March 19, 2025 • 43 mins
In Episode 21 of The Backcourt Podcast, NetsDaily’s Lucas Kaplan is joined by a special guest, YES Network’s Ryan Ruocco. The two discuss the current state of the Brooklyn Nets, with a particular focus on player performances, including Cam Thomas's impressive growth and recent injury. They analyze how coaching has influenced team dynamics, recent game performances, and the contributions of various players, while also exploring the potential for future development within the roster. The conversation also delves into the team’s competitive spirit and the significance of cohesion and culture in building a successful franchise. The episode concludes with another round of Nets Trivia, where Ryan reflects on his early broadcasting experiences.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You are now in the backcourt of Brooklyn Nets podcast
presented by Ticketmaster. I'm Lucas Kaplan, writer for Nets Daily,
of NETS Film Focus, and joining me today we have
a special super sub from Yes Network, not Sarah c. Coustack,
but her play by play partner Ryan Ruco. Ryan, how
are we doing?
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I'm doing great, Lucas, I am. I'm pumped to do this, man.
What I want to compliment you because I started noticing
your work over the last couple of years and reading
your stuff and I was like, dang, Like Lucas like
really knows the game. He like he breaks down such
specific stuff. And I was talking to my dad about it,
(00:49):
and I know I had met you prior to you
doing all this, but I hadn't put two to two
together completely right away. And and my dad was like,
you know, like Lucas is Gary's son. My dad and
Lucas's father go way back. They work together at the
usfl over forty years ago. Both are big NETS fans,
(01:11):
So shout out to them and our good friends and
and anyway, so I'm glad now we get to to
make our fathers proud and do this pod together.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Definitely the first time I met Ryan, I said the
first time I saw him at a NETS game. I said, hey,
it's been a while, but I'm Lucas. And my father says, hello,
Gary Kaplin, and Ryan says, oh, of course. He was
playing basketball meet with me in the backyard at some
party when one of his coworkers shoved, like went too
hard and I broke my arm.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Yes, I was a USFL reunion. Yes, and we were playing.
It was like for me, like my peak basketball days.
I was like thirteen and we were playing. No, I
must have been. Yeah, I was thirteen and we were
playing in the backyard and I remember Jay Wright was
(02:02):
there too, like and and I was playing well, and
I was like schooling these old guys and one of
the one of the guys who was playing in the
game literally just like smashed me into a fence and
then and then stepped on my hand after which, like
(02:23):
nineties basketball, the stepping on my hand wasn't on purpose,
but the shoving was, which when I think about now,
I'm like, what was that guy doing? I was thirteen
years old, like, but but yeah, your dad was your
dad was there. He was not the one who shows.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
To be Just to be clear, he was not the
one who shoved me. Okay, good. I just wanted to
clear that up and that up. Yeah, So Ryan and I,
I'm still in Boston. Last night, we're recording Wednesday morning.
The Nets lost a close one to Boston. They've actually
played five games since Sarah and I recorded last week.
They had a couple of games out in the Midwest
(02:58):
against Cleveland and Cago. Then they had a home back
to back against Boston and Atlanta which turned into a
nice win, and played lost another close one last night
against Boston. So first we got to talk about camp Thomas,
who is out for the season. He has another left
hamstring injury. Sending all the best to camp Thomas. He
(03:20):
had two of my favorite performances of his season against
Cleveland and Chicago before he was ruled out for the season.
Against Cleveland he was fantastic, especially in the first half
twenty seven points, three assists. And then against Chicago, I
think he still was passing the ball really well, teammates
(03:42):
made a few more shots, ends up with twenty four points,
a career high, ten asists, and six rebounds. So his
first double double. Ryan, what have you seen from you
know in the games you've called this season from Camp Thomas,
and to me, I was all over his growth and
just his his flashes. Really is a playmaker in these
last two games. So it's obviously very unfortunate his season
(04:04):
had to end right after that with an injury. But
taking that out of it, I thought it was an
awesome week for Cam Thomas.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Yeah. It's so interesting, right because Cam is like we've
known he could score from jump right, Like the way
he scores, you know'll never forget obviously a few years
ago when all of a sudden, like he's finally given
some playing time after they you know, they lose some
big pieces and he's dropping forty and you know, three
(04:33):
games and you're like, whoa wait, that's like, you know,
not just anyone can do that. And you know, I
think we've always known that. I think what I've liked
first and foremost about the scoring is it has seemed
to get more efficient. I think he has, you know,
he has become a better and better three point shooter.
I think he's you know, gotten better and better on
(04:54):
his drives. Yeah, more efficient on his finishing. But then
the parts of the game that you wondered about with
him are like, Okay, how about like does he have
the ability to playmake and then you know, can he
be adequate on the defensive end, because obviously you're going
to need that stay on the floor, and that's something
Geordie is going to demand. And I think, you know,
we saw growth on the defensive end, and I think
(05:17):
we saw exponential growth in the playmaking department. I mean,
you know, this guy having ten assists is I mean,
it is like a really big deal that we're not
talking about someone just you know, becoming an adequate playmaker.
That's really making a difference. And I think in that
Cleveland game we saw it too. Lucas I did that
(05:37):
game like just like some great decisions where even in
the paint, where like he could have gone up with it,
but he makes that one extra like wrap around pass
and gets a lay up instead for his teammate. You know,
I think those are the kind of things that entice
you and excite you about Cam Thomas because his scoring
is a unique enough ability that he's always going to
have a job in this league, right, But then when
(05:58):
you see the playmaking, you think about how well he
might be able to function more holistically offensively accessing his
talent so so I think, you know, unfortunate with what's
happened with his hamstring injuries this year, and obviously something
that nets are going to have to get a hold of,
given that he you know, came back, got her, came back,
got her again with the same injuries each time. But
(06:22):
I think his play on the floor definitely a big
building block this season.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah, I like that you mentioned how he fits into
offense to a team Holistically. I think last year the
big thing was he started shooting above forty percent, which
he always had really always come near it on catch
and shoot threes, but on real volume and hunting those
shots and being a great threat off the ball and
turning some of those into drives and playing off other creators.
(06:52):
And then this year it was creating his own offense
as well as I think a playmaking jump. You mentioned
it the Cleveland game. Like I said, he only ended
up with three assists, but it felt like there were
a ton of drives and plays where he sought out,
you know, a high level pass and it just didn't
end in a bucket for whatever reason. This year, he
(07:15):
ends averaging twenty four points a game, three point three rebounds,
three point eight assists, those are all career highs. So
is his true shooting fifty eight percent that as you mentioned,
his efficiency going up, and again all the passing numbers
at career bests his assists assist to usage ratio. The
(07:36):
thing that I love right is that assisting the ball
at career high rates, the turnovers have remained stagnant for him.
They're pretty much where it was when he was in
his first, second, third year. So all of these statistical
indicators show you that he's on the right track. Obviously,
he's a restricted free agent. Don't want to speculate too
much on his future, but if he is indeed a
Brooklyn that next year, the team will be lucky to
(07:58):
have him. And like you try that he is on
the right path to keep growing. Do you have a
favorite Cam Thomas memory moment from either this season or
his rookie contract?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Was it was it this year where he had that shot?
I think it was early in the year. He like
there was kind of like a a broken play and
the ball was like loose in the left corner, I
feel like, and the shot clock was about to expire,
and he just like quick, all in one motion, like
(08:32):
picked it up and like, oh yeah, got it from
the corner and nailed it.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Like I forget who they were playing, but I know
the shot you're.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Play I'm talking about. And I remember because Frank to Grace,
our incredible producer, all right, got in my ear and
he was like that might be the shot of the
year because it was just like the play was so
broken and it was, but it was so ridiculous how
casually he was able to gather well, look like it
was just going to be like a loose ball either
go out of balance or be a shock block violation,
(09:01):
and he just like quick like across his body from
like a tough angle almost like behind the backboard ish
in the corner. I think it was a three, just
like quick picks it up and like just shoots it.
