls. Through the past, different players were
initiating the offense from different places. Everyone was just so
active in the movements and I think that opened up
a lot for a group that understood exactly how they
(04:48):
wanted to attack and then being effective with that.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
But that's where I think the fun part of this lineup.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
And what that looks like is the versatility of those players,
and I think everyone has continued to flourish, everyone has
continued to grow even more of figuring out how they
can best play alongside one another. And again, I know
we'll get to post All Star break, but I think
that's the fun part of this too, and even the
coaching staff having a good understanding even more so of
(05:15):
who fits together well and how they can best create
that type of offensive game plan or possession by possession
offensive attack because of it.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Yeah, and I like that you bring up the starting
lineup because there was a point in January December where
with injuries and trades, the Nets had I think like
nine straight different starting lineups something like that. But you know,
for the last I believe at least six games since
they got home and played the Rockets. Actually before that,
(05:45):
I believe it's been I'm looking at it right now,
it's been six straight games where they've had the same
starting lineup, and even the one before that, you know,
Jalen Wilson started for Zaire Williams, so it hasn't been
a total, you know, overhaul of positions, and you know, therefore,
I think game plans it's a little bit easier to
get guys into the right positions when there's some level
of continuity. So I would say that that is another reason,
(06:09):
you know, the main reason that the Nets have played
so strongly as of late, and you know, that kind
of brings us to the big picture outlook. Right, the
Nets are twenty and thirty four at the All Star break.
They are only one loss out of the play in
and it's funny, you know, after all the roster turnover,
everything the team has kind of been through. They were
(06:30):
two games out of the playing at this point last season,
so you may not have expected that standings jump or
improvement even in that way, but it's happened. And it
really has been a tale of two seasons so far,
because you know, if you recall when they were winning games,
(06:51):
you know, November or early December, they were really an offensively,
I guess, slanted team. So I have this stat here
through December sixteenth, the day after they traded Dennis Shrewder,
they were thirteenth in offense and twenty seventh in defense.
And so I guess, you know, pausing for a second
(07:12):
and thinking back to there, how have you seen the
Nets at their best offensively? You know, whether Dennis or
Dilo or whoever, Ben Simmons who's been bought out, whoever
the point guard has been on the floor.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Fire.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
We're going back, We're even going We're going back. We're
going back pre December sixteenth.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, we're going to zoom out.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
And I guess just say what you saw then, and
maybe you know tenants that have continued at their best
moments offensively.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Lucas, regardless of lineup, who's available, what it's looked like
this is since the start of the season till now,
there has been an unselfishness with how this team plays
that has been so impressant to watch and also just
enjoyable to watch, how they move the basketball finding open teammates.
(07:58):
I think we keep going back to the game planning
in terms of how to attack opponents, and I think
Jordi Fernandez and the staff douse such a really nice
job of having his players and their players understand that
and also the buy in of the players, and you
see that executed time and time again, and there's certainly
been some challenges and some growth and evolution, especially with
(08:22):
all the changes in the liyeup, But I think just
the areas where we have seen their offense be most effective,
because sometimes it's a three point explosion and they can't
miss from the three point line. Sometimes they're better working
to pick and roll. Sometimes they are getting the paint.
Sometimes it's playing fast and fast break terransition points. Other
times they've been at a slower pace. I just think
(08:43):
there's such an unselfishness about this team and a true
want to see the team succeed, regardless of who's scoring points,
who's getting assists, what that looks like. And that's my
favorite part of this team on the offensive side of things,
is that that's the care factor for one another and the.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Want to succeed.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
And that's how it's translated to me in times that
I've seen great success from this.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Offense, I love.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
I think that's exactly it, and you know, would you
believe it? I do have a stat that I think
you're gonna appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I do believe it because you always seem to do well.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
They've played seventeen players that have qualified, you know, for
you know, rate statistics. Seventeen players have logged enough minutes
to qualify for this sort of thing per cleaning the glass,
and thirteen of them are at least league average or
above average in assist percentage. So what percentage of his
(09:41):
teammate shots did he assist on while he was on
the floor. So in terms of passing frequency and willingness
to get the ball out of your hands when you're
driving or making an extra pass or whatever, at least
by that one statistic, not perfect, but you get a
pretty good idea that this team shares the and you know,
thirteen out of seventeen guys above that, and obviously that
(10:05):
suggests sort of this team wide willingness to make you
know the right play. And even when you look at
kind of the offensive dip that maybe the Nets have
suffered through past December sixteenth, or in some of their
you know, lesser stretches, you know, maybe before they went
six to one in this in these past seven games,
(10:26):
it really hasn't been the ball movement. I think that
slowed down. They just i mean really haven't been making
as many jumpers. They haven't been making as many outside shots. However,
the good news is that since December sixteenth, it's really
flipped for them, because yeah, they're twenty ninth in offense,
but they're a top ten defense over that two month stretch.
(10:47):
And on this podcast we've talked about how they're the
best defense in the league. You know, over these seven games,
they're the best defense in the league, I think over
the last ten or eleven games since they got back
from West Coast.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
But this is now a two month.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Stretch right where they are a top ten defense, so
small ish sample sizes a side they are really guarding,
and to me, you know, I have this listed here
in terms of surprises things we've really loved about the
first half of the season. I think it's so admirable
that they were able to go through all of this
roster shifting around injuries, trades to the point guard position,
(11:26):
to guys that handle the ball a lot and score
the ball a lot, Camp Thomas cam Johnson, and they
just simply made up for it by you know, becoming
the top ten defense over this span of time. That
to me is really remarkable and that doesn't seem easy
to do from where I'm sitting, So I guess when
did you sort of feel that this group had this
(11:51):
in them, that they could that they turned it on
like this in the face of adversity, And really it's
probably the biggest difference in their season right now and
why they're all of a sudden knocking on the place indoor.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
I know it sounds like the easiest thing to say,
given what we've seen and the broader sample size at
this point of the year, but.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
I don't know if I said it to you. Can
we go back to episode one?
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Can I talk to people that I sat with through.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Preseason training camp? Was different?
Speaker 5 (12:19):
There was a different vibe, there was a different energy,
the makeup of this group and disposition and characters like
character guys and the coaching staff, And we've talked about that,
you know so much.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
I know we will.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
But how Jordi Fernandez and this group approached this and
the buying and the players, especially the leaders of this
group out of the gates. I would have told you
then that there was going to be something special and
whatever that looked like. And I think I remember talking
about this. I don't know how necessarily wins and losses
you were going to.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Quantify that type of success.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
But at that point was like this, this group is different.
They've got something different in them, They've got a different
maxy to them, and how they care about each other,
play for one another, compete with one another, to push
each other to a higher level felt unique and special.
