February 26, 2025 • 43 mins
In Episode 18 of The Backcourt Podcast, YES Network’s Sarah Kustok and NetsDaily’s Lucas Kaplan break down the latest stretch of games, look ahead to upcoming challenges, and discuss Nic Claxton's impact on defense. They also dive into Killian Hayes' recent call-up and test their Nets trivia knowledge.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You are now in the backcourt of Brooklyn NETS podcast
presented by Ticketmaster Shout out to them. I am Lucas Kaplan,
writer for NETS Daily, also of NETS Film Focus, a
great video series we have, you know, dropping the x's
and o's knowledge inside on some players. We got some
stuff coming for you guys this month, so look out
for that. And as always, joining me is Yes Networks
(00:24):
and many others.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Sarah coustaks Sarah, how are we?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I'm good, Lucas, how are you? It's good to see
you though. We both got our Yankees hat my most.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Yeah, yeah, I'm you know, hey, February spring training. Yanks
are playing spring training games, so that's always fun. And
you're down in Florida anyway, you should pop over from
Miami too.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Seeing look at Florida residents.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
How's unrivaled.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
It's fantastic. It has been an extraordinary experience. I'm so
impressed with what they put together, the environment, the situation, circumstance, players,
just everything about it has been really, really cool. So
I appreciate I know you've been locking in and you're
always asking and I appreciate it. So yeah, thanks, but
(01:09):
it's been fun. A couple more weeks and then the postseason,
the unrivaled postseason mid March, so of course, right right now,
right before March Madness, right on on the after selection Sunday.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Oh wow, right, yeah, because it's a month.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah, so we're gonna have unrivaled playoffs, March Madness right
into NBA playoffs. That will be a great time in
the year, as always end it'll be the start of
the MLB regular season. So we got a great couple
of months coming up. But obviously that includes the Brooklyn Nets,
who had a pretty busy week coming out of the
All Star Break. Not only did they have three games,
(01:46):
which we'll get to, but some congratulations are in order.
Tyreese Martin was converted to a standard NBA contract, multi
year deal, so huge congratulations to him. And Killian Hayes
was then converted to a or It was then called
up to the big leagues from Long Island Nets where
he's been killing it down there. So we got them
(02:08):
making a couple of transactional you know, roster moves, and
we had three games. You know, they opened against Cleveland,
beat Philly, and then lost.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
On Monday night.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
We're recording this Tuesday against the Washington Wizards, but you
were in the building for the loss to Cleveland, and
I thought that was a great test for the Nets.
Coming out of the break was a really fun close
game until about the seven minute mark of the fourth
quarter Cleveland kind of created some distance.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
So just what were your.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Overall impressions takeaways of a matchup with you know, the
top team in the league.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Yeah, I think you said it out of the gates
and especially coming out of All Star Break, I thought
it was just a really refined performance in terms of
setting the tone early, the sense of urgency, attention to detail.
There was a lot of things that I just I
was really impressed with knowing the type of team Cleveland news,
knowing how locked in they would be, and obviously they've
(03:04):
got a multitude of players and even new additions that
have made them a team that are serious contender. And
so I think the way Brooklyn played for the better
part to your point, you know, into that fourth quarter,
I think one it was impressive, but two, it's a
lot of what we've seen from this group when they've
been healthy, and when they've been you know, had the
(03:27):
compliments of a lot of their roster available to him
to them and I think that's what's been exciting about
this group overall. It's just when it does not matter
the level of competition, it feels like they have a
game plan, they will stay within that game plan, discipline,
and more often than not they're able to execute. And
I think a big part of that two always comes
from when they're making shots, as you can say about
(03:49):
any team. But I thought overall, there was a lot
of positive to take from that performance and just the
way in which it went.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah, the thing that really stood out to me was,
you know, they came into the break righting some of
the best defensive play in the league, you know, over
the previous few weeks. But Badam played really a team
like Cleveland, to be fair, you know, there are few
teams like Cleveland in the league. The NBA's best offense,
but especially with their guards that can drive, pass, shoot,
(04:20):
and so I was really interested to see, you know,
this defense, how they would hold up. You know, they
were limiting opponent three pointers, but you know how much
of that was luck? Was Cleveland really gonna you know,
be able to pop off on them?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
But not really?
Speaker 1 (04:34):
I mean Donovan Mitchell shoots eight of twenty one and
he was had his foot on the gas pedal really
the whole time. Darius Garland has eighteen points on you know,
twelve shots and four free throws. Those two combined for
six turnovers, and aside from a couple stretches of just
kind of ridiculous individual plays, I think in that third quarter,
(04:56):
the Nets really held those two guys down, which I
think is a resounding sort of I don't know what's
the word success or just yeah, a successful statement in
terms of this defensive identity that they have.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Hedging ball screens.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
You don't see it a lot in the NBA, Applying
pressure near half court. You don't see that a lot
in the NBA, especially against guards that good. And you know,
the Nets really did their job. I think they had
a chance to win that game if they shoot a
little bit better than twenty six percent from three. You know,
they shoot eleven of nineteen at the free throw line.
(05:33):
Defense is not why they lost that game, and I
think that is a huge positive to take away. What
do you think what were the I guess differences like
the separators for Cleveland, stuff that the Nets can look
to and say, you know, that's the direction in which
we want to take this thing.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
I think in Meniquet like there was a lot of
lineups they had that were just so big in long
and rangey. It obviously, again it circles back to they're
a contending team, so the opportunity they have to play
with a Jared Allen and Evan Mobley on the inside,
you bring in DeAndre Hunter and what he looks like.
(06:11):
Obviously Donovan Mitchell maybe not in terms of hype, but
he might as well cover the entire court in so
many ways. Cowie's plays. The same to be said for
Darius Garland, but you kind of go through even someone
like Ty Jerome who has been extraordinary for them, the
Plumshy and Sam Marrill like they they're a deep team.
They're a deep team, which is why they are a
(06:33):
contending team. However, to your point, I feel like there's
a lot of players I mentioned a couple of them,
whether it's side Jerome or Sam. There's players that have
developed within the context of their system or a fit
in well or a fit in along and around those
stars that has helped to elevate their game. And so
(06:53):
I think that's the idea of those type of players.
When you find the right fit and you find the
right chemistry. I think that's why when we look at players,
you know, Cam Johnson's guy we talked about all the time,
but look at players within the context of when they
are like core character players that have a lot of versatility,
(07:15):
had a lot of upside. You can slot them into
different places. You can slap them into different options of
what they are on your offensive side, how they fit
in a defensive structure, depending on who else the personnelit is.
That to me, is where team building gets really exciting,
because you look at different pieces of what you might
bring and to have moving parts of Okay, how you
(07:39):
can play with this lineup a little bit bigger, a
little bit smaller. And to me, that's what Kenny Atkinson
has the ability to do with that group and they
just play so well together. And I think the same
thing could be said obviously very different places, but I
think that's what we've been saying about Brooklyn. It doesn't
matter who's on the floor, it doesn't matter what the
lineup look like. They know exactly what they're supposed to do.
(08:02):
They know the style they want to play, they know
what the system looks like every game. They know it's
gotter import game plan and they execute it more often not.
It's such a high, high level that they're going to
put themselves in position to win games. And so to me,
a team like Cleveland, like I just I watched it
and it's a lot of our old friends obviously of
(08:24):
course becus so you know, on the coaching staff, both
on the floor. But I love to watch them. But
I'm like, they just they enjoy playing for one another.
They enjoy you know, just playing with each other, that
style of play being pushed. I think Donovan Mitchell is
obviously a huge part of that. I'm a huge fan
of his just both as a player and as a person.
(08:45):
And so yeah, all of those things to me are
important components to finding success. And I think when you
look at where this nets group framework is at, there's
a lot to me of places that you could find
similarities in that vein or seeds that could potentially grow
into those type of things.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
And I think what's really helped them is I don't
want to say injury luck, but just having consistent like
construction of their lineups of who's on the floor, and
that obviously, like you said, helps them, you know, fit
puzzle pieces together. I think the Nets have been a
little bit hamstrung by again, trades, injuries, all that stuff.
(09:27):
It makes it hard to kind of define roles, you know,
despite as we've talked about, Jordy Fernandez and the staff
doing a really great job at getting guys prepared. In
that Cleveland game, D'Angelo Russell goes down with an ankle
sprain in the third quarter, and I think from that
point their offense did take a hit. Even though they
were able to make a little bit of a run
(09:48):
in the third quarter. You really felt them miss Deload
down the stretch in that fourth quarter, and I thought
that was going to I mean, obviously that's a big
loss going into next game against the Philadelphia seventy six ers.
And then the Nets come out with forty points in
the first quarter of that one and they lead sixty
(10:09):
three to fifty two or whatever it was at halftime.
That was one heck of a game. Obviously, we know
how it ended with Nick Claxton's first career game winner
at the buzzer.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
No less, what were your impressions.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
I don't think you were in the building for that one,
what were your impressions watching it on TV?