And I think, you know, like that's the thing. He
has this unique ability to square himself and keep his
his center of gravity no matter what. So that and
(09:23):
then also the Golden State game. At Golden State, you know,
just some like going on a little burner in that
game where you're just like where he's just like pulling
up left and right. That game also, but I think
from his rookie contract, remember the game he exploded against
(09:44):
the Clippers when he first was getting on at Barkley's. Yeah,
and my wife was there with her colleagues just as
a fan. And it's funny because my wife is not
a big sports fan at all, but she'll like get
into things and then whenever she goes to the game, she's,
this is so fun whatever. And she watched like big games,
or we'll just like watch parts of my broadcast. But
(10:06):
she was at that game with the colleagues and she
was like, this is awesome. Who's this Cam Thomas guy?
Like this is incredible? And I think he has that
ability right to just like he plays and scores in
such an exciting way that it can captivate you.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
It was his first career start. He scored forty seven points,
which is not bad, not bad for your first career.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Is that like a mid February game?
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yeah, it was that stretch you're talking about, you know,
post two warts ago. Yeah, twenty twenty three trade deadline scores.
Youngest player in NBA history to score three straight forty
point games.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
You know, I don't want to say he's played his
last game with the Nets, but you know, for his
rookie contract, going to free agency. You never know, He's
had a lot of fun memories and games.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
And here's what's interesting, Lucas, like, you know, trying to
place him on Okay, what is he on a team
that's you know, a really good playoff team, right?
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Like?
Speaker 2 (10:57):
You know, is he Is he somebody who's a just
like consistent offensive option off the bench, who's going to
you know, be able to get you a bucket whenever
you you know need one?
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Or is he someone who maybe can be more than that,
who can be you know, someone who's really you know,
drawing the attention of a defense and creating opportunities for
his teammates both with that attention and his playmaking where
he can function at an even higher level than that.
And I think this year left enough intrigue that I
(11:28):
don't think you could feel definitive one way or another.
And to me, that's actually a victory.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Yeah, I agree, especially because he only played twenty five games,
so to show that in like a third of the season.
I really like that point because something I've been thinking about,
the traditional sixth man role, you know, bring him off
the bench, let him cook, is not as prevalent today's
NBA because really it's like you have to fit with
(11:52):
the best five. Like you look at these great teams Celtics, Cleveland, Okay,
see even the Knicks, like they have probably three or
four guys. The Knicks might be a bad example of this,
but three or four guys that you know are going
to close games. And then it's whoever is fitting in
with the group that night, whoever is a good matchup.
You look at Okay, see Shay Jalen Williams chatter on
(12:15):
the Florida close pick. Any other two guys have all
close games for them, Casey Wallace, Wiggins, Hartenstein, Isaiah Joe
like Cam Thomas to continue getting better as he has
this season, shows he can fit in with a variety
of players, attack a variety of coverages. We know he
can pull up against drop, we know he can get
into the lane and draw fouls. But to see more
(12:37):
a defensive attention. I'm really, you know, intrigued and pleased
with his season in that regard. So I think that
was important for us to start with this week. Though
obviously Brooklyn then played three games after that Midwest swing,
the back to back at home and then this road
(12:58):
game in Boston. So what did you see from Brooklyn
over this past week, you know, especially the games you
were in the house for. I know you're in the
house for that Atlanta win and the game is Boston
last night. You know what stood out to you generally speaking?
Speaker 2 (13:11):
You know, I think one thing that we all have
seen early on that has just continued is the kind
of play and the heart and the grit and the aggression.
And I think that the confidence and will that Jordi
has instilled. And I think, you know, there's a lot
(13:34):
that Sean Marx and the front office can feel great
about this year. But I think the thing they should
feel best about, and ownership should feel best about, is
they hired the right head coach. Like I mean, I think,
you know, if there's one thing universally that all NETS
fans are going to agree upon this year, it's that
this organization has the head coach at once for the
(13:56):
future to guide this franchise. And I think from Jordi,
you know, he has a great way about, you know,
setting a certain level of standard and demand regardless of
who you are. And we even have seen D'Angelo Russell
talk about this recently, you know, and and how it
doesn't he doesn't care. You know, whether you're d Lo,
whether you're Cam Johnson, whether you're uh, you know, Tosana Wolma,
(14:19):
you know, whoever you are, you're Maxwell Lewis Like, there's
certain things that for him are going to be non
negotiable and uh, and I think that we've seen those
demands come out in the way this group plays. And
so what stood out to me these last few games
is like, when these guys are on the floor, they
don't ever play like they're out of talent deficit. You know,
they have a they have a belief in themselves no
(14:42):
matter who they're playing, and they play with a vigor
and a peskiness that makes the opponent earn every win
against them. And so whether you're talking about the game
against Boston the other day, where you know they lose
at home, but they have this incredible battle and fight
(15:03):
down the stretch, even after the Celtics had seemingly pulled
away late the fourth quarter, they still keep coming. They
finish on a twelve to three run. You know, they
end up losing the game ultimately, but like something where
you kind of feel good about the identity. Then the
way they win against Atlanta and I thought really interesting
in that game. I was doing that game Vince Carter,
and he made the point about after Cam was upset
(15:24):
with the call reversal on what would have been a
four point play opportunity and late in the second quarter,
you know, he kind of then was trying to force things,
like clearly was still bothered. Yeah, and Cam then talked
about how the coaching staff kind of refocused him, like
calmed him down, and then got him in a place
where he was just like a beat slower and so
(15:45):
effective down the stretch, scored ten points in the fourth
quarter at back to back huge three's guides up to
the win. I thought even that, like emotional, you know,
the way the coaching staff was able to guide this
vet who's been unbelievable this year for them emotionally through
that was a good sign. And then the performance against Boston,
you know, you're playing at TV Garden, and I know
they didn't have Jalen Brown or Jason Tatum, but like
(16:07):
they still obviously have more talent on that floor than
the Nets do at this given time, and the Nets
still take the Celtics to the brink there, you know,
and are able to battle. And so I know It's
like it's kind of a general thing to say, but
I think there's something rewarding about just seeing the way
they battle translate either into wins or really competitive games
(16:29):
where they come up short and within that. The one
other thing I'd say in this long winded answer Lucas
is I feel like the other thing is set out
to me is just like how many different guys, yeah,
contributing positively in those games? Right, Like you go across
the board, you know, whether it's Keon Johnson, whether it's
Maxwell Lewis, whether it's you know, Zaire, whether it's Cam
(16:52):
you know, so many different Dayron sharp with the ten
offensive rebounds and the you know loss, even like how
about Dyaron in last night's game for the Celtics over
the block then starts the break, flares to the corner
and takes like an in rhythm jump shot in the
corner where his toes on the line. But like, you know,
every guy's doing something. I feel like on a nightly
basis where you're not like like how often are you
(17:13):
looking at someone on the floor and saying like, ugh,
why is that guy out there? Like I don't think
it happened last night.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Last night they won consists a real stretch of minutes
with all five guys a hockey sub so five reserves
on the floor. It was Trendon Watford, Maxwell Lewis Tyree,
Martin Dayron Sharp and Noah Clowney, and those five were
out there in the second quarter, you know, typical bench time.
And to start the fourth quarter, you know, maybe Jalen
Wilson got in there. I think at that time it
(17:40):
was four of them, whatever, but they won their minutes.
Jeordie always compliments, like always is big on just the
up and down production across the board. And when you're
throwing five reserves out there a couple of guys who
started this year on two ways or not on the
team or playing real rotation minutes for the first time
in their careers, that can't I mean, it doesn't go overlooked,
(18:04):
but it's a testament to the system that they have.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Brooklyn Nets fans dunks times and no looks are great
on TV, but catching them from the hardwoods a whole
different experience because nothing compares to catching your nets irl
and that all starts a tying tickets and Ticketmaster, the
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(18:32):
You can easily and safely sell your game tickets on Ticketmaster.
There's no better brag than being able to say you
saw it live. See you courtside, Brooklyn.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
What I loved about the Boston games is that the
Nets played a really strong game in two totally different ways.