I don't think you always feel that or always see that,
And that's talent entirely aside. I've sat through a lot
(13:22):
of training camps for a lot of different teams, a
lot of circumstances. You see a lot of groups, and
you see a lot of groups that have found success,
those who anticipate.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Would that have not.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
And I do think there's just been a different feel
And to me, that's been my favorite part of watching
them and watching them deal with adversity, watching them go
through stages that they needed to show a resiliency, and
there feels like there has been a bond that those
are the reasons why to just give a ton of credit,
(13:54):
even at this point of the year, but even early on,
in different changes, different shifts, injuries, you name it.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
That has been evident to me, top to bottom of
this group.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, and sometimes that shows up in different ways. I
think like it's easy to get lost in the numbers,
especially again, fifty games, fifty four games, whatever it is
is not a huge sample size. So sometimes it shows
up in they shoot fifty percent from three in Phoenix
and Tyree Smartin has a thirty piece and you know,
(14:26):
second string guys pull out an awesome win because of
you know, or the base was set with those vibes
in that fight. And then other times it's what I
mentioned with the defense. But I completely agree that you
might not know how it's going to manifest on a night,
on a week, in a month. But the constant thread
(14:47):
of this season is that energy that you're talking about,
and I think without it, the Nets went through a
two and fifteen stretch in January for a lot of
the reasons we've talked about, and that was their biggest
test yet and the way they were able to respond
and continue locking down on defense, and now they go
into the All Star break and open up the second
(15:08):
half as one of the league's hottest teams. You know,
without a question, is the clearest example of that.
Speaker 6 (15:18):
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(15:38):
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Speaker 1 (15:47):
Obviously, there are specifics we can get into. For me,
one of the biggest, I guess, more specific takeaways is
how good they are in the middle right now with
their two bigs, uh, you know, day Ron Sharp and
Nick Clackson. We've talked about it a bunch. Carrying the defense,
they've really been super aggressive. Their ball pressure has been great,
and when they trap and hedge and all this stuff,
(16:10):
you know, thirty five forty feet from the basket. With
those two guys, it's worked, I think exactly how they
imagined it. They're top ten, their top seven in forcing
turnovers since December sixteenth.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
They've traded that for a bit of defensive rebounding.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
I think when you're stretched out and you know, spread
out like that, rebounding can be harder but there's still
fourteenth in the league, so it's not like they've fallen
off that much. So just the ground coverage from everybody,
the hustle. I think it shows up in stats like that,
where they can both force force turnovers and protect the glass.
That's pretty impressive to me. But it's easier to look
(16:47):
at it, I think when you go big picture and
you see how consistent they've been with the effort and everything.
And the last thing I had here looking back at
the first half of the season has to be a
credit to rookie head coach Jordy Fernandez and his coaching staff.
And I want to ask you, Obviously, players can say
a lot of things about their coaches and you know,
oh they're a great guy and they do great things
(17:08):
for me. But it does feel different when these nets
praise Jordi and the staff. I guess what stands out
to you in terms of the way they seem to
appreciate him.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
Who There are so many things. What I just think
it's his honesty and directness, communication and clarity of what
they're looking for as a team. But he's got such
a great feel and understanding for them as players and
(17:42):
as humans and how to respond to that and how
that varies maybe night to night or day to day,
and just a staunch belief that they're going to find
success and if they show up in the w that
we keep talking about that type of effort and that
(18:02):
type of fight and believe in what like those are
especially in sports. Whatever Like you say those words, you
talk about those things, you watch people say stuff like that.
Who actually puts that into practice and who actually believes that?
I think he from his gut and again the coaching
staff as well, the things that they're saying. They believe,
They believe in this group, They believe in players one
(18:24):
through seventeen, They believe in how they can play together.
They are meticulous on the game plans they put together.
All of those things are why I think there's been
a huge level of just trust and buying from the
players because they know exactly what they're going to get
and they know exactly what they're supposed to do. And
I think we've talked about this before, like in terms
(18:45):
of schematics and x'es and oe they every single night.
It's always impressed me how there's such a clear understanding
of that game plan and position by position roll by role.
But I think just even as as players or as
psych say that as men, as humans like they play
for one another and they get and there is a
(19:05):
level of unselfishness, and I think that stems from the top.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
But I think it's one thing easy.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
Thing to say like we're going to do this, we're
in this together, we believe, and there's another thing to
actually feel that. And to me, I think there is
that feeling amongst the group, and that's where I would
circle back to. That's that's a big part of where
it starts.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
That's a big part of where it starts.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Yeah, and it's you know, it's earned him the right
to even be more honest because he's been honest and
clearly it's been working out and he has the best
interests of everybody in mind that he's honest. So now
he's so now he can be more.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Best interests of everybody and of the team.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
I knew off but like that, you know that you
know that the that's that's it.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
And I think it's like you knew it was different
when you know rookie head coach, first job, you know,
maybe a young team after a loss, especially early on
in the season, he would get, you know, up on
that podium and talk to the media and really be
harsh and direct about calling his players out and not
sugarcoating it when he felt like they weren't giving full effort.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
And there were even times.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Where he really criticized their effort on a given night,
and to me, like an outside observer, I was like, well,
I didn't think their effort was that bad.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
I think I don't think that's why they lost.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
And you know it, that is not always the perhaps
that doesn't always work out in NBA locker rooms, but
it has so far, and so for him to have
the cachet to do that, I think that speaks too
about how the players trust his honesty.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
So, you know, first year marks for him so far and.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
The last thing to follow up.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
But it's now evident to me and the connectity of
it is that when Jordi Fernandez was first hired, I
heard from some of my dearest friends or players or
whatever and the age that had played for them, and
you're gonna love him, You're gonna love them, You're gonna
love him, They're gonna like it was. There was such
a and not the saying that doesn't happen, but from
(21:11):
people that I trust or know or no.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Get it, Like there was such a really really.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
Forceful way of this, this individual's going to make a
difference and that's me. And I'm like, oh not, yeah,
Like I get it.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
I see it, and I think we all do.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Yeah, And I think it was evident.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
I was lucky enough to go back to Sacramento for
his return as I traveled to the West Coast when
the NETS were out there and you know, just the
outpouring of love and the way people talked about him,
like that was a great NETS win that night in Sacramento,
but it was also about him. You know, it was
felt like a homecoming and he was only there two
(21:50):
years and he wasn't the head coach, and you know,
the fans and the media like how how much of
an impact did he really make? We really saw it,
you know in my opinion, when we went back there.
So I think that's a perfect way to wrap up.
I would say wrap up our recap of the first half,
but hey, I was gonna do Brooklyn's Finest.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
For the pre all Star portion of.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
This season, but maybe we can just give it to
Jordi Fernandez because I feel like that would make a
lot of sense unless there's a player, of course, you
want to shout out for, you know, these first fifty
four games and whatnot.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
I agree with you on Jordi. My finest for this
part was like, without question, Cam Johnson. Yeah, and I
know he was injured for good portions of it. I
think that showed in many ways and was indicative of
some of the wins and loss records during that time
or stretches of performance.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
But yeah, but he was.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
He was my wh when I saw you pose that question,
he was immediately my pas. I feel like if he
had not gotten hurt, he was, and even when he
had come back, but was playing like an all star.