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Going over the film.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
I was not in a building, but I was so excited.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
You wish you were, you wish you were.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I would do anything I would have been. Unfortunately, our
broadcast divisions are really very high up in Philadelphia, so
I would have been tumbling down and very excited to
not hear that whatever that song is play at the
end of At the end of the six Ers wins
in Wells Fargo Center, I saw it. I thought it
(10:56):
was awesome. I thought it was such such a fun win.
Obviously you can get into just how the process of
getting to that point, but I thought the way that finished,
the body control, the recognition, awareness, like all of that
for Claxton to come up with an all sense of
rebound and put back, but just overall, just the ways
(11:18):
that the group played and the ability to close it out,
and I think just have like a good boost like that.
I think at any time we have seen this team
in certain circumstances, or the camaraderie that they share and
the excitement enthusiasm they share for one another coming away
with a win like that, it was just awesome and
fun to watch. And I think for this group that
(11:39):
has got a chip on their shoulder, believes in one another,
believes in themselves as ready to make some waves. I
thought that was just a really especially you know, I
know Philadelphia and Joel Embiid didn't playing the latter part
of that one, and just obviously the seventy six ers
have got a lot of moving parts themselves. But I
think for a team that's right up the street from
(12:00):
you and you see so often and obviously the expectations
of what that team wanted to do and all of
that this season, I think it was just it was
really fun to watch to watch from afar and obviously
understand the magnitude of what that meant for Nick and
just how well Nick has been playing, but kind.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Of have it be cacked off in that, yeah, I think.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
I mean the biggest difference on this one is that
Brooklyn did not shoot the three well again against Philly. However,
they just dominated the paint at a level which you
rarely see in the NBA. They shot thirty four of
fifty three from two, so they shot sixty four percent
inside the arc, and part of that was felt like
(12:42):
every time they missed, they got an offensive rebound. They
had a ton of second chance points in that one.
They were big, they were physical, and you know, one
the turnover battle, all these little things that you kind
of expect from, you know, on the margins of a
team that really needs to make up for maybe you know,
(13:03):
when the shots don't go in.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
They did.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
They blocked eight shots in that game, including five from
Nick Claxton, who was great even before his game winner.
You know, he scores sixteen points, grabs nine boards, blocks
five shots and including one right before his game winner
to keep the score tied I believe at one hundred
one hundred, and you know, then eventually gets the game
(13:29):
winning layup. But that was one heck of a win
and produced some of my favorite reactions of the season,
just the celebrations, seeing all the guys go crazy. That
was one of the best games of the season, I think,
in my opinion. But it wasn't just Nick, obviously, you
had a ton of guys contribute. Keon Johnson scores eleven points,
(13:51):
four assists, three steals. It felt like in that one specifically,
he really embraced the ball pressure, you know, aggressiveness that
already Fernandez has been preaching and I don't think spoiler alert,
he'll be my Brooklyn's finest choice for the week, because
it seems like he is every other time we do
this podcast. But Cam Johnson in this one shoots one
(14:14):
of nine from three can't buy one from there. But
the one he hits is to tie the game with
four minutes left. He shoots six of eight from inside
the arch. He gets to the line eight times, four assists,
three steals. It just felt like that was really a
culmination of all the work he's done this year where
(14:35):
on a night when the shot doesn't go in, he
was the engine of the offense and you know, really
just awesome all night despite a lack of three point shooting.
I think that really stood out to me, and again,
you know, kind of encapsulated what he's been able to
do so far.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Yeah, I could not agree more. You're stealing my Brooklyn's finals,
So I don't want to dive into it too much,
but no, and I think that's characteristic of his growth.
I think even the night trendon Watford had and how
special he was and how he was able to facilitate
and orchestrate so much of what Brooklyn was able to do,
Like it was just so many key components to different
players and how they contributed the understanding of it and
(15:16):
to your point of getting in the paint and making
that be an area where when shots aren't falling, you're
still able to manufacture points in a different way. And
it's easy to look at offense rebounding or second test
points and say, yeah, it's because you're missing a lot
of shots. But it also takes the awareness, recognition, and
ability to execute a lot of those extra opportunities. And
(15:37):
I think that's one thing at different points throughout the
course of the season we've seen Brooklyn been able to do.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
You can also see I love seeing the individual growth
in these sorts of games, like you mentioned Trendon, and
Trendon has been able to get to the front of
the rim, you know, use that floater. He's been able
to throw some lobs, to hit some cutters on the inside.
But you can see him kind of flesh out the
fire points of you know, point of attack offense, like
being a main ball handler. I have a play in
(16:05):
my notes at around the eleven minute mark of the
fourth quarter where he's getting ready to get a handoff
from Nick Claxton, but he backcuts, you know, gets a
back door pass from Nick to the basket. Attracts three
defenders and instead of taking you know, a tough ten
foot floater that he can make looks off, you know,
(16:25):
the help, and sprays the ball.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
To the corner to create an open three.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
And that's the sort of stuff that you know, he's
going to need to do more of if he's going
to be an NBA point guard full time and not
just sort of a you know, a gimmicky oh, we
can handle the ball every once in a while, but
really a full time ball handler. And he was great
in that game, breaking guys down off the dribble, but
also doing some of the smaller things like that. And
(16:53):
I'm really glad that they won that game because it
felt like a game that they deserve to win, and
again one that I think they would have put away
earlier if they made a couple open threes.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
But you know, going into the final game of the
week and Washington was kind of the opposite.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
They they lose on Monday night to the Wizards in
a game that had a ton of lead changes, Nets
only scored twelve points in the fourth quarter. You know,
that was really what Jordy Fernandez pointed to in postgame.
Offense couldn't really get off the ground despite shooting thirty
nine percent from three. Just briefly, what did you see
(17:29):
in that game?
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Yeah, I think that's a part of it. There's something
I said this to you before we started podcast when
the Nets had most recently played Washington and Brooklyn and
had next to no when it was right after the
trade deadline or trades had occurred in moving Kyle Kuzman others,
and it was still there's still a scrappy team that
plays really hard, and I think their understanding of just
(17:54):
it felt like an extra bit of motivation in playing
Brooklyn and just how they were able to play and
execute but were all for the Nets. I feel like
sometimes it's just making sure that the shots that you're
missing on one end aren't affecting what you're doing on
the defensive end. And there was moments or stretches at
times shout the course of that game where I felt like,
and it always goes hand to hand, but maybe some
(18:15):
some of that mental fatigue or frustration or what wasn't
happening on the offensive end then also sometimes got them
in bad spots or opposition or some breakdown, some uncharacteristic
breakdowns on the defensive end and even those last few
minutes of the game when it was what a one
point game and they were in position and there was
(18:37):
whether some big shots by Jordan Poole or whether it
was just a breakdown and transition or whatever it may
look like. To me, that's where just the mental fortitude,
the focus being locked in even when you're missing shots,
even if you have a breakdown, even if you don't
get a quality look on the offensive side, making sure
that doesn't affect you defensively. And there was stretches that
(18:58):
I noticed throughout the course of that game that it
felt like that was parts of the areas that led
to the breakdowns.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Yeah, it's funny because, like I have in my notes here,
they they forced a ton of turnovers, but their consistency
on defense there I guess there wasn't a lot of it.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
It was very choppy.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
So in the third quarter, end of the second, like
beginning of the fourth, they were forcing a ton of
turnovers that help their offense. You know, it started on defense,
carried over to the other side, what you always hear
from these guys. But like you know, they start the
game down twenty one to seven, and the defense was
just not where we've seen it, and it causes Jordi
(19:36):
Fernandez to call a time out and make a hockey
style line change five off, five in, and guys like
Tyreese Martin and Dayron Sharp picked up the energy. But
even though they eventually, you know, retook the lead in
the third quarter, it's hard to have to fight back
from such an early hole. And you know, in the standings,
(20:00):
the Wizards entered the game with the league's worst record,
and the Nets, you know, entered as the eleven seed
knocking on the plane door. The Wizards look at the
Nets like, all right, this is a team that like,
this is a chance to get a win right here,
and you have to know, especially they just be you
and your building, you have to know that that's coming.
I thought the Nets did a good job of responding
(20:22):
to some of their stretches, able to pick themselves back
out of it. But once you give a team like
that life over the first five minutes of the game,
it's hard to erase that feeling, and I think that
ultimately doomed the Nets. And even though they made some threes,
they shot thirty nine percent from three, it wasn't enough.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
And it's funny the Wizards in the month of.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
February are really the only team that's gotten the Nets
out of their I guess identity. The other times the
Nets have lost this month, it really hasn't been because
they didn't live up to their own principles. But I
feel like the Wizards got them too. I don't know
if there's anything I mean, in your experience psychological about
playing a team that you know has a worse record
(21:05):
and maybe their season isn't going the way that they
wanted to. I don't know if that somehow has affected Brooklyn,
not as an excuse, but just as an observation.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
You never know. You never know, and I don't think
this is this is that team. I don't think they
have a lack of respect for anyone. I don't think
there's disregard. I don't think they take things for granted.
But I do think sometimes there may be a natural letdown.
I will say sometimes too, even just like being in
a building that you need to create your own energy.