In the first Boston game, they shoot forty three zero
point five percent from three balls popping. They're attacking Jason
Tatum doubling, being physical, spread out over the floor as
we see, and Boston ends up shooting high sixties from
(19:04):
two playing two bigs at once. Nets don't have Nick
klaxon this one. Flash forward three days. You're in Boston,
the threes aren't falling, you don't really have the same
defensive game plan at all, and the Nets are playing
a fantastic defensive game. They're there on every catch. I
think they made the Celtics three pointers considerably more difficult
(19:24):
than we normally see. They're getting to the foul line,
they're getting to the rim, and it's a low scoring
game where they don't choot well from three, And I
think that really there's not one thing that they have
to do well to win. Obviously, last night, I think
they played well enough to win. I just don't think
they made enough open shots. Obviously I was in the arena.
I couldn't listen to the broadcast, but I'm one like,
(19:46):
if you and Sarah had that takeaway from the game.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Yeah, I thought they played great. I thought, you know,
obviously the porzingis post ups are you know, the most
difficult thing to guard in the NBA, and he had
some key ones down this s stretch. The Shireman minutes,
you know, swung the game for Boston, which is funny
because you look at him and you're like, geez, like
he's not a part of the rotation normally, but like
(20:09):
he can help you, you know, like, yeah he looks good, shoot,
yeah he could shoot, and he's confident and he brings
an energy. But no, I think like if you look
at down the stretch right, like you know d Lo
when he comes back in midway through the fourth, he
hits a couple of shots and you're thinking he's gonna
go toe to toe. Then he ends up missing his
final six threes he takes, he misses six straight threes
(20:32):
from any and he you know, was kind of fortunate
to get fouled on another one in the final four
forty three seconds and and so you know that that
was kind of like if he hits if he hits
three of those, right, it's a different stretch. Or maybe
if they we thought they probably should have gotten Cam
Johnson more looks down the stretch than they did. Yeah,
(20:54):
but other than that, and maybe you know, there was
like a silly foul here from Keon, I think, But
but other than that, I think there was a ton
to to like about the way they played. You know,
one guy you mentioned that I continues to impress me
is Trendon Watford.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
I thought I. Richard had an interesting comparison when we
were doing a game a few weeks ago, said he
reminds him a little bit of a Boris Dio type.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Trenton didn't. Trendon said, yeah, he didn't love it, but
he said he was only familiar with late career Boris
Diao and so he needs to go back and watch
some film but yeah, in general, tell us why that's
a good.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Yea, like, think about the think about the game and
not the body type, right because like and younger Boris
obviously is not big as Layer Boris. But I think
there's something and Sarah did a great job of describing
it last night, like there's an unpredictability with his speeds, right, Like,
there's something about the way Watford drives that catches the
(21:54):
opponents off guard because he can slow it down and
he kind of like he kind of mean in an
Amiba type way. And then there's other times where like
all of a sudden that almost like lulls the defense
to sleep, and he has like a quicker burst than
you might be a lot, you know, and I think
he catches the opponents off guard. Plus he has a
(22:14):
pretty good finishing package. Then at the end of those drives,
and you know, I think the thing that's most comfortable,
which Richard talked about and was excited about and Geordie's
mentioned a lot, was just how comfortable he is in
the post too, and his ability to go down there
and make plays. So you know, again, like I think
what I like is from all of these guys, you're
(22:38):
seeing things that you're like curious about, you know, and
I don't know that. I don't know that you can
definitively say with any member of this net's rotation, like, hey,
like I know that guy is going to be a
rotation member on a team that could contend for a title, right,
or I know that guy is definitively a part of
the long term answer. To be fair, I don't know
(23:00):
that a lot of guys have definitively answered that. But
I think what's important is I don't know that anyone's
eliminated themselves from that conversation. You know, like I haven't
watched many guys this year and said, whoa like he
can't play or like he definitely is not a part
of the answer, And to me, that's very significant, you know,
the improvement within the season, the improvement year to year,
(23:21):
the contributions on the floor from Keon, from Zaire, from Trendon,
you know, from Noah, who I think you know, everyone
should be very excited about now, From Tosan, a woman
who I really like and I like his size, you know,
some of the other guys as well, Like, I think
it all leaves us curious and wanting to find out
more and that in itself, to me feels like a positive.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Thing definitely, And I think for a lot of guys,
establishing themselves as potential playoff pieces is a big step
forward for them. Trendon in his last two games against Atlanta,
you know, he shoots four for a thirteen points five
assists off the bench, and then against Boston he shoots
let me find it, five of nine eleven points, four assists,
(24:05):
So backup point guard really, but it looks different for
him than a lot of guys, and I love that
he can post up, he can play in the short role,
he can attack from the perimeter. I think obviously is
to work on mastering. You know, nobody ever masters it,
but mastering and refining all those parts of his game.
(24:25):
But I do like the way he can create offense
in a variety of ways you put. You know, in
the first half, they had Baylor Shireman on him for
a few possessions, and I know Shireman ends up really
winning the game for him with his three point shooting
in the second half, but it's a reserve 's reserve unit.
They put Shireman on Trendon Wafford, and it's like you
probably shouldn't do that because he's going right to the post,
(24:48):
and he scored or assisted on a few possessions. I
think he's gotten better passing the ball this season, looking
for day Ron, looking for guys inside on the lob.
So they have a lot of a lot of funky guys.
They have a lot of unorthodox guys like Toson's one
of them you mentioned, and I've really enjoyed watching them.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
I'm me too, man, I'm curious about Tosan. Toson's a
dude who I'm like, I'm legitimately interested in and curious
about it. I know they've run up against his uh you know,
his number of games that he could play, but like
he's six eight, he makes a lot of winning plays.
There's enough, there's enough offense there to make me curious.
(25:32):
And he plays with an incredible motor, yep in an
intellect as well. Uh I, He's a guy I'm curious about,
you know, And I think we one thing we've I
think we're very consistently seen with this front office obviously,
is you know, the the ability to develop players, to
find reclamation projects, so to speak, and you know, continue
(25:53):
to develop guys who maybe have been overlooked or have
been three or four stops or whatever it might be.
But then also to draft successful in the twenties and
in the thirties, even you know, when you look at
a day Ron Sharp, look at Claxton, look at a Clowney,
you know, just to name a few, and so all
of that makes me excited, especially thinking about the possibility
(26:14):
of next year having four picks in the first round
and like developing a core and knowing, you know, even
if you're not getting you know, a franchise changers, maybe
you're getting a core of useful rotation players that will
develop and be fun to watch, I think, and playing
this brand, Yeah, it just makes me makes me excited
(26:34):
about what's to come in the style they play, because
I think you and I were talking about it a
little bit last night, Lucas. One thing they've consistently done
has been a good watch this entire series, you know,
like they they really have. They maybe have like one
stretch where they had a few games where they got
smacked around a little bit, but otherwise they've been competitive
night in, night out.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
It's been really fun to watch. I saw post game
last night waiting outside the lock room. I saw Brad
Stevens bump into Jordi Fernandez in the hallway, and you know,
I don't want to say too much about a private conversation,
but I can tell you Brad said, hey, man, like
hell of a job, very fun to watch use those words,
(27:14):
and so people around the league are taking notice. I've
really enjoyed this season more than what you might say
just looking at the record, because of the way they compete.
To circle back, Ryan's talking about Tosan Awolma's two way
contract games limit. A guy on a two way contract
can only play a certain number of games in the
(27:34):
NBA over a season. Toson's nearing his limit, but Jordi
has said, you know, we'll see him down the stretch
this season, so I'm excited for him to return. One
guy I want to touch on before we wrap up
is Maxwell Lewis. For those of you who listened to
last week's episode, Maxwell Lewis at that point had never appeared,
(27:57):
had never played double digit minutes in an NBA game,
He'd obviously never scored double digit points in an NBA game,
and then he is thrown into the rotation against the
Boston Celtics with Tatum and Brown. Over the weekend, Nets
had a few injuries. He scores eight points in two minutes.