And it's not just it wasn't just the play on
the floor, as we've talked about the completeness of the play,
but also the leadership aspect, the disposition to show up
(23:08):
each and every day regardless of circumstance. I take so
many in the areas that we have talked about the
character of this team and why they showed resiliency, why
they showed belief, all of that stuff that stems not
only leadership of coaching, but I think leadership of your
best players, and to me, that is he is a
prime example of that. And I think when your best
(23:32):
player feels that way, is that way shows up that way,
that that just infiltrates the entire team of how they
show up and feel.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Yeah, as many guys as I could shout out here,
I want like Zire Williams trade acquisition, new spot. He's
brought the energy. He has been such a light in
that locker room. Feels like he's been around for more
than just a half season. I have to, you know,
continue to praise Cam Johnson because he has just I
want to start the conversation for most improved. Like I mean,
(24:03):
he's been a great valuable NBA player in the past,
but just the fact that he's taken on this creation
load and done it every night, and even when the
shots don't go in, which is very rare, you can
still feel the defensive attention that he creates. And now
he's responsible for so much more. I also have this
stat from Cleaning the Glass. He is second in the
(24:25):
whole entire league in points per shot attempt among non centers.
So Jared Allen, Daniel Gafford, those type.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Of guys, you know, that's.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
That's a stat one point four points per shot. He's
at like one point three, and and you think about
the type of types of shots he takes.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
That's exactly that's that's why it's so there's a reason.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Why there's so many centers on that list.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Right minimum, I got right here just to button up
everything minimum thousand minutes. Only person ahead of him is
Kean Ellis, actually, but Cam Johnson has a lot more
volume so far and a lot more off the dribble attempts.
But man, he's just been you know, what can you say?
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Really?
Speaker 1 (25:08):
So, I don't know, I don't know who we're talking
about for most improved, but you know, and not as
a slight to his NBA career before this, but man,
I just so impressed with him and with that, you know,
who knows what the second half of the season will
look like for the Nets, but there are obvious things
(25:29):
to watch for. We talked about their offense at its
best and when it was really clicking. I don't think
the ball movement and the unselfishness ever stopped. I think
they have gone through a cold shooting stretch, that's part
of it. The defense has picked up, so really, I
guess the question for this second half of the season
is how can the Nets marry both those sides and combine,
(25:53):
you know, the best aspects of their offense, which we
really saw more so on the early earlier side of
the season with defensive effort that had that they've put
forth recently. So, I guess, what are you what are
you looking for out of the All Star break, first
couple games, whatever? What are you really you know, focusing
in on.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
One, I'm excited, uh two if I had this magic
wand and I think this would be the answer for
a lot of a lot of things. But to me,
it's if they're healthy, if they have the compliments of
this roster and this lineup and those that can all
(26:32):
you see so much versatility, optionality, all of that stuff,
that's where to me they're gonna be. They can be
special offensively, defensively. I think even that progression of getting
more and more accustomed to Jeordi Fernandez, the consistency of.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
What that looks like like, it's it's.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Challenging for a lot of reasons when you're dealing with
that much injury or that much change or players being
in and out. Because also it's just the familiarity with
one another. So I'm just I'm looking for hopefully more
continuity and consistency of what the lineups and rotation may
look like. And in turn, I think that's just going
to continue to bolster all the really solid play that
(27:10):
we've seen and how this team grows together. And I
think there's just been so many positive signs heading into
the All Star Break that coming out of it, I'm
I'm very enthused for that and for these players to
like have this push, have this run, and have this
sense of, you know, a little bit of chip on
(27:30):
the shoulder, however you want to turn it, like of
the expectations and where they already are at and I
think what they can get to and I love that.
I love that for an organization, for a team, for
coaches before, like yeah, like.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Go out there and be great.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
And I feel like there's a lot of aspects that
they've grab hold of that collectively and we've seen that, and.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
I do trust them.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
You know, if we're if we were betting people, I
would put money on them coming out out with that
effort and that chip on their shoulder collective shoulder that
you know you're talking about here and they have a
great chance to do it. I you know, their first
game of the post All Star section of this is
at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and then they go
(28:17):
to Philly and play the Sixers, who they just beat,
and that is a fantastic one two punch of you know,
one of the top teams in the East and a
team they're now tied with in the standings that they
just beat.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
So we're going to learn early.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
And for me, you know, I know, I've been talking
about this offensive downturn, but it really is not all
negative because they are getting really good shots overall since
December sixteenth, which is I guess the less the weaker
offensive part of their season. They're actually fifth in corner
(28:53):
three's attempted and they are eleventh in what's called location
field goal percentage, which is if they if every team
shot league average from all these locations, mid range, three, rim, whatever,
the nets would be eleventh. So they're getting the short
sort of shots that you want, threes at the rim.
And the elephant in the room is that when you
(29:15):
talk about health, Cam Thomas is scheduled to have an
update very soon, I think post all post All Star breaks,
So any day now and his return could be imminent.
And when you think about end of shot clock situations
where they've struggled, and you know, just a great jump
shooter both off the catch and off the dribble, which
you know the Nets could really use right now. That
(29:36):
could be a huge antidote to some of their offensive struggles.
And Noah Clowney as well, who was hitting a bunch
of threes at a high volume. So I'm really excited
for them to you know, get the get the band
back together. And also D'Angelo Russell, who we know is
we know is a proven great three point shooter, has
(29:57):
had a rough couple of games in that guard, but
you know, you always trust him to show up. What
do you want to see from I don't want to
get too ahead of myself, but from you know, Cam
Thomas in particular, because his return seems to be nearing.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
I think it's I think it's the same type of
things you always want to see from him. You know
how potent of a score he is, and you understand
what an impact he could make, especially in clutch situations.
But just the continued play of how this team has
had really good flow and really good feel and the
and we saw that out of Cam in many moments
(30:35):
early on, just finding teammates and continuing to assess and
rey defense is in a way that is most I
would say most beneficial for the offense as a whole,
and in the defensive side of things, Like we've talked
now about this stretch of how good the nets have
been defensively, making sure anyone you're adding into that lineup
(30:56):
and rotation adds value to that area of the floor
understands how much that has made a difference an impacted winning.