One year on the road to begin with, too, is
(21:35):
not a building that is packed with a ton of energy,
and so you need to create your own energy you're
bringing on the road. I know it was a short
road trip, but still like it's the second game of
being on the road for a couple of days. Despite
the phase is kind of the point you're at in
the season, Like there's a variety of things that again
are not excuses that Jordi and sure not one of
(21:57):
the coaches or players would would abide by. But I
do think it is important to recognize as an outsider
recognizing this that it's a it's a long season, and
getting up for every single game is something that there's
the expectation of that, but that is also easier said
than done. And and these players are humans too, and
and in same side with the Wizards, and you said
(22:21):
it like there's there's that enthusiasm from them and probably
a hunger and probably a oh we already we already
beat this team not long ago, and we're going to
see them again. We're seeing them in our building. And
you know, there's everyone all these guys are professionals for
a reason. I guess there's a bottom line, and so
I think in some ways, you know it's not going
(22:42):
to be your night every night. And once again, you
know you have you have moments, and you f stretches,
and I think the Nets, you know had that when
when they're in d C. And you hope you just
learn from it, rebound from that, and you know you're
set up for a very big challenging week here ahead,
So you gotta lack yourself.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
In for that.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
And you trust, you trust they have a great opportunity
to respond, which they have all season. Their next games
at home on Wednesday, probably after you know, the night
when you're hearing this against the Oklahoma City Thunder, so
another great test.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
And I do think that's an interesting point.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Sometimes it's easier to go on the road and play
in a raucous place like Philly, no question.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Yeah, it gives you energy.
Speaker 5 (23:24):
Yeah, And again it's not no one's gonna use the excuse.
No one's gonna it's it's it's the way of it's
the way of the league and the way the NBA,
and everyone faces it. But you know, I'll sit in
there and you know I experienced that.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Br It's it's a different environment and there's different ways
that you need to manufacture energy, and some time it
takes more out of you than than others for different
reasons and different ways, and that just contributes sometimes to performance.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Hey, nex fans. Dunks, dimes and no looks are great
on TV, but nothing compares to catching them. I r
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(24:16):
There's no better brag than saying you saw it live,
see you courtside, Brooklyn.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
I will say it obviously was not all bad. The
Wizards again made plays. Jordan Poole had some awesome step
back jumpers to close the game out. He's, you know,
for all the I Guess memes and criticism of him
and whatnot, his numbers are pretty good this season and
he has stretches where he looks like one of the
best isolation scores in the league. And he gave the
(24:42):
Nets some buckets and a lot of them. You got
to tip your cap. Chris Middleton and Marcus Smart made
a difference. They made some big plays. So that's not
like the Nets just laid down. I don't want to
give that impression.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
And again they.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Forced twenty four turnovers, which brings me to I think
the biggest positive from the stretch over this past month,
these past ten games, right where they're seven and three
and they've had the league's best defense, they are forcing
the most turnovers in the league by a pretty wide margin.
In fact, the turnover percentage that they've created is first
(25:14):
in the league. And the difference between them and number
two is the same difference between them between number two
and number eight. So they are creating a ton of turnovers.
It's leading to points, and I think it's again just
a total statement of faith of success in what they're
trying to do on defense. And the funny thing is
(25:37):
that I don't know how much you put into metrics
like this. They actually are giving up a decent amount
of threes and looks at the rim, So if you
just look at their shot profile, it's not maybe what
you'd expect of the league's best defense. But I guess
that brings into question, you know, how much do you
put in that. Obviously they're forcing turnovers, so there's less shots. Obviously,
(25:59):
these shots that they're are getting protected by Nick Claxton
and Dayron Sharp.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
So I guess why, in your opinion, has.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
That not really affected their overall numbers in a negative way?
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Why?
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Sorry, you're good?
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Why his?
Speaker 1 (26:18):
I guess a defensive shot profile that isn't typical of
a league's best defense. They do give up a lot
of three point attempts, right, they give up some shots
at the rim.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
However they're awesome.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
I think in some regards, so you need to factor
and pace, and with all these metrics and all these numbers,
that may already factor in pace. So that's where again
i'd refer to you with some regard as supposed to
be eye test. But I do think in some capacity,
if you're playing at a pace that is more conducive
to a team not getting a ton of if it
becomes more of a possession game and then you're forcing
some turnovers and you get some extra possessions, then by
(26:54):
nature sometimes that can help you, even if you are
giving up a higher volume of three point looks or
what that appears to be. Yeah, and I don't know,
like I do. I think sometimes you know, when the
sample size is not huge, there are certain numbers or
certain things that it may take a while for it
all to bear out and have a good feel or
(27:15):
a good understanding. But I think overall you're seeing you're
seeing not only the turnovers or deflections or the pressure
on do you feel like you're just you're seeing offenses
more disjointed. And I don't know if those numbers are
baked in there, Lucas, which you would know better than me,
but bake into when an offense is that far extended
an opponent office is that far extended. What they're getting into,
(27:36):
how they're getting into even some of those three point looks,
even if they're corner shots or higher, like the quickness
of them having to take, the speed in which are
coming to close out, like how at what point of
the shot lie Like There's so many variables to me
that can't always be accounted for, which may be why
teams are missing at a higher rate than you may expect,
or where it may seem like, Okay, is this anomaly
(27:59):
or is this based on you know, one thing or
another the defense is doing. But I think all those
things add up just in the for lack of a
better way to put it, like for the effort by
Brooklyn to understand that they're moving on a string. They're communicating,
they're talking, they're coming hard on their closeouts. They know, okay,
a left issue where they're closing a guy out which
(28:20):
direction they're forcing them to. You had mentioned some of
the hedges or things are doing on pick and rolls,
so the offense is more extended, so we'll pass his
off target. So a guy catching a shooting is in
the same shooting pocket. Like, to me, that's the stuff
that it's some juncture. I'm a big believer in numbers.
I'm a blak like I do there, but there's small
nuances that it's like you can't account for if you're
(28:43):
if you're coming to close out and you're getting a
guy to shoot off an inch or shoot a speed
up his shot just a little bit, or when he's
catching it, how he's putting the ball down on the
floor as opposed to just to catch and shoot. Like,
there's a lot of things. I think that Brooklyn does
a very good job of it. Maybe it's not always that,
but I think it's small nuances of understanding who their
(29:04):
personnel is, how they want to play, and everyone is
for the most part, giving that high of anfort level
and compete on each possession and if you're not, then
Jordi has you know, that sit keeps a moving had
some substitutions, and so I think I think as a
whole that has contributed to why the defense has been
(29:26):
so solid.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
I think that's a perfect, you know response, That's exactly
what I was looking for. And I think, you know,
as a compliment, that's why we love having you on
on the broadcast and kind of the details you're able
to illustrate.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Like.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
It does it does feel like it goes beyond the
just the numbers for them and shot quality and all that,
Like you can feel their physicality on closeouts, and I've
you know, had tweets and posts about you know, how
they run guys off the line into help, and so
I think the more details we can get into, like
they are very detail oriented and focused, and you know,
(30:03):
the start of that Washington game, that's why Jordi pulled
all five of them off the floor because it's rare
for them to not have that level of attention, level
of focus. So I do think that, especially over this
past month, that is why maybe their defense looks better
than some of the shot quality numbers would indicate. But
I don't think it's anything that is unsustainable if they
(30:26):
keep playing like this exactly which exactly, and that's exactly
like why I bring up Nick Claxton as my pick
for Brooklyn's Finest because I mentioned that shots at the
rim are not going in as often for the opponent,
but for me, that is anything but luck. I mean,
(30:46):
Nick Claxton's able to play up on the pick and
roll and then he's able to recover to the rim.
And he was just such a force, especially in the
first half of that Cleveland game and against Philly where
he blocks five shots alters and that's not even including
his you know, game winning tip in which was such
a great moment for him. And for the past month,
(31:07):
month and a half, he's just brought it to another
level and I'm really happy for him and his play,
and he's made such a difference for the team. And
you know, he's showing a little bit more one on
one offense as of late. He's attacked the guys off
the dribble, finishing at the rim. He's gotten more comfortable too,
like hitting those passes from the top of the key
(31:29):
to back door cutters and stuff like that. So I
just think there is not one facet of his game
that he hasn't improved upon over the course of this season,
and so for that I think is very deserving of
a Brooklyn's Finest pick.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
For me, I could not agree more with that. And
I think the big to you said, I think he's
taken more ownership to all of those things. Defensively, We've
talked about it as Tom, but there are certain moments
where I feel like he's been more assertive in realizing
either where the doc clock is at or what the
set up the offense looks like and creating for himself
(32:04):
or taking his own shot, calling his own number. Maybe
a little bit of a diversion play given where the
defense's attention is focused on other players. So I couldn't
agree more. I last week trendon Watford was my guy.
I think, I said, Sire Williams shopped to him not
that long ago. I thought he had a really great week.