The place is going crazy. He ends up scoring fifteen
(28:20):
points off the bench on six of seven shooting. He
made three threes. Then he earns himself another twenty six
minutes against twenty two minutes against the Hawks the next day,
thirteen points, four of eight shooting, ends up a couple steals,
a couple of fast break dunks, and the thing that
(28:41):
stood out most and I wrote an article about this
on NETS Daily. His teammates seemed to love him. They
were going crazy on the bench. I think it's he's
just yet again. I mean we were going crazy when
Tyree Martin put up a thirty piece in Phoenix, like whoa,
who is this guy? Where do you come from? Six
months later, the Nets are still like doing this and
(29:01):
finding these guys. I enjoyed the Maxwell Lewis experience this week.
I know he didn't shoot it super great last night
in Boston. I think he missed a couple of threes,
but energy size. I really liked him this week.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Speed too, you know, like I think some speed I agree, man,
and I'm glad he brought up Tyres too, because he's
another guy who you know, been impressed with this.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Year and his driving to the basket.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Yeah, his driving ability. You know, I thought of him
just as a shooter before and then he realized, oh no,
he's got he's got driving ability playing. But yeah, with Lewis,
you know what I think was so interesting is in
both that first Boston game in the Atlanta game, he
felt him on the floor. Y he was, he was
impacting winning, he was injecting life. He was making an
(29:46):
impact both offensively and defensively. I thought he totally changed
the game. Obviously, he almost changed the result against Boston,
but then I thought change the game against Atlanta. I
thought when he came into the game, he got when
they needed it most after and I kind of got
on a run, taken a lead. He gave them great
minutes of defensive energy of a couple of big shots
(30:08):
playing with a verve. And and again, like you said,
size as well, another guy that you're left to say like, hey,
you know, like I'm curious, I'm curious. Like David Cohne,
who one of my favorite people in the world, won
my favorite analysts to work with. He he'll always say
like makes you want to see more, right, And I
(30:30):
think that you know that that's an important compliment too
to throw out. You know, I don't think it's appropriate
to say definitively like I was saying before, Like I
think if you're saying right now, like I know, Maxwell
Lewis is absolutely you know, a rotation piece on an
amazing team like I. You know, we don't have enough
evidence for that yet, right, That wouldn't be fair. But
(30:56):
do I want to see more? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (30:57):
And that's how you earn contracts, that's how you keep
getting and these guys trying to establish themselves. All you
have to do is you know enough intrigue to see more.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
I have a great quote from D'Angelo Russell in this
story I just want to read. And I was asking them,
you know, you guys are going crazy for Max on
the bench. Clearly he has this great energy. You know
why is that? And he said he mentioned his work
ethic first. He said quote, I think as a young
player in the league, if you don't have the work ethic,
you get stereotype as a guy that just is too fun,
too crazy. But if you have the work ethic, I
(31:28):
think it's easy for you to fall into being who
you are. And that was a great quote to me
because when you're in the locker room, when you're at
streude around this team is loud no matter the result,
they are together, like there's an energy in the building
whenever they walk in. They believe in themselves. It's a
close knit team and every guy seems comfortable being themselves
(31:50):
and one of the most tightly knit nets groups I
can remember watching the team in that regard.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
I don't know if you agree, I think so, I
definitely do. I definitely do, Lucas And you know, I
had this is kind of a big picture a perspective,
but like I had someone very very very high up
in the NBA world say to me once how many
teams are there in the NBA? And I said thirty
(32:19):
thirty And then so he said, so on average, each
team should win once out of every thirty years, right
like on average, So I mean there's twenty nine years
out of every thirty years where you're not gonna win. Ship,
you better have other ways to, you know, become connected
(32:42):
to your fan base, to give people a reason to
want to watch, to have something that feels like success.
If your only bar organizationally in professional sports is championship
or not, You're gonna have a lot of fruitless journeys.
And I think that one thing I like about what's
(33:02):
happening right now. No, make no mistake about it, the
goal is always to win a championship. Everything you do
is building towards that goal. But there are ways to
really enjoy the journey, you know, as you're trying to
build to that, and to understand that something can look
and feel like success along the way to trying to
(33:23):
achieve that, or even if you don't achieve that. And
I think what I like is you know you're gonna
have eighty two games a year with your team. When
you're an NBA fan, you want to feel like you
like the guys you're rooting for. That there's a cohesion,
there's a connectiveness. They play a style that feels, you know,
emblematic of you know, how you feel about your city.
(33:45):
And I feel like this team has done that and
there's not much more you could ask for this year
given the net circumstances. And I think it also is
the right foundation to set for Jordy moving forward.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
And maybe a couple Lakers and Bulls teams a couple aside.
Every championship NBA team has loved playing together and had
fun and express joy on the court. So there's steps
to doing that. You got to be on the right path.
And I think they you know, I think they are
flexibility moving forward, Trush, Shawn Marks, all that, but it
(34:18):
starts here.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
Yeah, exactly, Like talent is obviously a prerequisitive, Like you're
not gonna you know, if you're the best of friends
and you're you know, you don't have top tier talent,
you're not of course winning a championship, but you need
that level of connectivity and cohesion. Like even just look
at the calves, think about how much more connected they
are this year, how much more propive, and look the
(34:39):
results are speaking for themselves even though they had that
same talent a year ago. Essentially, you know, so yeah,
I think like I think it's it's so big. And
then when you tune into a game as a fan,
you want to feel like, you know, you're proud of
the product you're watching and you're enjoying the way the
guys play, And I think, you know, for this year,
that's so important because it establishes a foundation for what
(35:02):
you can expect now from these Nets under Jordi Fernandez,
regardless of who's in the jersey, right, And of course
you hope as time goes on you're gonna accumulate more
and more talent while continuing to hold those principles and
grow them. And and so I think I think that's
been a real win this year for the Nets.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
I think that's one hundred percent true. I think that's
a great place to leave off. I think it is
now time for a special guest edition of Trivia, which
we always wrap up the backcourt is Ryan. Do you
know the first I had to dig for this? You
would be impressed by my PI skills? Okay, the first
NETS on yes game that you broadcasted, I do what?
(35:46):
What was it?
Speaker 2 (35:47):
It was Nets against the Pistons. It was in there.
It was in this the twelve win season in the
nine to ten season. I think it was in March
of twenty ten, and at the time Brook Lopez scored
what was then a career high. I think he had
(36:09):
thirty eight points in the game, and it was one
of their twelve wins that season.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
Were you working for?
Speaker 3 (36:18):
Was that?
Speaker 1 (36:18):
WFUV? Is that for them?
Speaker 2 (36:20):
No? That was that was for Yes. That was my
first That was my first NETS on YES game that
I did doing play by play for for the S Network.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Wow, that's a fantastic memory it. Indeed, Brook Lopez, I'm
looking right now, had twenty five, so you were two off,
he had.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Wait, how many do you have?
Speaker 1 (36:41):
He had, Oh, man, we might need to cut this. Man,
I got the wrong information.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Wait what did you have?
Speaker 1 (36:48):
I looked at all the they all said your first
year with Yes was twenty eleven, twenty twelve.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
So I can explain it. You don't need to cut it.
I could explain it.
Speaker 1 (36:58):
Oh yeah, I got totally Okay.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
No, the reason is because the eleven twelve season is
the first year that I was officially Iien's back up. Okay,
So what happened was this is good because it gives
a story. In the O nine to ten season, they
gave me one game. It was just like, Hey, we're
(37:21):
going to have you do like one game. And my boss,
John Philippelli is one of the great TV guys of
all time, he did something really wonderful. He said to me, said,
I want you to understand something you like. You get
this opportunity on Maris at the production meeting. He called
Frank and Frank annemby the phone. He said, no, matter
what you do today, you are going to get more opportunities,
(37:45):
So don't think of this as an audition like and
it just calmed me completely, you know, and it allowed
me to just do my thing. So I did one
game at the end of twenty ten, then in the
ten elevens and I did four games, and then the
next year eleven twelve is the first year that I
(38:10):
was actually officially the number two with Iron, and I
would do whatever games Ion couldn't do, and then it
took off from there. So that's what that was, like
my official start. But I'm looking up right now.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
That's fantastic. I have it right here. That is so right,
Brook Lopez thirty seven and ten. It is very March
game against the Pistons. Yeah, do you want? Okay, I
guess adjust the question how many of the start and
net starters you think you can name in that game?