So I think it's all the same things. I think
it's all the same things. And I also think like
level setting expectations for the return and what that looks
like and missing that significant amount of time dealing with
lower body injuries, so what that looks like in terms
(31:17):
of what your rehab has been and how you're getting
yourself back the whole ramp up, all of those things,
just being like very cognizant that even though the last
time when he had missed some time and come back,
it looked like he didn't miss the beats, and you
hope for that, but also just understanding that you know,
sometimes there is an adjustment and it depends player by player,
(31:38):
situation by situation, and that's you know, potentially to be expected.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Yeah, you just did my work for me because he's
my next net to watch, you know, over this remaining
twenty eight games.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
Okay, good, he's both.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
The arts because this just seems like a tailor made
situation for him to deliver like his ideal impact. Right,
it's great. Its currently a great defensive team. They're playing
their butts off. They need a little bit of offensive juice,
they need a little bit of jump shooting. And it
feels like camp Thomas at his best now. You know,
as you said, not expecting him to come in game
(32:13):
one after like a two month layoff and be the
best he's ever been, but in general, over the next
few weeks, it just feels like a tailor made opportunity
for him to showcase high end offensive impact with major
you know, offensive responsibility on a team that really needs it.
And I'm excited for him, you know, fourth year in
(32:34):
the league. Like we've seen stretches of that before at
the beginning of this year, at the beginning of last
season when he was still coming off the bench. Uh,
he saved their offense a lot with that, you know,
scoring punch that he had, but this is another opportunity
for him to do so, so he is my next
Net to watch. And it feels like we haven't been
(32:55):
able to talk about him as much as I think, yeah,
because of the injuries and what not, But when you
look at the roster as a whole, there's no doubt
he's still one of the most like exciting long term
prospects on the team and you know, throughout the league.
So great opportunity for him, and it's a great opportunity
for the Nets in general. And it's a great opportunity
(33:17):
for you to start the second half of the year
with a bang in terms of trivia.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
So you got what you got for me, Lucas.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
I feel like, you know, well, you've been around every year,
every iteration of the team in Brooklyn. So this is
its thirteenth season in Brooklyn. Of the previous twelve seasons,
how often have they been a better second half team
than a first half team? So since they moved to Brooklyn,
how often has their winning percentage in the second half
(33:47):
of the season post All Star Break? I'm saying better
than pre All Star Break?
Speaker 3 (33:54):
Ye're one definitely yes year two definitely.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Yes, Wow, Wow, are you really Those are like.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
Very Yeah, those are very poignant because I you know, you.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Remember, Yes, that's very impressive.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
I actually I'm trying to remember a year that they
were not better, because if I'm now, I'm I'm trying
to you're on the.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Right, right track. You're on the right track.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
I kind of feel like I don't remember. I'm going
to say every one of them, they've been better post
All Star.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Break a little too ambitious poem. I was gonna say ten, ten,
ten is right, ten out of twelve.
Speaker 4 (34:34):
I was gonna say ten, And then I felt like
I was I wasn't, you know, really pumping that I
was going to say ten.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Well that reminded the two years.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
So one was the twenty twenty two to twenty three.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Yeah, they still made the playoffs though, so it gets
a little but it was a drop off, right and then.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
Yeah, yeah, and then the other.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
One was twenty fifteen, twenty sixteen, I believe.
Speaker 4 (34:59):
So was it one of the years like right before
they had kind of busted through to yes, had that
return back.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
To the playoffs? Yes, Yes, it was one of those.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
Maybe one of Kenny's earlier years.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
I believe it was the year.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
Yes, it was either Kenny's first year or the year
before Kenny, because twenty twenty sixteen seventeen, they like almost
tripled their win total. But yes, and the reason I
asked that is a not.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Only to throw you an alley oop apparently.
Speaker 3 (35:24):
Thank you. Okay, the best of my part. Yes, that's
why you're my fardner.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Best in the league.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
By the way, over that twelve of those twelve years,
they've been the best second half team really in the
league since they moved to Brooklyn. So I you know,
history is telling us that we could be in for
some very fun stuff in the second half the season.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Wow, that was really impressive.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
I was if you were going to go like year
by year, I was that was all that was, honest.
Speaker 4 (35:45):
I probably, I don't know if we have enough time
for that. That's okay, offline, we have to I want
to start thinking back. But I was going to start
going through year by year, and then I felt like
a couple of those years kind of clumped together.
Speaker 1 (35:57):
It's okay, Yeah, that'll be a bonus episode and we'll
talk about some of those legendary Marcus Thornton performances in
March of some years.
Speaker 3 (36:04):
Oh, he honestly did have he did have something.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Well, I cannot think of a better way to end
our first episode of the second half of the year.
I know I keep calling it the second half and
it does bother me because it's not forty one games.
But anyway, great note to start the second half of
the year. On episode number seventeen of The Backcourt already
gone by, We thank you very much for listening. This
(36:31):
has been The Backcourt, a Brooklyn Nets podcast presented by Ticketmaster.
Like subscribe you rate us on Spotify, Apple Music, wherever
you get your podcasts. We really appreciate it. And from
Sarah and Lucas, thank you guys for listening and we
will see you next week.
You are now in the backcourt of Brooklyn Nets podcast
presented by Ticketmaster.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Thank you guys for listening.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I'm Lucas Kaplan, writer for NETS Daily covering who Else
the Brooklyn Nets, also of nets Film Focus. We make
some great insightful videos on the team, x's and o's
player development, all that stuff. And joining me as always
is Sarah Kustack. Sarah, how are we doing.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
We're good, We're good.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
We're ready to come out of the All Star break
and get this, get this final run going.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, we had a little time off.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
We're recording this on Tuesday afternoon, after the All Star festivities,
but before Brooklyn kicks off the second half, second final
third of their season. If we're being really accurate about it,
the Nets did play one game since we last recorded.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
They closed the pre All Star portion of.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Their season with a home victory over the Philadelphia seventy
six ers. Sarah, you were in the building for that game,
as was I. It felt like a very fitting end
to not only the first half of the season, but
what's been a very strong run into the All Star break.
The Nets finish, you know, they are five and one
over the last six, six and one over their last
(01:19):
seven actually, So what have your you know, more short
term takeaways been, whether from that game recently, you know whatever.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
I think both from that game, but more so you're
talking about that stretch where they've been six and one.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Is just the collective.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Way in which they continue to find ways to win
so much as predicated. I know you've got the numbers
and we've talked about it on what they're doing on
the defensive end, but it just once again felt like
a complete team effort, and throughout the course of the game,
there was so many different circumstances and I feel like
the score doesn't do a justice. Maybe the reserves came
(01:55):
in and the way things finished wasn't exactly the hope
that the Nets had, but they were able to build
that sizeable lead and hold on to it and do
an excellent job of just getting contributions top to bottom.