(32:26):
But I'm gonna circle back to specifically what you were
talking about with Cam Johnson.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
I know I kind of spoiled it for you, No,
I know.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
I appreciate it. It means we're on the same or
we're on the same page. Yeah, I think we can't
we talk about him. I feel like we talked about
him so much the early part of the season, how
he was playing like an All star, obviously, just everything
that he had done through the course of conversations with
the trade deadline, showing up as a pro, and now
(32:57):
even the the last three three games that we have
been this last week against Cleveland and Philly and Washington,
the number, no matter what has happened, the numbers that
we expect from him and that he shows up with
are at such a high level of consistency. And to me,
there is nothing more important than a consistent player knowing
(33:19):
what you're gonna get. And I think, one, you know
what you're gonna get from him every single night, but two, uh,
there was no better example than that Philadelphia game when
shots aren't falling, the fact that he got to the
line eight times he was getting I felt like the
time every time I was watching, he's on the floor
in some capit, but because he's drum because he's you know,
(33:42):
creating contact, doing other things, and then hitting the critical
three point shot despite the fact that he had not
shot well from three through the whole game. To me,
that's an indicator of someone that they're at this level
no matter what, and it may not always be pretty,
it may not always be perfect, shots may not always
be falling, but they are going to impact the outcome
(34:04):
of the game. And that's exactly what I felt like
he was able to do, and I think even too,
like looking at him getting I think through the course
of those three games almost seven free throw attempts per game,
we're right around there. Like the combination of that type
of versatility offensively, of continuing to be on the attack,
get to the front of the cup, work the mid
(34:25):
range game, obviously the three point shot, but doing it
off with catch, off the dribble, facilitating rebounding, steal like
all of those things I think now we've come to expect.
But you also can't take for granted, just to me,
the different level of player he seems to be the season,
and now that he's at this point, the expectation of
(34:47):
what that means and how that helps other guys around him,
And so I think that's that's exactly what we've continued
to see, and most specifically this past week, it was
very evident even the Cleveland game, like Cleveland's defense worried
about taking him out of it and how that opened
up things for other players, and so all of those
things to me made him my Brooklyn's finest for this
(35:09):
last week.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Expectation, that's the word.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
It's like the Nets don't win that Philly game if
he doesn't bring all of that stuff beyond the three
point looks that don't go in. So this is just
the new standard for him, and at some point he's
going to have to impress us even more to keep
giving him Brooklyn's Finest.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
But I'm glad that you did that. And he is
just the engine of their offense.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
And it was kind of previously almost unthinkable that he'd
have this much success in this role. But as Jordi
Fernandez says, you get one percent better each day, and
you don't know what can happen. Speaking of getting one
percent better each day, that's definitely a goal for Killian Hayes.
He played his first three games with the big league
club over this past week. He actually had eight assists
(35:52):
and two turnovers against Washington on Monday night, one of
the only guys that really thrived in his role on
offense besides Ziah Williams, who hit a career high five
to three pointers. I want to shout out him, yes,
but you can see why why Killian like might still
have this NBA future. He's talked about, you know, being
a high draft pick with the Pistons, losing his contract,
(36:15):
playing in the G League and wanting to remain in
the NBA. And you can see that he has NBA
skills in terms of the floor reading. He had a
ton of nice open court assists against Cleveland, against Philly,
and then against Washington. You saw a little bit more
of it in the half court, probing, driving, getting in
the lane, spraying out to shooters. But Jordy Fernandez post
(36:35):
game said, we want him to shoot the ball. We
want him to take He only took three three point attempts.
We want that to go way up. You know, he's
going to be in this league if he shows that
he can shoot and shoot consistently. And so Killian is
my next net to watch, just as he does really
intrigue me as a guy that can get the ball popping.
And I want to see, you know, over a larger
(36:58):
sample size, I really do want to see how much
his offense, you know, in the half court, his creation,
his shooting has progressed because he put up some monster
games down in Long Island. He you know, was averaging
four threes, made a game over his past month or so.
So I'm really looking forward to him as my next
net and something to watch for over these past over
(37:20):
these final you know, two months or what have you
of the season.
Speaker 3 (37:24):
Yeah, doub No, I was just concernment and double down
with you. I'm killing because I really liked what I
saw through the course of preseason trying to camp, and
he got injured, and I think in many ways that
kind of changed the trajectory of potentially where he would
be or what would be happening with him. Maybe not,
but but I do think that had an effect. And
(37:46):
I think you said it. There's a lot of aspects
of his game. There's a reason why he was a
lottery pick. There's a reason why there was expectations of
the type of point guard he could become. What he
can do defensively, and I think for players like the
shooting components. Sometimes sometimes it's actual shooting and the ability
(38:08):
to knock down shots in different circumstances or just what
your shot looks like. But sometimes it becomes so mentally overwhelming,
and I'm not saying I never talked to Feeling about this.
Who knows, but I think sometimes when it becomes a thing,
and then this becomes a thing that you can't do,
and this is the thing that's keeping you from playing
in the league, and what that looks like through the
course or through the stretch of a long period of time.
(38:30):
It does take some time or a different scenario or
a different environment to get over that and to be
a consistent shooter or a solid shooter, or at least
sustainable to be able to utilize your strengths on the floor.
And I would love to see that for him. I
would love to see him translate a lot of what
we've seen in Long Island. And I know that's different,
(38:50):
but sometimes it's not when it comes down to just
see the ball through the hoop and making shots, and again,
not a player that you relying upon to be a microwave,
come in, come in and on the floor. Like the
things you still need him to do are the things
that he can do. But just how do you make
sure that the compliments of the rest of its game
fit and are able to fit with the team you
(39:12):
know and stretches when he is playing, when he is
running things, and so I'd like to see him more.
And he obviously like a great teammate, coachable player, someone
that you would like to have in the locker room,
and so for all those reasons, Yah, I'm excited to
see what he does with with just a little bit
of a lower pressure situation of knowing he may have
(39:33):
some run or may have some opportunity to play through
enough to say it's lower pressure, but play through mistakes.
And sometimes when you know that you're going to have
a leash to play through some mistakes like missing shots,
but if you got the other things right that I'm
interested to see how he's able to potentially take advantage
of that.
Speaker 1 (39:52):
And he's going to get run because you can tell
he's gonna play hard on defense already. I don't want
to judge him off three games entirely. But took a
charge again Cleveland, stripped Tyrese Maxey on a drive against Philly,
and and he made some other plays.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
Those are just the ones that stand out. But he's
gonna earn minutes.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
He's was the first sub off the bench against Cleveland
in his first action of the year. So I think Jordi,
you know, is not gonna yanke a guy off there,
you know, with a cane like like off the stage,
so he'll he'll get run and so I'm excited to
see that.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
And that brings us, of course to trivia.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
We have.
Speaker 1 (40:31):
We have what should be kind of an I don't
want to say easy, but a fairly obvious one. Nick
Claxton hits a game winner buzzer beater against the Philadelphia
seventy six Ers. Calls it perhaps one of the three
best basketball moments of his career. Who is the all
time NETS leader in buzzer beating shots?
Speaker 3 (40:54):
Oh, I would say, Joe Johnson, you would be right, okay, right,
five of them? Yeah, I mean I feel like that
that thank you. I didn't know if you were being
tricky that it was easy.
Speaker 2 (41:04):
No, No, that definitely feels not being sarcastic.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
No, do you want to take a guess at who
the three other guys with multiple buzzer beaters are?
Speaker 3 (41:14):
Darren Williams No, kind of close though, Spencer dinwitdie.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
No, there's one, there's one that you should get.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
No, it's Vince Carter right behind me, uh, Devin Harris
and Keith Van Horn.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
I think if we let you Devin Devan would be salty.
I did not guess him towards the top.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
But yeah, okay, I don't want to.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
I'm not I'm not sure. I'm not sure Keith I
would have eventually maybe eventually got to But no, no,
I thought, I you know, I Yeah, No, I should have.
I should have thoughts. We've shown enough Vince, I mean
through the course now leading up to the time, we
showed enough of his his buzzer beaters, So I should
have thought of that.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
Yeah, we're gonna of moratorium on that very briefly. But no,
it's obviously the one in Utah, the one against the
Hawks and Devin. It was just the sixteen year anniversary
of his half court game winner against the Philadelphia seventy
six ers, no less, one day after Nick Claxton's I
was there.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
I was eight years old.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
I think I caught a T shirt from a T
shirt cannon during that game with my dad. So that
was a real highlight for eight year old Lucas great memories.
But that Nick Claxton game winner, too, will also be
a great memory for nets world. So a pretty fun,
exhilarating week. Happy to recap it with you here on
(42:39):
the back Court any partying words.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
Sarah, No, I'm just excited for the week. I'm excited.
We talk a lot about how this team matches up.
I mean, hopefully they get a little bit more health,
but how they will match up against Oklahoma City Thunder
and what that will look like. Because of Thunder, we
know are an absolute juggernaut right now, so it'll be
fun to watch and then a be as the week progresses,
(43:02):
but that'll be a good one to kick things off
until we all meet again.
Speaker 1 (43:07):
Absolutely, we got the Thunder, the Blazers, the Pistons, and
the Spurs upcoming before the next episode of The Backcourt, which,
as always, is brought to you by Ticketmaster and available
wherever you get your podcasts. This has been episode eighteen.