Because that was gonna be my original question.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Oh my gosh, that is such a good question.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
Always great to name some guys.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
Oh my gosh, uh is Ray for Austin on that team? No, okay,
let's see Courtney Lee.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Yes, yes, right, there's an easier one next to him
in the backcourt.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Next to Lee in the backcourt.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Yeah, at the point, Devin Harris correct, Okay.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
Brook Lopez, Cortney Lee, Devin Harris.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
These last two are gonna be correct. Okay, you got
one left. You got one left. It's the hardest one. Wow,
this is a fantastic performance so far.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
It's what's funny is like I remember their first years
of Brooklyn, like is when I started doing like way
more games, like remember all those teams so much more,
And I got the Reggie Evans days.
Speaker 1 (39:38):
Of course me too.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
Who is the other starter? Was it was Humphries with
them yet.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
Yeah, but he came off the bench, so yes, Jarvis Hayes. Wow,
he checked Terrence Williams Key on dueling and Cdr. Chris
Juggles Roberts ran it out the rotation. But yes, Jarvis
hays got the start. That's one one hundred eighteen, one
hundred and ten probably their best offensive game of the
year looking at it in that twelve win season.
Speaker 2 (40:09):
How about that?
Speaker 1 (40:10):
Wow, it's awesome.
Speaker 2 (40:11):
It's so funny, man, because I remember there was someone
on the Pistons too, who, like I you know, I'm
prepping this game. It's one NBA game, right, Yeah, I
prepped for like six weeks, Okay, you know, I mean,
I'm I'm twenty three years old. I'm getting to do
my first NBA game and uh, and I'm working with Fortello,
(40:34):
And I had this story about somebody on the Piston
who was the Piston starters and how how he loved
to like collect old cars, and I remember I was
just hoping he would get to the free throw line
so I could do the story with uh, with Fortello.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
It was Jason Maxil Rip Hamilton yonis your rebco Rookie
yonas your repco. Wow will bind them in Tayshaun Prince.
And then they had a bunch of guys off the bench.
Who was the first guy you mentioned, Jason max Seal.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
I think that my story is about Jason Maxial. I
think it was like so but yeah, man, that was
my That was my first taste that wasn't officially a
member of nets On yes yet. But then I the uh,
the third year I did games, which is the year
you were referencing, eleven twelve was the first year where
I really did a big slate of games.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
Can't trust can't trust Google, Man, can't trust Google.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
Was Jordan Farmar on that eleven twelve team?
Speaker 1 (41:33):
Oh? I want to say yes because he he was.
He's definitely in Jersey and I think he did back
up Darren Williams. I love Jordan Farmar, Yeah, I had.
I had a strong liking to him for some reason.
He was he played two years with the Nets. That
was one of them. And you're right about Jason Maxial.
I just looked it up. Yeah, Jason Maxeal's gas guzzlers
(41:54):
and there's a whole article about.
Speaker 2 (41:55):
There you go, There you go. I clearly did my
prep for that game, and I think.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
You did your prep for this pot. I think you
had an equally successful debut on the backcourt as you
did in that game.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
Thank you, Lucas. I appreciate it. Man.
Speaker 1 (42:10):
We covered a lot of ground. Shout out to our
fathers who yeah, yeah, dude. Shout out to Peter, Shout
out to Gary and Peter. Shout out to USFL. Very
fascinating story. It's a great documentary. Their friend worked one
Mike Toland. Yes, original ESPN thirty for thirty documentary Who
Killed the USFL. Great documentary, but Shout out to the Nets,
(42:33):
they've been fun to watch. Shout out to Jason macseel
For some reason, we got all the way there. We
covered a lot of ground today. Yes, and I once again, dude,
thank you for coming.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
On hey anytime, Lucas. I'm so proud of you and
the work you're doing. Man, keep it up. Nets fans
are lucky to have the really detailed, focused, specific intelligent
work you do and and looking forward to continuing to
read all your stuff on NETS dally and listen to
you here.
Speaker 1 (42:59):
Man, I appreciate that a lot ran This has been
This has been the Backcourt presented by Ticketmaster, a Brooklyn
Nets podcast. Thank you so much for listening. Thank you
so much to Ryan for stopping by, Like, subscribe, rate it,
you know, whatever your podcast platform does, we appreciate it
and we will see you next week
You are now in the backcourt of Brooklyn Nets podcast
presented by Ticketmaster. I'm Lucas Kaplan, writer for Nets Daily,
of NETS Film Focus, and joining me today we have
a special super sub from Yes Network, not Sarah c. Coustack,
but her play by play partner Ryan Ruco. Ryan, how
are we doing?
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I'm doing great, Lucas, I am. I'm pumped to do this, man.
What I want to compliment you because I started noticing
your work over the last couple of years and reading
your stuff and I was like, dang, Like Lucas like
really knows the game. He like he breaks down such
specific stuff. And I was talking to my dad about it,
(00:49):
and I know I had met you prior to you
doing all this, but I hadn't put two to two
together completely right away. And and my dad was like,
you know, like Lucas is Gary's son. My dad and
Lucas's father go way back. They work together at the
usfl over forty years ago. Both are big NETS fans,
(01:11):
So shout out to them and our good friends and
and anyway, so I'm glad now we get to to
make our fathers proud and do this pod together.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Definitely the first time I met Ryan, I said the
first time I saw him at a NETS game. I said, hey,
it's been a while, but I'm Lucas. And my father says, hello,
Gary Kaplin, and Ryan says, oh, of course. He was
playing basketball meet with me in the backyard at some
party when one of his coworkers shoved, like went too
hard and I broke my arm.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Yes, I was a USFL reunion. Yes, and we were playing.
It was like for me, like my peak basketball days.
I was like thirteen and we were playing. No, I
must have been. Yeah, I was thirteen and we were
playing in the backyard and I remember Jay Wright was
(02:02):
there too, like and and I was playing well, and
I was like schooling these old guys and one of
the one of the guys who was playing in the
game literally just like smashed me into a fence and
then and then stepped on my hand after which, like
(02:23):
nineties basketball, the stepping on my hand wasn't on purpose,
but the shoving was, which when I think about now,
I'm like, what was that guy doing? I was thirteen
years old, like, but but yeah, your dad was your
dad was there. He was not the one who shows.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
To be Just to be clear, he was not the
one who shoved me. Okay, good. I just wanted to
clear that up and that up. Yeah, So Ryan and I,
I'm still in Boston. Last night, we're recording Wednesday morning.
The Nets lost a close one to Boston. They've actually
played five games since Sarah and I recorded last week.
They had a couple of games out in the Midwest
(02:58):
against Cleveland and Cago. Then they had a home back
to back against Boston and Atlanta which turned into a
nice win, and played lost another close one last night
against Boston. So first we got to talk about camp Thomas,
who is out for the season. He has another left
hamstring injury. Sending all the best to camp Thomas. He
(03:20):
had two of my favorite performances of his season against
Cleveland and Chicago before he was ruled out for the season.
Against Cleveland he was fantastic, especially in the first half
twenty seven points, three assists. And then against Chicago, I
think he still was passing the ball really well, teammates
(03:42):
made a few more shots, ends up with twenty four points,
a career high, ten asists, and six rebounds. So his
first double double. Ryan, what have you seen from you
know in the games you've called this season from Camp Thomas,
and to me, I was all over his growth and
just his his flashes. Really is a playmaker in these
last two games. So it's obviously very unfortunate his season
(04:04):
had to end right after that with an injury. But
taking that out of it, I thought it was an
awesome week for Cam Thomas.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Yeah. It's so interesting, right because Cam is like we've
known he could score from jump right, Like the way
he scores, you know'll never forget obviously a few years
ago when all of a sudden, like he's finally given
some playing time after they you know, they lose some
big pieces and he's dropping forty and you know, three
(04:33):
games and you're like, whoa wait, that's like, you know,
not just anyone can do that. And you know, I
think we've always known that. I think what I've liked
first and foremost about the scoring is it has seemed
to get more efficient. I think he has, you know,
he has become a better and better three point shooter.