And I think it was obviously good to see a
lot of players back on the floor for Brooklyn, But
I think that's a hope of looking at what had
happened pre All Star Break and now as you get
(02:16):
set for post All Star break, getting players back healthy,
and what.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
That will look like when you have the compliments of
a more four to five roster.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Definitely.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
You know, the Nets for a huge chunk of the
first half were one of the I guess the least
healthy teams in the league just looking at the amount
of players they had on the shelf. And now they
kind of went into the very end of that portion
getting healthier, one of the healthier teams in the league.
You know, they played a Sixers team without Embiid and
(02:47):
Tyrese Maxi and now we just you know, we're kind
of waiting on camp Thomas to come back.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
We think that's going to be soon.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Noah Clowney also dealing with an ankle sprain, but slowly
but surely, you know, everyone who's contribut you did so
far this season seems to be maybe getting everybody you
know on track. The Nets won that Philly game one
hundred to ninety six. You know, they were really up
by ten or twelve until the last minute, minute and
a half of the game. Six Ers had a couple
(03:16):
you know, fringe garbage time buckets, but overall, just another
solid defensive performance and that's really what's carried them, you know,
over the past couple weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
But something that was really you know.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Encouraging for me is that the nets had thirty one
makes in the paint, they shot thirty one to fifty
two in the paint.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
They shot fifty.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Nine percent from two overall, so they were really able
to get to the rim even as threes weren't falling,
and able to get high quality looks inside.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
How did you think they did.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
That that that's such a huge aspect of it, and
I'm glad.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
You brought that up one.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
I think it was there aspects of who the seventy
six ers were playing, not having a presence of a
Joel and beat on the inside, but the recognition of
how they wanted to attack and where they wanted to
get on the floor. And I think you understand in
terms of a personnel of Brooklyn. You even look at
who you know starting five Dangel Russell, Kean Johnson, Cam Johnson,
(04:21):
Nick Claxton, and.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Zi Zi, like.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
There's quickness, there's length, there's slash ability, and they did
such a great job of utilizing that, whether through penetration
to pick and rolls. Through the past, different players were
initiating the offense from different places. Everyone was just so
active in the movements and I think that opened up
a lot for a group that understood exactly how they
(04:48):
wanted to attack and then being effective with that.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
But that's where I think the fun part of this lineup.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
And what that looks like is the versatility of those players,
and I think everyone has continued to flourish, everyone has
continued to grow even more of figuring out how they
can best play alongside one another. And again, I know
we'll get to post All Star break, but I think
that's the fun part of this too, and even the
coaching staff having a good understanding even more so of
(05:15):
who fits together well and how they can best create
that type of offensive game plan or possession by possession
offensive attack because of it.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Yeah, and I like that you bring up the starting
lineup because there was a point in January December where
with injuries and trades, the Nets had I think like
nine straight different starting lineups something like that. But you know,
for the last I believe at least six games since
they got home and played the Rockets. Actually before that,
(05:45):
I believe it's been I'm looking at it right now,
it's been six straight games where they've had the same
starting lineup, and even the one before that, you know,
Jalen Wilson started for Zaire Williams, so it hasn't been
a total, you know, overhaul of positions, and you know, therefore,
I think game plans it's a little bit easier to
get guys into the right positions when there's some level
of continuity. So I would say that that is another reason,
(06:09):
you know, the main reason that the Nets have played
so strongly as of late, and you know, that kind
of brings us to the big picture outlook. Right, the
Nets are twenty and thirty four at the All Star break.
They are only one loss out of the play in
and it's funny, you know, after all the roster turnover,
everything the team has kind of been through. They were
(06:30):
two games out of the playing at this point last season,
so you may not have expected that standings jump or
improvement even in that way, but it's happened. And it
really has been a tale of two seasons so far,
because you know, if you recall when they were winning games,
(06:51):
you know, November or early December, they were really an offensively,
I guess, slanted team. So I have this stat here
through December sixteenth, the day after they traded Dennis Shrewder,
they were thirteenth in offense and twenty seventh in defense.
And so I guess, you know, pausing for a second
(07:12):
and thinking back to there, how have you seen the
Nets at their best offensively? You know, whether Dennis or
Dilo or whoever, Ben Simmons who's been bought out, whoever
the point guard has been on the floor.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Fire.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
We're going back, We're even going We're going back. We're
going back pre December sixteenth.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, we're going to zoom out.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
And I guess just say what you saw then, and
maybe you know tenants that have continued at their best
moments offensively.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Lucas, regardless of lineup, who's available, what it's looked like
this is since the start of the season till now,
there has been an unselfishness with how this team plays
that has been so impressant to watch and also just
enjoyable to watch, how they move the basketball finding open teammates.
(07:58):
I think we keep going back to the game planning
in terms of how to attack opponents, and I think
Jordi Fernandez and the staff douse such a really nice
job of having his players and their players understand that
and also the buy in of the players, and you
see that executed time and time again, and there's certainly
been some challenges and some growth and evolution, especially with
(08:22):
all the changes in the liyeup, But I think just
the areas where we have seen their offense be most effective,
because sometimes it's a three point explosion and they can't
miss from the three point line. Sometimes they're better working
to pick and roll. Sometimes they are getting the paint.
Sometimes it's playing fast and fast break terransition points. Other
times they've been at a slower pace. I just think
(08:43):
there's such an unselfishness about this team and a true
want to see the team succeed, regardless of who's scoring points,
who's getting assists, what that looks like. And that's my
favorite part of this team on the offensive side of things,
is that that's the care factor for one another and the.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Want to succeed.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
And that's how it's translated to me in times that
I've seen great success from this.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Offense, I love.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
I think that's exactly it, and you know, would you
believe it? I do have a stat that I think
you're gonna appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I do believe it because you always seem to do well.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
They've played seventeen players that have qualified, you know, for
you know, rate statistics. Seventeen players have logged enough minutes
to qualify for this sort of thing per cleaning the glass,
and thirteen of them are at least league average or
above average in assist percentage. So what percentage of his
(09:41):
teammate shots did he assist on while he was on
the floor. So in terms of passing frequency and willingness
to get the ball out of your hands when you're
driving or making an extra pass or whatever, at least
by that one statistic, not perfect, but you get a
pretty good idea that this team shares the and you know,
thirteen out of seventeen guys above that, and obviously that
(10:05):
suggests sort of this team wide willingness to make you
know the right play. And even when you look at
kind of the offensive dip that maybe the Nets have
suffered through past December sixteenth, or in some of their
you know, lesser stretches, you know, maybe before they went
six to one in this in these past seven games,
(10:26):
it really hasn't been the ball movement. I think that
slowed down. They just i mean really haven't been making
as many jumpers. They haven't been making as many outside shots. However,
the good news is that since December sixteenth, it's really
flipped for them, because yeah, they're twenty ninth in offense,
but they're a top ten defense over that two month stretch.