Thank you everybody for listening as we talk Brooklyn. That's basketball,
and we will see you guys next week.
You are now in the backcourt of Brooklyn NETS podcast
presented by Ticketmaster Shout out to them. I am Lucas Kaplan,
writer for NETS Daily, also of NETS Film Focus, a
great video series we have, you know, dropping the x's
and o's knowledge inside on some players. We got some
stuff coming for you guys this month, so look out
for that. And as always, joining me is Yes Networks
(00:24):
and many others.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Sarah coustaks Sarah, how are we?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I'm good, Lucas, how are you? It's good to see
you though. We both got our Yankees hat my most.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Yeah, yeah, I'm you know, hey, February spring training. Yanks
are playing spring training games, so that's always fun. And
you're down in Florida anyway, you should pop over from
Miami too.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Seeing look at Florida residents.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
How's unrivaled.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
It's fantastic. It has been an extraordinary experience. I'm so
impressed with what they put together, the environment, the situation, circumstance, players,
just everything about it has been really, really cool. So
I appreciate I know you've been locking in and you're
always asking and I appreciate it. So yeah, thanks, but
(01:09):
it's been fun. A couple more weeks and then the postseason,
the unrivaled postseason mid March, so of course, right right now,
right before March Madness, right on on the after selection Sunday.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Oh wow, right, yeah, because it's a month.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah, so we're gonna have unrivaled playoffs, March Madness right
into NBA playoffs. That will be a great time in
the year, as always end it'll be the start of
the MLB regular season. So we got a great couple
of months coming up. But obviously that includes the Brooklyn Nets,
who had a pretty busy week coming out of the
All Star Break. Not only did they have three games,
(01:46):
which we'll get to, but some congratulations are in order.
Tyreese Martin was converted to a standard NBA contract, multi
year deal, so huge congratulations to him. And Killian Hayes
was then converted to a or It was then called
up to the big leagues from Long Island Nets where
he's been killing it down there. So we got them
(02:08):
making a couple of transactional you know, roster moves, and
we had three games. You know, they opened against Cleveland,
beat Philly, and then lost.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
On Monday night.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
We're recording this Tuesday against the Washington Wizards, but you
were in the building for the loss to Cleveland, and
I thought that was a great test for the Nets.
Coming out of the break was a really fun close
game until about the seven minute mark of the fourth
quarter Cleveland kind of created some distance.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
So just what were your.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Overall impressions takeaways of a matchup with you know, the
top team in the league.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Yeah, I think you said it out of the gates
and especially coming out of All Star Break, I thought
it was just a really refined performance in terms of
setting the tone early, the sense of urgency, attention to detail.
There was a lot of things that I just I
was really impressed with knowing the type of team Cleveland news,
knowing how locked in they would be, and obviously they've
(03:04):
got a multitude of players and even new additions that
have made them a team that are serious contender. And
so I think the way Brooklyn played for the better
part to your point, you know, into that fourth quarter,
I think one it was impressive, but two, it's a
lot of what we've seen from this group when they've
been healthy, and when they've been you know, had the
(03:27):
compliments of a lot of their roster available to him
to them and I think that's what's been exciting about
this group overall. It's just when it does not matter
the level of competition, it feels like they have a
game plan, they will stay within that game plan, discipline,
and more often than not they're able to execute. And
I think a big part of that two always comes
from when they're making shots, as you can say about
(03:49):
any team. But I thought overall, there was a lot
of positive to take from that performance and just the
way in which it went.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah, the thing that really stood out to me was,
you know, they came into the break righting some of
the best defensive play in the league, you know, over
the previous few weeks. But Badam played really a team
like Cleveland, to be fair, you know, there are few
teams like Cleveland in the league. The NBA's best offense,
but especially with their guards that can drive, pass, shoot,
(04:20):
and so I was really interested to see, you know,
this defense, how they would hold up. You know, they
were limiting opponent three pointers, but you know how much
of that was luck? Was Cleveland really gonna you know,
be able to pop off on them?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
But not really?
Speaker 1 (04:34):
I mean Donovan Mitchell shoots eight of twenty one and
he was had his foot on the gas pedal really
the whole time. Darius Garland has eighteen points on you know,
twelve shots and four free throws. Those two combined for
six turnovers, and aside from a couple stretches of just
kind of ridiculous individual plays, I think in that third quarter,
(04:56):
the Nets really held those two guys down, which I
think is a resounding sort of I don't know what's
the word success or just yeah, a successful statement in
terms of this defensive identity that they have.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Hedging ball screens.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
You don't see it a lot in the NBA, Applying
pressure near half court. You don't see that a lot
in the NBA, especially against guards that good. And you know,
the Nets really did their job. I think they had
a chance to win that game if they shoot a
little bit better than twenty six percent from three. You know,
they shoot eleven of nineteen at the free throw line.
(05:33):
Defense is not why they lost that game, and I
think that is a huge positive to take away. What
do you think what were the I guess differences like
the separators for Cleveland, stuff that the Nets can look
to and say, you know, that's the direction in which
we want to take this thing.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
I think in Meniquet like there was a lot of
lineups they had that were just so big in long
and rangey. It obviously, again it circles back to they're
a contending team, so the opportunity they have to play
with a Jared Allen and Evan Mobley on the inside,
you bring in DeAndre Hunter and what he looks like.
(06:11):
Obviously Donovan Mitchell maybe not in terms of hype, but
he might as well cover the entire court in so
many ways. Cowie's plays. The same to be said for
Darius Garland, but you kind of go through even someone
like Ty Jerome who has been extraordinary for them, the
Plumshy and Sam Marrill like they they're a deep team.
They're a deep team, which is why they are a
(06:33):
contending team. However, to your point, I feel like there's
a lot of players I mentioned a couple of them,
whether it's side Jerome or Sam. There's players that have
developed within the context of their system or a fit
in well or a fit in along and around those
stars that has helped to elevate their game. And so
(06:53):
I think that's the idea of those type of players.
When you find the right fit and you find the
right chemistry. I think that's why when we look at players,
you know, Cam Johnson's guy we talked about all the time,
but look at players within the context of when they
are like core character players that have a lot of versatility,
(07:15):
had a lot of upside. You can slot them into
different places. You can slap them into different options of
what they are on your offensive side, how they fit
in a defensive structure, depending on who else the personnelit is.
That to me, is where team building gets really exciting,
because you look at different pieces of what you might
bring and to have moving parts of Okay, how you
(07:39):
can play with this lineup a little bit bigger, a
little bit smaller. And to me, that's what Kenny Atkinson
has the ability to do with that group and they
just play so well together. And I think the same
thing could be said obviously very different places, but I
think that's what we've been saying about Brooklyn. It doesn't
matter who's on the floor, it doesn't matter what the
lineup look like. They know exactly what they're supposed to do.
(08:02):
They know the style they want to play, they know
what the system looks like every game. They know it's
gotter import game plan and they execute it more often not.
It's such a high, high level that they're going to
put themselves in position to win games. And so to me,
a team like Cleveland, like I just I watched it
and it's a lot of our old friends obviously of
(08:24):
course becus so you know, on the coaching staff, both
on the floor. But I love to watch them. But
I'm like, they just they enjoy playing for one another.
They enjoy you know, just playing with each other, that
style of play being pushed. I think Donovan Mitchell is
obviously a huge part of that. I'm a huge fan
of his just both as a player and as a person.
(08:45):
And so yeah, all of those things to me are
important components to finding success. And I think when you
look at where this nets group framework is at, there's
a lot to me of places that you could find
similarities in that vein or seeds that could potentially grow
into those type of things.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
And I think what's really helped them is I don't
want to say injury luck, but just having consistent like
construction of their lineups of who's on the floor, and
that obviously, like you said, helps them, you know, fit
puzzle pieces together. I think the Nets have been a
little bit hamstrung by again, trades, injuries, all that stuff.
(09:27):
It makes it hard to kind of define roles, you know,
despite as we've talked about, Jordy Fernandez and the staff
doing a really great job at getting guys prepared. In
that Cleveland game, D'Angelo Russell goes down with an ankle
sprain in the third quarter, and I think from that
point their offense did take a hit. Even though they
were able to make a little bit of a run
(09:48):
in the third quarter. You really felt them miss Deload
down the stretch in that fourth quarter, and I thought
that was going to I mean, obviously that's a big
loss going into next game against the Philadelphia seventy six ers.
And then the Nets come out with forty points in
the first quarter of that one and they lead sixty
(10:09):
three to fifty two or whatever it was at halftime.
That was one heck of a game. Obviously, we know
how it ended with Nick Claxton's first career game winner
at the buzzer.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
No less, what were your impressions.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
I don't think you were in the building for that one,
what were your impressions watching it on TV?
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Going over the film.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
I was not in a building, but I was so excited.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
You wish you were, you wish you were.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I would do anything I would have been. Unfortunately, our
broadcast divisions are really very high up in Philadelphia, so
I would have been tumbling down and very excited to
not hear that whatever that song is play at the
end of At the end of the six Ers wins
in Wells Fargo Center, I saw it. I thought it
(10:56):
was awesome. I thought it was such such a fun win.