I think he's you know, gotten better and better on
(04:54):
his drives. Yeah, more efficient on his finishing. But then
the parts of the game that you wondered about with
him are like, Okay, how about like does he have
the ability to playmake and then you know, can he
be adequate on the defensive end, because obviously you're going
to need that stay on the floor, and that's something
Geordie is going to demand. And I think, you know,
we saw growth on the defensive end, and I think
(05:17):
we saw exponential growth in the playmaking department. I mean,
you know, this guy having ten assists is I mean,
it is like a really big deal that we're not
talking about someone just you know, becoming an adequate playmaker.
That's really making a difference. And I think in that
Cleveland game we saw it too. Lucas I did that
(05:37):
game like just like some great decisions where even in
the paint, where like he could have gone up with it,
but he makes that one extra like wrap around pass
and gets a lay up instead for his teammate. You know,
I think those are the kind of things that entice
you and excite you about Cam Thomas because his scoring
is a unique enough ability that he's always going to
have a job in this league, right, But then when
(05:58):
you see the playmaking, you think about how well he
might be able to function more holistically offensively accessing his
talent so so I think, you know, unfortunate with what's
happened with his hamstring injuries this year, and obviously something
that nets are going to have to get a hold of,
given that he you know, came back, got her, came back,
got her again with the same injuries each time. But
(06:22):
I think his play on the floor definitely a big
building block this season.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah, I like that you mentioned how he fits into
offense to a team Holistically. I think last year the
big thing was he started shooting above forty percent, which
he always had really always come near it on catch
and shoot threes, but on real volume and hunting those
shots and being a great threat off the ball and
turning some of those into drives and playing off other creators.
(06:52):
And then this year it was creating his own offense
as well as I think a playmaking jump. You mentioned
it the Cleveland game. Like I said, he only ended
up with three assists, but it felt like there were
a ton of drives and plays where he sought out,
you know, a high level pass and it just didn't
end in a bucket for whatever reason. This year, he
(07:15):
ends averaging twenty four points a game, three point three rebounds,
three point eight assists, those are all career highs. So
is his true shooting fifty eight percent that as you mentioned,
his efficiency going up, and again all the passing numbers
at career bests his assists assist to usage ratio. The
(07:36):
thing that I love right is that assisting the ball
at career high rates, the turnovers have remained stagnant for him.
They're pretty much where it was when he was in
his first, second, third year. So all of these statistical
indicators show you that he's on the right track. Obviously,
he's a restricted free agent. Don't want to speculate too
much on his future, but if he is indeed a
Brooklyn that next year, the team will be lucky to
(07:58):
have him. And like you try that he is on
the right path to keep growing. Do you have a
favorite Cam Thomas memory moment from either this season or
his rookie contract?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Was it was it this year where he had that shot?
I think it was early in the year. He like
there was kind of like a a broken play and
the ball was like loose in the left corner, I
feel like, and the shot clock was about to expire,
and he just like quick, all in one motion, like
(08:32):
picked it up and like, oh yeah, got it from
the corner and nailed it.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Like I forget who they were playing, but I know
the shot you're.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Play I'm talking about. And I remember because Frank to Grace,
our incredible producer, all right, got in my ear and
he was like that might be the shot of the
year because it was just like the play was so
broken and it was, but it was so ridiculous how
casually he was able to gather well, look like it
was just going to be like a loose ball either
go out of balance or be a shock block violation,
(09:01):
and he just like quick like across his body from
like a tough angle almost like behind the backboard ish
in the corner. I think it was a three, just
like quick picks it up and like just shoots it.
And I think, you know, like that's the thing. He
has this unique ability to square himself and keep his
his center of gravity no matter what. So that and
(09:23):
then also the Golden State game. At Golden State, you know,
just some like going on a little burner in that
game where you're just like where he's just like pulling
up left and right. That game also, but I think
from his rookie contract, remember the game he exploded against
(09:44):
the Clippers when he first was getting on at Barkley's. Yeah,
and my wife was there with her colleagues just as
a fan. And it's funny because my wife is not
a big sports fan at all, but she'll like get
into things and then whenever she goes to the game, she's,
this is so fun whatever. And she watched like big games,
or we'll just like watch parts of my broadcast. But
(10:06):
she was at that game with the colleagues and she
was like, this is awesome. Who's this Cam Thomas guy?
Like this is incredible? And I think he has that
ability right to just like he plays and scores in
such an exciting way that it can captivate you.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
It was his first career start. He scored forty seven points,
which is not bad, not bad for your first career.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Is that like a mid February game?
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yeah, it was that stretch you're talking about, you know,
post two warts ago. Yeah, twenty twenty three trade deadline scores.
Youngest player in NBA history to score three straight forty
point games.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
You know, I don't want to say he's played his
last game with the Nets, but you know, for his
rookie contract, going to free agency. You never know, He's
had a lot of fun memories and games.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
And here's what's interesting, Lucas, like, you know, trying to
place him on Okay, what is he on a team
that's you know, a really good playoff team, right?
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Like?
Speaker 2 (10:57):
You know, is he Is he somebody who's a just
like consistent offensive option off the bench, who's going to
you know, be able to get you a bucket whenever
you you know need one?
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Or is he someone who maybe can be more than that,
who can be you know, someone who's really you know,
drawing the attention of a defense and creating opportunities for
his teammates both with that attention and his playmaking where
he can function at an even higher level than that.
And I think this year left enough intrigue that I
(11:28):
don't think you could feel definitive one way or another.
And to me, that's actually a victory.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Yeah, I agree, especially because he only played twenty five games,
so to show that in like a third of the season.
I really like that point because something I've been thinking about,
the traditional sixth man role, you know, bring him off
the bench, let him cook, is not as prevalent today's
NBA because really it's like you have to fit with
(11:52):
the best five. Like you look at these great teams Celtics, Cleveland, Okay,
see even the Knicks, like they have probably three or
four guys. The Knicks might be a bad example of this,
but three or four guys that you know are going
to close games. And then it's whoever is fitting in
with the group that night, whoever is a good matchup.
You look at Okay, see Shay Jalen Williams chatter on
(12:15):
the Florida close pick. Any other two guys have all
close games for them, Casey Wallace, Wiggins, Hartenstein, Isaiah Joe
like Cam Thomas to continue getting better as he has
this season, shows he can fit in with a variety
of players, attack a variety of coverages. We know he
can pull up against drop, we know he can get
into the lane and draw fouls. But to see more
(12:37):
a defensive attention. I'm really, you know, intrigued and pleased
with his season in that regard. So I think that
was important for us to start with this week. Though
obviously Brooklyn then played three games after that Midwest swing,
the back to back at home and then this road
(12:58):
game in Boston. So what did you see from Brooklyn
over this past week, you know, especially the games you
were in the house for. I know you're in the
house for that Atlanta win and the game is Boston
last night. You know what stood out to you generally speaking?
Speaker 2 (13:11):
You know, I think one thing that we all have
seen early on that has just continued is the kind
of play and the heart and the grit and the aggression.