(10:47):
And on this podcast we've talked about how they're the
best defense in the league. You know, over these seven games,
they're the best defense in the league, I think over
the last ten or eleven games since they got back
from West Coast.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
But this is now a two month.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Stretch right where they are a top ten defense, so
small ish sample sizes a side they are really guarding,
and to me, you know, I have this listed here
in terms of surprises things we've really loved about the
first half of the season. I think it's so admirable
that they were able to go through all of this
roster shifting around injuries, trades to the point guard position,
(11:26):
to guys that handle the ball a lot and score
the ball a lot, Camp Thomas cam Johnson, and they
just simply made up for it by you know, becoming
the top ten defense over this span of time. That
to me is really remarkable and that doesn't seem easy
to do from where I'm sitting, So I guess when
did you sort of feel that this group had this
(11:51):
in them, that they could that they turned it on
like this in the face of adversity, And really it's
probably the biggest difference in their season right now and
why they're all of a sudden knocking on the place indoor.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
I know it sounds like the easiest thing to say,
given what we've seen and the broader sample size at
this point of the year, but.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
I don't know if I said it to you. Can
we go back to episode one?
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Can I talk to people that I sat with through.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Preseason training camp? Was different?
Speaker 5 (12:19):
There was a different vibe, there was a different energy,
the makeup of this group and disposition and characters like
character guys and the coaching staff, And we've talked about that,
you know so much.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
I know we will.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
But how Jordi Fernandez and this group approached this and
the buying and the players, especially the leaders of this
group out of the gates. I would have told you
then that there was going to be something special and
whatever that looked like. And I think I remember talking
about this. I don't know how necessarily wins and losses
you were going to.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Quantify that type of success.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
But at that point was like this, this group is different.
They've got something different in them, They've got a different
maxy to them, and how they care about each other,
play for one another, compete with one another, to push
each other to a higher level felt unique and special.
I don't think you always feel that or always see that,
And that's talent entirely aside. I've sat through a lot
(13:22):
of training camps for a lot of different teams, a
lot of circumstances. You see a lot of groups, and
you see a lot of groups that have found success,
those who anticipate.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Would that have not.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
And I do think there's just been a different feel
And to me, that's been my favorite part of watching
them and watching them deal with adversity, watching them go
through stages that they needed to show a resiliency, and
there feels like there has been a bond that those
are the reasons why to just give a ton of credit,
(13:54):
even at this point of the year, but even early on,
in different changes, different shifts, injuries, you name it.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
That has been evident to me, top to bottom of
this group.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, and sometimes that shows up in different ways. I
think like it's easy to get lost in the numbers,
especially again, fifty games, fifty four games, whatever it is
is not a huge sample size. So sometimes it shows
up in they shoot fifty percent from three in Phoenix
and Tyree Smartin has a thirty piece and you know,
(14:26):
second string guys pull out an awesome win because of
you know, or the base was set with those vibes
in that fight. And then other times it's what I
mentioned with the defense. But I completely agree that you
might not know how it's going to manifest on a night,
on a week, in a month. But the constant thread
(14:47):
of this season is that energy that you're talking about,
and I think without it, the Nets went through a
two and fifteen stretch in January for a lot of
the reasons we've talked about, and that was their biggest
test yet and the way they were able to respond
and continue locking down on defense, and now they go
into the All Star break and open up the second
(15:08):
half as one of the league's hottest teams. You know,
without a question, is the clearest example of that.
Speaker 6 (15:18):
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 get you
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from seeing your favorite Nets stars up close to hearing
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(15:38):
jersey collection to use and get tickets a Ticketmaster. There's
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your courtside, Brooklyn.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Obviously, there are specifics we can get into. For me,
one of the biggest, I guess, more specific takeaways is
how good they are in the middle right now with
their two bigs, uh, you know, day Ron Sharp and
Nick Clackson. We've talked about it a bunch. Carrying the defense,
they've really been super aggressive. Their ball pressure has been great,
and when they trap and hedge and all this stuff,
(16:10):
you know, thirty five forty feet from the basket. With
those two guys, it's worked, I think exactly how they
imagined it. They're top ten, their top seven in forcing
turnovers since December sixteenth.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
They've traded that for a bit of defensive rebounding.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
I think when you're stretched out and you know, spread
out like that, rebounding can be harder but there's still
fourteenth in the league, so it's not like they've fallen
off that much. So just the ground coverage from everybody,
the hustle. I think it shows up in stats like that,
where they can both force force turnovers and protect the glass.
That's pretty impressive to me. But it's easier to look
(16:47):
at it, I think when you go big picture and
you see how consistent they've been with the effort and everything.
And the last thing I had here looking back at
the first half of the season has to be a
credit to rookie head coach Jordy Fernandez and his coaching staff.
And I want to ask you, Obviously, players can say
a lot of things about their coaches and you know,
oh they're a great guy and they do great things
(17:08):
for me. But it does feel different when these nets
praise Jordi and the staff. I guess what stands out
to you in terms of the way they seem to
appreciate him.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
Who There are so many things. What I just think
it's his honesty and directness, communication and clarity of what
they're looking for as a team. But he's got such
a great feel and understanding for them as players and
(17:42):
as humans and how to respond to that and how
that varies maybe night to night or day to day,
and just a staunch belief that they're going to find
success and if they show up in the w that
we keep talking about that type of effort and that
(18:02):
type of fight and believe in what like those are
especially in sports. Whatever Like you say those words, you
talk about those things, you watch people say stuff like that.
Who actually puts that into practice and who actually believes that?
I think he from his gut and again the coaching
staff as well, the things that they're saying. They believe,
They believe in this group, They believe in players one
(18:24):
through seventeen, They believe in how they can play together.
They are meticulous on the game plans they put together.
All of those things are why I think there's been
a huge level of just trust and buying from the
players because they know exactly what they're going to get
and they know exactly what they're supposed to do. And
I think we've talked about this before, like in terms
(18:45):
of schematics and x'es and oe they every single night.
It's always impressed me how there's such a clear understanding
of that game plan and position by position roll by role.