Obviously you can get into just how the process of
getting to that point, but I thought the way that finished,
the body control, the recognition, awareness, like all of that
for Claxton to come up with an all sense of
rebound and put back, but just overall, just the ways
(11:18):
that the group played and the ability to close it out,
and I think just have like a good boost like that.
I think at any time we have seen this team
in certain circumstances, or the camaraderie that they share and
the excitement enthusiasm they share for one another coming away
with a win like that, it was just awesome and
fun to watch. And I think for this group that
(11:39):
has got a chip on their shoulder, believes in one another,
believes in themselves as ready to make some waves. I
thought that was just a really especially you know, I
know Philadelphia and Joel Embiid didn't playing the latter part
of that one, and just obviously the seventy six ers
have got a lot of moving parts themselves. But I
think for a team that's right up the street from
(12:00):
you and you see so often and obviously the expectations
of what that team wanted to do and all of
that this season, I think it was just it was
really fun to watch to watch from afar and obviously
understand the magnitude of what that meant for Nick and
just how well Nick has been playing, but kind.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Of have it be cacked off in that, yeah, I think.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
I mean the biggest difference on this one is that
Brooklyn did not shoot the three well again against Philly. However,
they just dominated the paint at a level which you
rarely see in the NBA. They shot thirty four of
fifty three from two, so they shot sixty four percent
inside the arc, and part of that was felt like
(12:42):
every time they missed, they got an offensive rebound. They
had a ton of second chance points in that one.
They were big, they were physical, and you know, one
the turnover battle, all these little things that you kind
of expect from, you know, on the margins of a
team that really needs to make up for maybe you know,
(13:03):
when the shots don't go in.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
They did.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
They blocked eight shots in that game, including five from
Nick Claxton, who was great even before his game winner.
You know, he scores sixteen points, grabs nine boards, blocks
five shots and including one right before his game winner
to keep the score tied I believe at one hundred
one hundred, and you know, then eventually gets the game
(13:29):
winning layup. But that was one heck of a win
and produced some of my favorite reactions of the season,
just the celebrations, seeing all the guys go crazy. That
was one of the best games of the season, I think,
in my opinion. But it wasn't just Nick, obviously, you
had a ton of guys contribute. Keon Johnson scores eleven points,
(13:51):
four assists, three steals. It felt like in that one specifically,
he really embraced the ball pressure, you know, aggressiveness that
already Fernandez has been preaching and I don't think spoiler alert,
he'll be my Brooklyn's finest choice for the week, because
it seems like he is every other time we do
this podcast. But Cam Johnson in this one shoots one
(14:14):
of nine from three can't buy one from there. But
the one he hits is to tie the game with
four minutes left. He shoots six of eight from inside
the arch. He gets to the line eight times, four assists,
three steals. It just felt like that was really a
culmination of all the work he's done this year where
(14:35):
on a night when the shot doesn't go in, he
was the engine of the offense and you know, really
just awesome all night despite a lack of three point shooting.
I think that really stood out to me, and again,
you know, kind of encapsulated what he's been able to
do so far.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Yeah, I could not agree more. You're stealing my Brooklyn's finals,
So I don't want to dive into it too much,
but no, and I think that's characteristic of his growth.
I think even the night trendon Watford had and how
special he was and how he was able to facilitate
and orchestrate so much of what Brooklyn was able to do,
Like it was just so many key components to different
players and how they contributed the understanding of it and
(15:16):
to your point of getting in the paint and making
that be an area where when shots aren't falling, you're
still able to manufacture points in a different way. And
it's easy to look at offense rebounding or second test
points and say, yeah, it's because you're missing a lot
of shots. But it also takes the awareness, recognition, and
ability to execute a lot of those extra opportunities. And
(15:37):
I think that's one thing at different points throughout the
course of the season we've seen Brooklyn been able to do.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
You can also see I love seeing the individual growth
in these sorts of games, like you mentioned Trendon, and
Trendon has been able to get to the front of
the rim, you know, use that floater. He's been able
to throw some lobs, to hit some cutters on the inside.
But you can see him kind of flesh out the
fire points of you know, point of attack offense, like
being a main ball handler. I have a play in
(16:05):
my notes at around the eleven minute mark of the
fourth quarter where he's getting ready to get a handoff
from Nick Claxton, but he backcuts, you know, gets a
back door pass from Nick to the basket. Attracts three
defenders and instead of taking you know, a tough ten
foot floater that he can make looks off, you know,
(16:25):
the help, and sprays the ball.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
To the corner to create an open three.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
And that's the sort of stuff that you know, he's
going to need to do more of if he's going
to be an NBA point guard full time and not
just sort of a you know, a gimmicky oh, we
can handle the ball every once in a while, but
really a full time ball handler. And he was great
in that game, breaking guys down off the dribble, but
also doing some of the smaller things like that. And
(16:53):
I'm really glad that they won that game because it
felt like a game that they deserve to win, and
again one that I think they would have put away
earlier if they made a couple open threes.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
But you know, going into the final game of the
week and Washington was kind of the opposite.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
They they lose on Monday night to the Wizards in
a game that had a ton of lead changes, Nets
only scored twelve points in the fourth quarter. You know,
that was really what Jordy Fernandez pointed to in postgame.
Offense couldn't really get off the ground despite shooting thirty
nine percent from three. Just briefly, what did you see
(17:29):
in that game?
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Yeah, I think that's a part of it. There's something
I said this to you before we started podcast when
the Nets had most recently played Washington and Brooklyn and
had next to no when it was right after the
trade deadline or trades had occurred in moving Kyle Kuzman others,
and it was still there's still a scrappy team that
plays really hard, and I think their understanding of just
(17:54):
it felt like an extra bit of motivation in playing
Brooklyn and just how they were able to play and
execute but were all for the Nets. I feel like
sometimes it's just making sure that the shots that you're
missing on one end aren't affecting what you're doing on
the defensive end. And there was moments or stretches at
times shout the course of that game where I felt like,
and it always goes hand to hand, but maybe some
(18:15):
some of that mental fatigue or frustration or what wasn't
happening on the offensive end then also sometimes got them
in bad spots or opposition or some breakdown, some uncharacteristic
breakdowns on the defensive end and even those last few
minutes of the game when it was what a one
point game and they were in position and there was
(18:37):
whether some big shots by Jordan Poole or whether it
was just a breakdown and transition or whatever it may
look like. To me, that's where just the mental fortitude,
the focus being locked in even when you're missing shots,
even if you have a breakdown, even if you don't
get a quality look on the offensive side, making sure
that doesn't affect you defensively. And there was stretches that
(18:58):
I noticed throughout the course of that game that it
felt like that was parts of the areas that led
to the breakdowns.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Yeah, it's funny because, like I have in my notes here,
they they forced a ton of turnovers, but their consistency
on defense there I guess there wasn't a lot of it.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
It was very choppy.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
So in the third quarter, end of the second, like
beginning of the fourth, they were forcing a ton of
turnovers that help their offense. You know, it started on defense,
carried over to the other side, what you always hear
from these guys. But like you know, they start the
game down twenty one to seven, and the defense was
just not where we've seen it, and it causes Jordi
(19:36):
Fernandez to call a time out and make a hockey
style line change five off, five in, and guys like
Tyreese Martin and Dayron Sharp picked up the energy. But
even though they eventually, you know, retook the lead in
the third quarter, it's hard to have to fight back
from such an early hole. And you know, in the standings,
(20:00):
the Wizards entered the game with the league's worst record,
and the Nets, you know, entered as the eleven seed
knocking on the plane door. The Wizards look at the
Nets like, all right, this is a team that like,
this is a chance to get a win right here,
and you have to know, especially they just be you
and your building, you have to know that that's coming.
I thought the Nets did a good job of responding
(20:22):
to some of their stretches, able to pick themselves back
out of it. But once you give a team like
that life over the first five minutes of the game,
it's hard to erase that feeling, and I think that
ultimately doomed the Nets. And even though they made some threes,
they shot thirty nine percent from three, it wasn't enough.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
And it's funny the Wizards in the month of.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
February are really the only team that's gotten the Nets
out of their I guess identity. The other times the
Nets have lost this month, it really hasn't been because
they didn't live up to their own principles. But I
feel like the Wizards got them too. I don't know
if there's anything I mean, in your experience psychological about
playing a team that you know has a worse record
(21:05):
and maybe their season isn't going the way that they
wanted to. I don't know if that somehow has affected Brooklyn,
not as an excuse, but just as an observation.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
You never know. You never know, and I don't think
this is this is that team. I don't think they
have a lack of respect for anyone. I don't think
there's disregard. I don't think they take things for granted.
But I do think sometimes there may be a natural letdown.
I will say sometimes too, even just like being in
a building that you need to create your own energy.