And I think that the confidence and will that Jordi
has instilled. And I think, you know, there's a lot
(13:34):
that Sean Marx and the front office can feel great
about this year. But I think the thing they should
feel best about, and ownership should feel best about, is
they hired the right head coach. Like I mean, I think,
you know, if there's one thing universally that all NETS
fans are going to agree upon this year, it's that
this organization has the head coach at once for the
(13:56):
future to guide this franchise. And I think from Jordi,
you know, he has a great way about, you know,
setting a certain level of standard and demand regardless of
who you are. And we even have seen D'Angelo Russell
talk about this recently, you know, and and how it
doesn't he doesn't care. You know, whether you're d Lo,
whether you're Cam Johnson, whether you're uh, you know, Tosana Wolma,
(14:19):
you know, whoever you are, you're Maxwell Lewis Like, there's
certain things that for him are going to be non
negotiable and uh, and I think that we've seen those
demands come out in the way this group plays. And
so what stood out to me these last few games
is like, when these guys are on the floor, they
don't ever play like they're out of talent deficit. You know,
they have a they have a belief in themselves no
(14:42):
matter who they're playing, and they play with a vigor
and a peskiness that makes the opponent earn every win
against them. And so whether you're talking about the game
against Boston the other day, where you know they lose
at home, but they have this incredible battle and fight
(15:03):
down the stretch, even after the Celtics had seemingly pulled
away late the fourth quarter, they still keep coming. They
finish on a twelve to three run. You know, they
end up losing the game ultimately, but like something where
you kind of feel good about the identity. Then the
way they win against Atlanta and I thought really interesting
in that game. I was doing that game Vince Carter,
and he made the point about after Cam was upset
(15:24):
with the call reversal on what would have been a
four point play opportunity and late in the second quarter,
you know, he kind of then was trying to force things,
like clearly was still bothered. Yeah, and Cam then talked
about how the coaching staff kind of refocused him, like
calmed him down, and then got him in a place
where he was just like a beat slower and so
(15:45):
effective down the stretch, scored ten points in the fourth
quarter at back to back huge three's guides up to
the win. I thought even that, like emotional, you know,
the way the coaching staff was able to guide this
vet who's been unbelievable this year for them emotionally through
that was a good sign. And then the performance against Boston,
you know, you're playing at TV Garden, and I know
they didn't have Jalen Brown or Jason Tatum, but like
(16:07):
they still obviously have more talent on that floor than
the Nets do at this given time, and the Nets
still take the Celtics to the brink there, you know,
and are able to battle. And so I know It's
like it's kind of a general thing to say, but
I think there's something rewarding about just seeing the way
they battle translate either into wins or really competitive games
(16:29):
where they come up short and within that. The one
other thing I'd say in this long winded answer Lucas
is I feel like the other thing is set out
to me is just like how many different guys, yeah,
contributing positively in those games? Right, Like you go across
the board, you know, whether it's Keon Johnson, whether it's
Maxwell Lewis, whether it's you know, Zaire, whether it's Cam
(16:52):
you know, so many different Dayron sharp with the ten
offensive rebounds and the you know loss, even like how
about Dyaron in last night's game for the Celtics over
the block then starts the break, flares to the corner
and takes like an in rhythm jump shot in the
corner where his toes on the line. But like, you know,
every guy's doing something. I feel like on a nightly
basis where you're not like like how often are you
(17:13):
looking at someone on the floor and saying like, ugh,
why is that guy out there? Like I don't think
it happened last night.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Last night they won consists a real stretch of minutes
with all five guys a hockey sub so five reserves
on the floor. It was Trendon Watford, Maxwell Lewis Tyree,
Martin Dayron Sharp and Noah Clowney, and those five were
out there in the second quarter, you know, typical bench time.
And to start the fourth quarter, you know, maybe Jalen
Wilson got in there. I think at that time it
(17:40):
was four of them, whatever, but they won their minutes.
Jeordie always compliments, like always is big on just the
up and down production across the board. And when you're
throwing five reserves out there a couple of guys who
started this year on two ways or not on the
team or playing real rotation minutes for the first time
in their careers, that can't I mean, it doesn't go overlooked,
(18:04):
but it's a testament to the system that they have.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Brooklyn Nets fans dunks times and no looks are great
on TV, but catching them from the hardwoods a whole
different experience because nothing compares to catching your nets irl
and that all starts a tying tickets and Ticketmaster, the
only official ticket marketplace of the Brooklyn Nets, even if
you're headed to the game last minute, you don't find
tickets and Ticketmaster right up until tipball, so you can
catch every highlighting person. And if you've got tickets but
can't make it, including season tickets, Ticketmasters there for the assist.
(18:32):
You can easily and safely sell your game tickets on Ticketmaster.
There's no better brag than being able to say you
saw it live. See you courtside, Brooklyn.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
What I loved about the Boston games is that the
Nets played a really strong game in two totally different ways.
In the first Boston game, they shoot forty three zero
point five percent from three balls popping. They're attacking Jason
Tatum doubling, being physical, spread out over the floor as
we see, and Boston ends up shooting high sixties from
(19:04):
two playing two bigs at once. Nets don't have Nick
klaxon this one. Flash forward three days. You're in Boston,
the threes aren't falling, you don't really have the same
defensive game plan at all, and the Nets are playing
a fantastic defensive game. They're there on every catch. I
think they made the Celtics three pointers considerably more difficult
(19:24):
than we normally see. They're getting to the foul line,
they're getting to the rim, and it's a low scoring
game where they don't choot well from three, And I
think that really there's not one thing that they have
to do well to win. Obviously, last night, I think
they played well enough to win. I just don't think
they made enough open shots. Obviously I was in the arena.
I couldn't listen to the broadcast, but I'm one like,
(19:46):
if you and Sarah had that takeaway from the game.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Yeah, I thought they played great. I thought, you know,
obviously the porzingis post ups are you know, the most
difficult thing to guard in the NBA, and he had
some key ones down this s stretch. The Shireman minutes,
you know, swung the game for Boston, which is funny
because you look at him and you're like, geez, like
he's not a part of the rotation normally, but like
(20:09):
he can help you, you know, like, yeah he looks good, shoot,
yeah he could shoot, and he's confident and he brings
an energy. But no, I think like if you look
at down the stretch right, like you know d Lo
when he comes back in midway through the fourth, he
hits a couple of shots and you're thinking he's gonna
go toe to toe. Then he ends up missing his
final six threes he takes, he misses six straight threes
(20:32):
from any and he you know, was kind of fortunate
to get fouled on another one in the final four
forty three seconds and and so you know that that
was kind of like if he hits if he hits
three of those, right, it's a different stretch. Or maybe
if they we thought they probably should have gotten Cam
Johnson more looks down the stretch than they did. Yeah,
(20:54):
but other than that, and maybe you know, there was
like a silly foul here from Keon, I think, But
but other than that, I think there was a ton
to to like about the way they played. You know,
one guy you mentioned that I continues to impress me
is Trendon Watford.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
I thought I. Richard had an interesting comparison when we
were doing a game a few weeks ago, said he
reminds him a little bit of a Boris Dio type.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Trenton didn't. Trendon said, yeah, he didn't love it, but
he said he was only familiar with late career Boris
Diao and so he needs to go back and watch
some film but yeah, in general, tell us why that's
a good.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Yea, like, think about the think about the game and
not the body type, right because like and younger Boris
obviously is not big as Layer Boris. But I think
there's something and Sarah did a great job of describing
it last night, like there's an unpredictability with his speeds, right, Like,
there's something about the way Watford drives that catches the
(21:54):
opponents off guard because he can slow it down and
he kind of like he kind of mean in an
Amiba type way. And then there's other times where like
all of a sudden that almost like lulls the defense
to sleep, and he has like a quicker burst than
you might be a lot, you know, and I think
he catches the opponents off guard. Plus he has a
(22:14):
pretty good finishing package. Then at the end of those drives,
and you know, I think the thing that's most comfortable,
which Richard talked about and was excited about and Geordie's
mentioned a lot, was just how comfortable he is in
the post too, and his ability to go down there
and make plays. So you know, again, like I think
what I like is from all of these guys, you're
(22:38):
seeing things that you're like curious about, you know, and
I don't know that. I don't know that you can
definitively say with any member of this net's rotation, like, hey,
like I know that guy is going to be a
rotation member on a team that could contend for a title, right,
or I know that guy is definitively a part of
the long term answer. To be fair, I don't know
(23:00):
that a lot of guys have definitively answered that. But
I think what's important is I don't know that anyone's
eliminated themselves from that conversation. You know, like I haven't
watched many guys this year and said, whoa like he
can't play or like he definitely is not a part
of the answer, And to me, that's very significant, you know,
the improvement within the season, the improvement year to year,
(23:21):
the contributions on the floor from Keon, from Zaire, from Trendon,
you know, from Noah, who I think you know, everyone
should be very excited about now, From Tosan, a woman
who I really like and I like his size, you know,
some of the other guys as well, Like, I think
it all leaves us curious and wanting to find out
more and that in itself, to me feels like a positive.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Thing definitely, And I think for a lot of guys,
establishing themselves as potential playoff pieces is a big step
forward for them. Trendon in his last two games against Atlanta,
you know, he shoots four for a thirteen points five
assists off the bench, and then against Boston he shoots
let me find it, five of nine eleven points, four assists,
(24:05):
So backup point guard really, but it looks different for
him than a lot of guys, and I love that
he can post up, he can play in the short role,
he can attack from the perimeter. I think obviously is
to work on mastering. You know, nobody ever masters it,
but mastering and refining all those parts of his game.