But I think just even as as players or as
psych say that as men, as humans like they play
for one another and they get and there is a
(19:05):
level of unselfishness, and I think that stems from the top.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
But I think it's one thing easy.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
Thing to say like we're going to do this, we're
in this together, we believe, and there's another thing to
actually feel that. And to me, I think there is
that feeling amongst the group, and that's where I would
circle back to. That's that's a big part of where
it starts.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
That's a big part of where it starts.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Yeah, and it's you know, it's earned him the right
to even be more honest because he's been honest and
clearly it's been working out and he has the best
interests of everybody in mind that he's honest. So now
he's so now he can be more.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Best interests of everybody and of the team.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
I knew off but like that, you know that you
know that the that's that's it.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
And I think it's like you knew it was different
when you know rookie head coach, first job, you know,
maybe a young team after a loss, especially early on
in the season, he would get, you know, up on
that podium and talk to the media and really be
harsh and direct about calling his players out and not
sugarcoating it when he felt like they weren't giving full effort.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
And there were even times.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Where he really criticized their effort on a given night,
and to me, like an outside observer, I was like, well,
I didn't think their effort was that bad.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
I think I don't think that's why they lost.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
And you know it, that is not always the perhaps
that doesn't always work out in NBA locker rooms, but
it has so far, and so for him to have
the cachet to do that, I think that speaks too
about how the players trust his honesty.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
So, you know, first year marks for him so far and.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
The last thing to follow up.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
But it's now evident to me and the connectity of
it is that when Jordi Fernandez was first hired, I
heard from some of my dearest friends or players or
whatever and the age that had played for them, and
you're gonna love him, You're gonna love them, You're gonna
love him, They're gonna like it was. There was such
a and not the saying that doesn't happen, but from
(21:11):
people that I trust or know or no.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Get it, Like there was such a really really.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
Forceful way of this, this individual's going to make a
difference and that's me. And I'm like, oh not, yeah,
Like I get it.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
I see it, and I think we all do.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Yeah, And I think it was evident.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
I was lucky enough to go back to Sacramento for
his return as I traveled to the West Coast when
the NETS were out there and you know, just the
outpouring of love and the way people talked about him,
like that was a great NETS win that night in Sacramento,
but it was also about him. You know, it was
felt like a homecoming and he was only there two
(21:50):
years and he wasn't the head coach, and you know,
the fans and the media like how how much of
an impact did he really make? We really saw it,
you know in my opinion, when we went back there.
So I think that's a perfect way to wrap up.
I would say wrap up our recap of the first half,
but hey, I was gonna do Brooklyn's Finest.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
For the pre all Star portion of.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
This season, but maybe we can just give it to
Jordi Fernandez because I feel like that would make a
lot of sense unless there's a player, of course, you
want to shout out for, you know, these first fifty
four games and whatnot.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
I agree with you on Jordi. My finest for this
part was like, without question, Cam Johnson. Yeah, and I
know he was injured for good portions of it. I
think that showed in many ways and was indicative of
some of the wins and loss records during that time
or stretches of performance.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
But yeah, but he was.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
He was my wh when I saw you pose that question,
he was immediately my pas. I feel like if he
had not gotten hurt, he was, and even when he
had come back, but was playing like an all star.
And it's not just it wasn't just the play on
the floor, as we've talked about the completeness of the play,
but also the leadership aspect, the disposition to show up
(23:08):
each and every day regardless of circumstance. I take so
many in the areas that we have talked about the
character of this team and why they showed resiliency, why
they showed belief, all of that stuff that stems not
only leadership of coaching, but I think leadership of your
best players, and to me, that is he is a
prime example of that. And I think when your best
(23:32):
player feels that way, is that way shows up that way,
that that just infiltrates the entire team of how they
show up and feel.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Yeah, as many guys as I could shout out here,
I want like Zire Williams trade acquisition, new spot. He's
brought the energy. He has been such a light in
that locker room. Feels like he's been around for more
than just a half season. I have to, you know,
continue to praise Cam Johnson because he has just I
want to start the conversation for most improved. Like I mean,
(24:03):
he's been a great valuable NBA player in the past,
but just the fact that he's taken on this creation
load and done it every night, and even when the
shots don't go in, which is very rare, you can
still feel the defensive attention that he creates. And now
he's responsible for so much more. I also have this
stat from Cleaning the Glass. He is second in the
(24:25):
whole entire league in points per shot attempt among non centers.
So Jared Allen, Daniel Gafford, those type.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Of guys, you know, that's.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
That's a stat one point four points per shot. He's
at like one point three, and and you think about
the type of types of shots he takes.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
That's exactly that's that's why it's so there's a reason.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Why there's so many centers on that list.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Right minimum, I got right here just to button up
everything minimum thousand minutes. Only person ahead of him is
Kean Ellis, actually, but Cam Johnson has a lot more
volume so far and a lot more off the dribble attempts.
But man, he's just been you know, what can you say?
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Really?
Speaker 1 (25:08):
So, I don't know, I don't know who we're talking
about for most improved, but you know, and not as
a slight to his NBA career before this, but man,
I just so impressed with him and with that, you know,
who knows what the second half of the season will
look like for the Nets, but there are obvious things
(25:29):
to watch for. We talked about their offense at its
best and when it was really clicking. I don't think
the ball movement and the unselfishness ever stopped. I think
they have gone through a cold shooting stretch, that's part
of it. The defense has picked up, so really, I
guess the question for this second half of the season
is how can the Nets marry both those sides and combine,
(25:53):
you know, the best aspects of their offense, which we
really saw more so on the early earlier side of
the season with defensive effort that had that they've put
forth recently. So, I guess, what are you what are
you looking for out of the All Star break, first
couple games, whatever? What are you really you know, focusing
in on.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
One, I'm excited, uh two if I had this magic
wand and I think this would be the answer for
a lot of a lot of things. But to me,
it's if they're healthy, if they have the compliments of
this roster and this lineup and those that can all
(26:32):
you see so much versatility, optionality, all of that stuff,
that's where to me they're gonna be. They can be
special offensively, defensively. I think even that progression of getting
more and more accustomed to Jeordi Fernandez, the consistency of.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
What that looks like like, it's it's.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Challenging for a lot of reasons when you're dealing with
that much injury or that much change or players being
in and out. Because also it's just the familiarity with
one another. So I'm just I'm looking for hopefully more
continuity and consistency of what the lineups and rotation may
look like. And in turn, I think that's just going
to continue to bolster all the really solid play that
(27:10):
we've seen and how this team grows together. And I
think there's just been so many positive signs heading into
the All Star Break that coming out of it, I'm
I'm very enthused for that and for these players to
like have this push, have this run, and have this
sense of, you know, a little bit of chip on
(27:30):
the shoulder, however you want to turn it, like of
the expectations and where they already are at and I
think what they can get to and I love that.
I love that for an organization, for a team, for
coaches before, like yeah, like.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Go out there and be great.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
And I feel like there's a lot of aspects that
they've grab hold of that collectively and we've seen that, and.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
I do trust them.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
You know, if we're if we were betting people, I
would put money on them coming out out with that
effort and that chip on their shoulder collective shoulder that
you know you're talking about here and they have a
great chance to do it. I you know, their first
game of the post All Star section of this is
at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and then they go
(28:17):
to Philly and play the Sixers, who they just beat,
and that is a fantastic one two punch of you know,
one of the top teams in the East and a
team they're now tied with in the standings that they
just beat.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
So we're going to learn early.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
And for me, you know, I know, I've been talking
about this offensive downturn, but it really is not all
negative because they are getting really good shots overall since
December sixteenth, which is I guess the less the weaker
offensive part of their season. They're actually fifth in corner
(28:53):
three's attempted and they are eleventh in what's called location
field goal percentage, which is if they if every team
shot league average from all these locations, mid range, three, rim, whatever,
the nets would be eleventh. So they're getting the short
sort of shots that you want, threes at the rim.