One year on the road to begin with, too, is
(21:35):
not a building that is packed with a ton of energy,
and so you need to create your own energy you're
bringing on the road. I know it was a short
road trip, but still like it's the second game of
being on the road for a couple of days. Despite
the phase is kind of the point you're at in
the season, Like there's a variety of things that again
are not excuses that Jordi and sure not one of
(21:57):
the coaches or players would would abide by. But I
do think it is important to recognize as an outsider
recognizing this that it's a it's a long season, and
getting up for every single game is something that there's
the expectation of that, but that is also easier said
than done. And and these players are humans too, and
and in same side with the Wizards, and you said
(22:21):
it like there's there's that enthusiasm from them and probably
a hunger and probably a oh we already we already
beat this team not long ago, and we're going to
see them again. We're seeing them in our building. And
you know, there's everyone all these guys are professionals for
a reason. I guess there's a bottom line, and so
I think in some ways, you know it's not going
(22:42):
to be your night every night. And once again, you
know you have you have moments, and you f stretches,
and I think the Nets, you know had that when
when they're in d C. And you hope you just
learn from it, rebound from that, and you know you're
set up for a very big challenging week here ahead,
So you gotta lack yourself.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
In for that.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
And you trust, you trust they have a great opportunity
to respond, which they have all season. Their next games
at home on Wednesday, probably after you know, the night
when you're hearing this against the Oklahoma City Thunder, so
another great test.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
And I do think that's an interesting point.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Sometimes it's easier to go on the road and play
in a raucous place like Philly, no question.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Yeah, it gives you energy.
Speaker 5 (23:24):
Yeah, And again it's not no one's gonna use the excuse.
No one's gonna it's it's it's the way of it's
the way of the league and the way the NBA,
and everyone faces it. But you know, I'll sit in
there and you know I experienced that.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Br It's it's a different environment and there's different ways
that you need to manufacture energy, and some time it
takes more out of you than than others for different
reasons and different ways, and that just contributes sometimes to performance.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Hey, nex fans. Dunks, dimes and no looks are great
on TV, but nothing compares to catching them. I r
L and that start buying tickets a Ticketmaster, the official
ticket marketplace of the Nets in the NBA. Ticketmaster get
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Put that jersey collection to us and get tickets a Ticketmaster.
(24:16):
There's no better brag than saying you saw it live,
see you courtside, Brooklyn.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
I will say it obviously was not all bad. The
Wizards again made plays. Jordan Poole had some awesome step
back jumpers to close the game out. He's, you know,
for all the I Guess memes and criticism of him
and whatnot, his numbers are pretty good this season and
he has stretches where he looks like one of the
best isolation scores in the league. And he gave the
(24:42):
Nets some buckets and a lot of them. You got
to tip your cap. Chris Middleton and Marcus Smart made
a difference. They made some big plays. So that's not
like the Nets just laid down. I don't want to
give that impression.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
And again they.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Forced twenty four turnovers, which brings me to I think
the biggest positive from the stretch over this past month,
these past ten games, right where they're seven and three
and they've had the league's best defense, they are forcing
the most turnovers in the league by a pretty wide margin.
In fact, the turnover percentage that they've created is first
(25:14):
in the league. And the difference between them and number
two is the same difference between them between number two
and number eight. So they are creating a ton of turnovers.
It's leading to points, and I think it's again just
a total statement of faith of success in what they're
trying to do on defense. And the funny thing is
(25:37):
that I don't know how much you put into metrics
like this. They actually are giving up a decent amount
of threes and looks at the rim, So if you
just look at their shot profile, it's not maybe what
you'd expect of the league's best defense. But I guess
that brings into question, you know, how much do you
put in that. Obviously they're forcing turnovers, so there's less shots. Obviously,
(25:59):
these shots that they're are getting protected by Nick Claxton
and Dayron Sharp.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
So I guess why, in your opinion, has.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
That not really affected their overall numbers in a negative way?
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Why?
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Sorry, you're good?
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Why his?
Speaker 1 (26:18):
I guess a defensive shot profile that isn't typical of
a league's best defense. They do give up a lot
of three point attempts, right, they give up some shots
at the rim.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
However they're awesome.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
I think in some regards, so you need to factor
and pace, and with all these metrics and all these numbers,
that may already factor in pace. So that's where again
i'd refer to you with some regard as supposed to
be eye test. But I do think in some capacity,
if you're playing at a pace that is more conducive
to a team not getting a ton of if it
becomes more of a possession game and then you're forcing
some turnovers and you get some extra possessions, then by
(26:54):
nature sometimes that can help you, even if you are
giving up a higher volume of three point looks or
what that appears to be. Yeah, and I don't know,
like I do. I think sometimes you know, when the
sample size is not huge, there are certain numbers or
certain things that it may take a while for it
all to bear out and have a good feel or
(27:15):
a good understanding. But I think overall you're seeing you're
seeing not only the turnovers or deflections or the pressure
on do you feel like you're just you're seeing offenses
more disjointed. And I don't know if those numbers are
baked in there, Lucas, which you would know better than me,
but bake into when an offense is that far extended
an opponent office is that far extended. What they're getting into,
(27:36):
how they're getting into even some of those three point looks,
even if they're corner shots or higher, like the quickness
of them having to take, the speed in which are
coming to close out, like how at what point of
the shot lie Like There's so many variables to me
that can't always be accounted for, which may be why
teams are missing at a higher rate than you may expect,
or where it may seem like, Okay, is this anomaly
(27:59):
or is this based on you know, one thing or
another the defense is doing. But I think all those
things add up just in the for lack of a
better way to put it, like for the effort by
Brooklyn to understand that they're moving on a string. They're communicating,
they're talking, they're coming hard on their closeouts. They know, okay,
a left issue where they're closing a guy out which
(28:20):
direction they're forcing them to. You had mentioned some of
the hedges or things are doing on pick and rolls,
so the offense is more extended, so we'll pass his
off target. So a guy catching a shooting is in
the same shooting pocket. Like, to me, that's the stuff
that it's some juncture. I'm a big believer in numbers.
I'm a blak like I do there, but there's small
nuances that it's like you can't account for if you're
(28:43):
if you're coming to close out and you're getting a
guy to shoot off an inch or shoot a speed
up his shot just a little bit, or when he's
catching it, how he's putting the ball down on the
floor as opposed to just to catch and shoot. Like,
there's a lot of things. I think that Brooklyn does
a very good job of it. Maybe it's not always that,
but I think it's small nuances of understanding who their
(29:04):
personnel is, how they want to play, and everyone is
for the most part, giving that high of anfort level
and compete on each possession and if you're not, then
Jordi has you know, that sit keeps a moving had
some substitutions, and so I think I think as a
whole that has contributed to why the defense has been
(29:26):
so solid.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
I think that's a perfect, you know response, That's exactly
what I was looking for. And I think, you know,
as a compliment, that's why we love having you on
on the broadcast and kind of the details you're able
to illustrate.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Like.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
It does it does feel like it goes beyond the
just the numbers for them and shot quality and all that,
Like you can feel their physicality on closeouts, and I've
you know, had tweets and posts about you know, how
they run guys off the line into help, and so
I think the more details we can get into, like
they are very detail oriented and focused, and you know,
(30:03):
the start of that Washington game, that's why Jordi pulled
all five of them off the floor because it's rare
for them to not have that level of attention, level
of focus. So I do think that, especially over this
past month, that is why maybe their defense looks better
than some of the shot quality numbers would indicate. But
I don't think it's anything that is unsustainable if they
(30:26):
keep playing like this exactly which exactly, and that's exactly
like why I bring up Nick Claxton as my pick
for Brooklyn's Finest because I mentioned that shots at the
rim are not going in as often for the opponent,
but for me, that is anything but luck. I mean,
(30:46):
Nick Claxton's able to play up on the pick and
roll and then he's able to recover to the rim.
And he was just such a force, especially in the
first half of that Cleveland game and against Philly where
he blocks five shots alters and that's not even including
his you know, game winning tip in which was such
a great moment for him. And for the past month,
(31:07):
month and a half, he's just brought it to another
level and I'm really happy for him and his play,
and he's made such a difference for the team. And
you know, he's showing a little bit more one on
one offense as of late. He's attacked the guys off
the dribble, finishing at the rim. He's gotten more comfortable too,
like hitting those passes from the top of the key
(31:29):
to back door cutters and stuff like that. So I
just think there is not one facet of his game
that he hasn't improved upon over the course of this season,
and so for that I think is very deserving of
a Brooklyn's Finest pick.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
For me, I could not agree more with that. And
I think the big to you said, I think he's
taken more ownership to all of those things. Defensively, We've
talked about it as Tom, but there are certain moments
where I feel like he's been more assertive in realizing
either where the doc clock is at or what the
set up the offense looks like and creating for himself
(32:04):
or taking his own shot, calling his own number. Maybe
a little bit of a diversion play given where the
defense's attention is focused on other players. So I couldn't
agree more. I last week trendon Watford was my guy.
I think, I said, Sire Williams shopped to him not
that long ago. I thought he had a really great week.