And the elephant in the room is that when you
(29:15):
talk about health, Cam Thomas is scheduled to have an
update very soon, I think post all post All Star breaks,
So any day now and his return could be imminent.
And when you think about end of shot clock situations
where they've struggled, and you know, just a great jump
shooter both off the catch and off the dribble, which
you know the Nets could really use right now. That
(29:36):
could be a huge antidote to some of their offensive struggles.
And Noah Clowney as well, who was hitting a bunch
of threes at a high volume. So I'm really excited
for them to you know, get the get the band
back together. And also D'Angelo Russell, who we know is
we know is a proven great three point shooter, has
(29:57):
had a rough couple of games in that guard, but
you know, you always trust him to show up. What
do you want to see from I don't want to
get too ahead of myself, but from you know, Cam
Thomas in particular, because his return seems to be nearing.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
I think it's I think it's the same type of
things you always want to see from him. You know
how potent of a score he is, and you understand
what an impact he could make, especially in clutch situations.
But just the continued play of how this team has
had really good flow and really good feel and the
and we saw that out of Cam in many moments
(30:35):
early on, just finding teammates and continuing to assess and
rey defense is in a way that is most I
would say most beneficial for the offense as a whole,
and in the defensive side of things, Like we've talked
now about this stretch of how good the nets have
been defensively, making sure anyone you're adding into that lineup
(30:56):
and rotation adds value to that area of the floor
understands how much that has made a difference an impacted winning.
So I think it's all the same things. I think
it's all the same things. And I also think like
level setting expectations for the return and what that looks
like and missing that significant amount of time dealing with
lower body injuries, so what that looks like in terms
(31:17):
of what your rehab has been and how you're getting
yourself back the whole ramp up, all of those things,
just being like very cognizant that even though the last
time when he had missed some time and come back,
it looked like he didn't miss the beats, and you
hope for that, but also just understanding that you know,
sometimes there is an adjustment and it depends player by player,
(31:38):
situation by situation, and that's you know, potentially to be expected.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Yeah, you just did my work for me because he's
my next net to watch, you know, over this remaining
twenty eight games.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
Okay, good, he's both.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
The arts because this just seems like a tailor made
situation for him to deliver like his ideal impact. Right,
it's great. Its currently a great defensive team. They're playing
their butts off. They need a little bit of offensive juice,
they need a little bit of jump shooting. And it
feels like camp Thomas at his best now. You know,
as you said, not expecting him to come in game
(32:13):
one after like a two month layoff and be the
best he's ever been, but in general, over the next
few weeks, it just feels like a tailor made opportunity
for him to showcase high end offensive impact with major
you know, offensive responsibility on a team that really needs it.
And I'm excited for him, you know, fourth year in
(32:34):
the league. Like we've seen stretches of that before at
the beginning of this year, at the beginning of last
season when he was still coming off the bench. Uh,
he saved their offense a lot with that, you know,
scoring punch that he had, but this is another opportunity
for him to do so, so he is my next
Net to watch. And it feels like we haven't been
(32:55):
able to talk about him as much as I think, yeah,
because of the injuries and what not, But when you
look at the roster as a whole, there's no doubt
he's still one of the most like exciting long term
prospects on the team and you know, throughout the league.
So great opportunity for him, and it's a great opportunity
for the Nets in general. And it's a great opportunity
(33:17):
for you to start the second half of the year
with a bang in terms of trivia.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
So you got what you got for me, Lucas.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
I feel like, you know, well, you've been around every year,
every iteration of the team in Brooklyn. So this is
its thirteenth season in Brooklyn. Of the previous twelve seasons,
how often have they been a better second half team
than a first half team? So since they moved to Brooklyn,
how often has their winning percentage in the second half
(33:47):
of the season post All Star Break? I'm saying better
than pre All Star Break?
Speaker 3 (33:54):
Ye're one definitely yes year two definitely.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Yes, Wow, Wow, are you really Those are like.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
Very Yeah, those are very poignant because I you know, you.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Remember, Yes, that's very impressive.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
I actually I'm trying to remember a year that they
were not better, because if I'm now, I'm I'm trying
to you're on the.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Right, right track. You're on the right track.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
I kind of feel like I don't remember. I'm going
to say every one of them, they've been better post
All Star.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Break a little too ambitious poem. I was gonna say ten, ten,
ten is right, ten out of twelve.
Speaker 4 (34:34):
I was gonna say ten, And then I felt like
I was I wasn't, you know, really pumping that I
was going to say ten.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Well that reminded the two years.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
So one was the twenty twenty two to twenty three.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Yeah, they still made the playoffs though, so it gets
a little but it was a drop off, right and then.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
Yeah, yeah, and then the other.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
One was twenty fifteen, twenty sixteen, I believe.
Speaker 4 (34:59):
So was it one of the years like right before
they had kind of busted through to yes, had that
return back.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
To the playoffs? Yes, Yes, it was one of those.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
Maybe one of Kenny's earlier years.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
I believe it was the year.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
Yes, it was either Kenny's first year or the year
before Kenny, because twenty twenty sixteen seventeen, they like almost
tripled their win total. But yes, and the reason I
asked that is a not.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Only to throw you an alley oop apparently.
Speaker 3 (35:24):
Thank you. Okay, the best of my part. Yes, that's
why you're my fardner.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Best in the league.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
By the way, over that twelve of those twelve years,
they've been the best second half team really in the
league since they moved to Brooklyn. So I you know,
history is telling us that we could be in for
some very fun stuff in the second half the season.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Wow, that was really impressive.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
I was if you were going to go like year
by year, I was that was all that was, honest.
Speaker 4 (35:45):
I probably, I don't know if we have enough time
for that. That's okay, offline, we have to I want
to start thinking back. But I was going to start
going through year by year, and then I felt like
a couple of those years kind of clumped together.
Speaker 1 (35:57):
It's okay, Yeah, that'll be a bonus episode and we'll
talk about some of those legendary Marcus Thornton performances in
March of some years.
Speaker 3 (36:04):
Oh, he honestly did have he did have something.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Well, I cannot think of a better way to end
our first episode of the second half of the year.
I know I keep calling it the second half and
it does bother me because it's not forty one games.
But anyway, great note to start the second half of
the year. On episode number seventeen of The Backcourt already
gone by, We thank you very much for listening. This
(36:31):
has been The Backcourt, a Brooklyn Nets podcast presented by Ticketmaster.
Like subscribe you rate us on Spotify, Apple Music, wherever
you get your podcasts. We really appreciate it. And from
Sarah and Lucas, thank you guys for listening and we
will see you next week.
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