(32:26):
But I'm gonna circle back to specifically what you were
talking about with Cam Johnson.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
I know I kind of spoiled it for you, No,
I know.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
I appreciate it. It means we're on the same or
we're on the same page. Yeah, I think we can't
we talk about him. I feel like we talked about
him so much the early part of the season, how
he was playing like an All star, obviously, just everything
that he had done through the course of conversations with
the trade deadline, showing up as a pro, and now
(32:57):
even the the last three three games that we have
been this last week against Cleveland and Philly and Washington,
the number, no matter what has happened, the numbers that
we expect from him and that he shows up with
are at such a high level of consistency. And to me,
there is nothing more important than a consistent player knowing
(33:19):
what you're gonna get. And I think, one, you know
what you're gonna get from him every single night, but two, uh,
there was no better example than that Philadelphia game when
shots aren't falling, the fact that he got to the
line eight times he was getting I felt like the
time every time I was watching, he's on the floor
in some capit, but because he's drum because he's you know,
(33:42):
creating contact, doing other things, and then hitting the critical
three point shot despite the fact that he had not
shot well from three through the whole game. To me,
that's an indicator of someone that they're at this level
no matter what, and it may not always be pretty,
it may not always be perfect, shots may not always
be falling, but they are going to impact the outcome
(34:04):
of the game. And that's exactly what I felt like
he was able to do, and I think even too,
like looking at him getting I think through the course
of those three games almost seven free throw attempts per game,
we're right around there. Like the combination of that type
of versatility offensively, of continuing to be on the attack,
get to the front of the cup, work the mid
(34:25):
range game, obviously the three point shot, but doing it
off with catch, off the dribble, facilitating rebounding, steal like
all of those things I think now we've come to expect.
But you also can't take for granted, just to me,
the different level of player he seems to be the season,
and now that he's at this point, the expectation of
(34:47):
what that means and how that helps other guys around him,
And so I think that's that's exactly what we've continued
to see, and most specifically this past week, it was
very evident even the Cleveland game, like Cleveland's defense worried
about taking him out of it and how that opened
up things for other players, and so all of those
things to me made him my Brooklyn's finest for this
(35:09):
last week.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Expectation, that's the word.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
It's like the Nets don't win that Philly game if
he doesn't bring all of that stuff beyond the three
point looks that don't go in. So this is just
the new standard for him, and at some point he's
going to have to impress us even more to keep
giving him Brooklyn's Finest.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
But I'm glad that you did that. And he is
just the engine of their offense.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
And it was kind of previously almost unthinkable that he'd
have this much success in this role. But as Jordi
Fernandez says, you get one percent better each day, and
you don't know what can happen. Speaking of getting one
percent better each day, that's definitely a goal for Killian Hayes.
He played his first three games with the big league
club over this past week. He actually had eight assists
(35:52):
and two turnovers against Washington on Monday night, one of
the only guys that really thrived in his role on
offense besides Ziah Williams, who hit a career high five
to three pointers. I want to shout out him, yes,
but you can see why why Killian like might still
have this NBA future. He's talked about, you know, being
a high draft pick with the Pistons, losing his contract,
(36:15):
playing in the G League and wanting to remain in
the NBA. And you can see that he has NBA
skills in terms of the floor reading. He had a
ton of nice open court assists against Cleveland, against Philly,
and then against Washington. You saw a little bit more
of it in the half court, probing, driving, getting in
the lane, spraying out to shooters. But Jordy Fernandez post
(36:35):
game said, we want him to shoot the ball. We
want him to take He only took three three point attempts.
We want that to go way up. You know, he's
going to be in this league if he shows that
he can shoot and shoot consistently. And so Killian is
my next net to watch, just as he does really
intrigue me as a guy that can get the ball popping.
And I want to see, you know, over a larger
(36:58):
sample size, I really do want to see how much
his offense, you know, in the half court, his creation,
his shooting has progressed because he put up some monster
games down in Long Island. He you know, was averaging
four threes, made a game over his past month or so.
So I'm really looking forward to him as my next
net and something to watch for over these past over
(37:20):
these final you know, two months or what have you
of the season.
Speaker 3 (37:24):
Yeah, doub No, I was just concernment and double down
with you. I'm killing because I really liked what I
saw through the course of preseason trying to camp, and
he got injured, and I think in many ways that
kind of changed the trajectory of potentially where he would
be or what would be happening with him. Maybe not,
but but I do think that had an effect. And
(37:46):
I think you said it. There's a lot of aspects
of his game. There's a reason why he was a
lottery pick. There's a reason why there was expectations of
the type of point guard he could become. What he
can do defensively, and I think for players like the
shooting components. Sometimes sometimes it's actual shooting and the ability
(38:08):
to knock down shots in different circumstances or just what
your shot looks like. But sometimes it becomes so mentally overwhelming,
and I'm not saying I never talked to Feeling about this.
Who knows, but I think sometimes when it becomes a thing,
and then this becomes a thing that you can't do,
and this is the thing that's keeping you from playing
in the league, and what that looks like through the
course or through the stretch of a long period of time.
(38:30):
It does take some time or a different scenario or
a different environment to get over that and to be
a consistent shooter or a solid shooter, or at least
sustainable to be able to utilize your strengths on the floor.
And I would love to see that for him. I
would love to see him translate a lot of what
we've seen in Long Island. And I know that's different,
(38:50):
but sometimes it's not when it comes down to just
see the ball through the hoop and making shots, and again,
not a player that you relying upon to be a microwave,
come in, come in and on the floor. Like the
things you still need him to do are the things
that he can do. But just how do you make
sure that the compliments of the rest of its game
fit and are able to fit with the team you
(39:12):
know and stretches when he is playing, when he is
running things, and so I'd like to see him more.
And he obviously like a great teammate, coachable player, someone
that you would like to have in the locker room,
and so for all those reasons, Yah, I'm excited to
see what he does with with just a little bit
of a lower pressure situation of knowing he may have
(39:33):
some run or may have some opportunity to play through
enough to say it's lower pressure, but play through mistakes.
And sometimes when you know that you're going to have
a leash to play through some mistakes like missing shots,
but if you got the other things right that I'm
interested to see how he's able to potentially take advantage
of that.
Speaker 1 (39:52):
And he's going to get run because you can tell
he's gonna play hard on defense already. I don't want
to judge him off three games entirely. But took a
charge again Cleveland, stripped Tyrese Maxey on a drive against Philly,
and and he made some other plays.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
Those are just the ones that stand out. But he's
gonna earn minutes.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
He's was the first sub off the bench against Cleveland
in his first action of the year. So I think Jordi,
you know, is not gonna yanke a guy off there,
you know, with a cane like like off the stage,
so he'll he'll get run and so I'm excited to
see that.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
And that brings us, of course to trivia.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
We have.
Speaker 1 (40:31):
We have what should be kind of an I don't
want to say easy, but a fairly obvious one. Nick
Claxton hits a game winner buzzer beater against the Philadelphia
seventy six Ers. Calls it perhaps one of the three
best basketball moments of his career. Who is the all
time NETS leader in buzzer beating shots?
Speaker 3 (40:54):
Oh, I would say, Joe Johnson, you would be right, okay, right,
five of them? Yeah, I mean I feel like that
that thank you. I didn't know if you were being
tricky that it was easy.
Speaker 2 (41:04):
No, No, that definitely feels not being sarcastic.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
No, do you want to take a guess at who
the three other guys with multiple buzzer beaters are?
Speaker 3 (41:14):
Darren Williams No, kind of close though, Spencer dinwitdie.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
No, there's one, there's one that you should get.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
No, it's Vince Carter right behind me, uh, Devin Harris
and Keith Van Horn.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
I think if we let you Devin Devan would be salty.
I did not guess him towards the top.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
But yeah, okay, I don't want to.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
I'm not I'm not sure. I'm not sure Keith I
would have eventually maybe eventually got to But no, no,
I thought, I you know, I Yeah, No, I should have.
I should have thoughts. We've shown enough Vince, I mean
through the course now leading up to the time, we
showed enough of his his buzzer beaters, So I should
have thought of that.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
Yeah, we're gonna of moratorium on that very briefly. But no,
it's obviously the one in Utah, the one against the
Hawks and Devin. It was just the sixteen year anniversary
of his half court game winner against the Philadelphia seventy
six ers, no less, one day after Nick Claxton's I
was there.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
I was eight years old.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
I think I caught a T shirt from a T
shirt cannon during that game with my dad. So that
was a real highlight for eight year old Lucas great memories.
But that Nick Claxton game winner, too, will also be
a great memory for nets world. So a pretty fun,
exhilarating week. Happy to recap it with you here on
(42:39):
the back Court any partying words.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
Sarah, No, I'm just excited for the week. I'm excited.
We talk a lot about how this team matches up.
I mean, hopefully they get a little bit more health,
but how they will match up against Oklahoma City Thunder
and what that will look like. Because of Thunder, we
know are an absolute juggernaut right now, so it'll be
fun to watch and then a be as the week progresses,
(43:02):
but that'll be a good one to kick things off
until we all meet again.
Speaker 1 (43:07):
Absolutely, we got the Thunder, the Blazers, the Pistons, and
the Spurs upcoming before the next episode of The Backcourt, which,
as always, is brought to you by Ticketmaster and available
wherever you get your podcasts. This has been episode eighteen.
Thank you everybody for listening as we talk Brooklyn. That's basketball,
and we will see you guys next week.
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