(24:25):
But I do like the way he can create offense
in a variety of ways you put. You know, in
the first half, they had Baylor Shireman on him for
a few possessions, and I know Shireman ends up really
winning the game for him with his three point shooting
in the second half, but it's a reserve 's reserve unit.
They put Shireman on Trendon Wafford, and it's like you
probably shouldn't do that because he's going right to the post,
(24:48):
and he scored or assisted on a few possessions. I
think he's gotten better passing the ball this season, looking
for day Ron, looking for guys inside on the lob.
So they have a lot of a lot of funky guys.
They have a lot of unorthodox guys like Toson's one
of them you mentioned, and I've really enjoyed watching them.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
I'm me too, man, I'm curious about Tosan. Toson's a
dude who I'm like, I'm legitimately interested in and curious
about it. I know they've run up against his uh you know,
his number of games that he could play, but like
he's six eight, he makes a lot of winning plays.
There's enough, there's enough offense there to make me curious.
(25:32):
And he plays with an incredible motor, yep in an
intellect as well. Uh I, He's a guy I'm curious about,
you know, And I think we one thing we've I
think we're very consistently seen with this front office obviously,
is you know, the the ability to develop players, to
find reclamation projects, so to speak, and you know, continue
(25:53):
to develop guys who maybe have been overlooked or have
been three or four stops or whatever it might be.
But then also to draft successful in the twenties and
in the thirties, even you know, when you look at
a day Ron Sharp, look at Claxton, look at a Clowney,
you know, just to name a few, and so all
of that makes me excited, especially thinking about the possibility
(26:14):
of next year having four picks in the first round
and like developing a core and knowing, you know, even
if you're not getting you know, a franchise changers, maybe
you're getting a core of useful rotation players that will
develop and be fun to watch, I think, and playing
this brand, Yeah, it just makes me makes me excited
(26:34):
about what's to come in the style they play, because
I think you and I were talking about it a
little bit last night, Lucas. One thing they've consistently done
has been a good watch this entire series, you know,
like they they really have. They maybe have like one
stretch where they had a few games where they got
smacked around a little bit, but otherwise they've been competitive
night in, night out.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
It's been really fun to watch. I saw post game
last night waiting outside the lock room. I saw Brad
Stevens bump into Jordi Fernandez in the hallway, and you know,
I don't want to say too much about a private conversation,
but I can tell you Brad said, hey, man, like
hell of a job, very fun to watch use those words,
(27:14):
and so people around the league are taking notice. I've
really enjoyed this season more than what you might say
just looking at the record, because of the way they compete.
To circle back, Ryan's talking about Tosan Awolma's two way
contract games limit. A guy on a two way contract
can only play a certain number of games in the
(27:34):
NBA over a season. Toson's nearing his limit, but Jordi
has said, you know, we'll see him down the stretch
this season, so I'm excited for him to return. One
guy I want to touch on before we wrap up
is Maxwell Lewis. For those of you who listened to
last week's episode, Maxwell Lewis at that point had never appeared,
(27:57):
had never played double digit minutes in an NBA game,
He'd obviously never scored double digit points in an NBA game,
and then he is thrown into the rotation against the
Boston Celtics with Tatum and Brown. Over the weekend, Nets
had a few injuries. He scores eight points in two minutes.
The place is going crazy. He ends up scoring fifteen
(28:20):
points off the bench on six of seven shooting. He
made three threes. Then he earns himself another twenty six
minutes against twenty two minutes against the Hawks the next day,
thirteen points, four of eight shooting, ends up a couple steals,
a couple of fast break dunks, and the thing that
(28:41):
stood out most and I wrote an article about this
on NETS Daily. His teammates seemed to love him. They
were going crazy on the bench. I think it's he's
just yet again. I mean we were going crazy when
Tyree Martin put up a thirty piece in Phoenix, like whoa,
who is this guy? Where do you come from? Six
months later, the Nets are still like doing this and
(29:01):
finding these guys. I enjoyed the Maxwell Lewis experience this week.
I know he didn't shoot it super great last night
in Boston. I think he missed a couple of threes,
but energy size. I really liked him this week.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Speed too, you know, like I think some speed I agree, man,
and I'm glad he brought up Tyres too, because he's
another guy who you know, been impressed with this.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Year and his driving to the basket.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Yeah, his driving ability. You know, I thought of him
just as a shooter before and then he realized, oh no,
he's got he's got driving ability playing. But yeah, with Lewis,
you know what I think was so interesting is in
both that first Boston game in the Atlanta game, he
felt him on the floor. Y he was, he was
impacting winning, he was injecting life. He was making an
(29:46):
impact both offensively and defensively. I thought he totally changed
the game. Obviously, he almost changed the result against Boston,
but then I thought change the game against Atlanta. I
thought when he came into the game, he got when
they needed it most after and I kind of got
on a run, taken a lead. He gave them great
minutes of defensive energy of a couple of big shots
(30:08):
playing with a verve. And and again, like you said,
size as well, another guy that you're left to say like, hey,
you know, like I'm curious, I'm curious. Like David Cohne,
who one of my favorite people in the world, won
my favorite analysts to work with. He he'll always say
like makes you want to see more, right, And I
(30:30):
think that you know that that's an important compliment too
to throw out. You know, I don't think it's appropriate
to say definitively like I was saying before, Like I
think if you're saying right now, like I know, Maxwell
Lewis is absolutely you know, a rotation piece on an
amazing team like I. You know, we don't have enough
evidence for that yet, right, That wouldn't be fair. But
(30:56):
do I want to see more? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (30:57):
And that's how you earn contracts, that's how you keep
getting and these guys trying to establish themselves. All you
have to do is you know enough intrigue to see more.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
I have a great quote from D'Angelo Russell in this
story I just want to read. And I was asking them,
you know, you guys are going crazy for Max on
the bench. Clearly he has this great energy. You know
why is that? And he said he mentioned his work
ethic first. He said quote, I think as a young
player in the league, if you don't have the work ethic,
you get stereotype as a guy that just is too fun,
too crazy. But if you have the work ethic, I
(31:28):
think it's easy for you to fall into being who
you are. And that was a great quote to me
because when you're in the locker room, when you're at
streude around this team is loud no matter the result,
they are together, like there's an energy in the building
whenever they walk in. They believe in themselves. It's a
close knit team and every guy seems comfortable being themselves
(31:50):
and one of the most tightly knit nets groups I
can remember watching the team in that regard.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
I don't know if you agree, I think so, I
definitely do. I definitely do, Lucas And you know, I
had this is kind of a big picture a perspective,
but like I had someone very very very high up
in the NBA world say to me once how many
teams are there in the NBA? And I said thirty
(32:19):
thirty And then so he said, so on average, each
team should win once out of every thirty years, right
like on average, So I mean there's twenty nine years
out of every thirty years where you're not gonna win. Ship,
you better have other ways to, you know, become connected
(32:42):
to your fan base, to give people a reason to
want to watch, to have something that feels like success.
If your only bar organizationally in professional sports is championship
or not, You're gonna have a lot of fruitless journeys.
And I think that one thing I like about what's
(33:02):
happening right now. No, make no mistake about it, the
goal is always to win a championship. Everything you do
is building towards that goal. But there are ways to
really enjoy the journey, you know, as you're trying to
build to that, and to understand that something can look
and feel like success along the way to trying to
(33:23):
achieve that, or even if you don't achieve that. And
I think what I like is you know you're gonna
have eighty two games a year with your team. When
you're an NBA fan, you want to feel like you
like the guys you're rooting for. That there's a cohesion,
there's a connectiveness. They play a style that feels, you know,
emblematic of you know, how you feel about your city.
(33:45):
And I feel like this team has done that and
there's not much more you could ask for this year
given the net circumstances. And I think it also is
the right foundation to set for Jordy moving forward.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
And maybe a couple Lakers and Bulls teams a couple aside.
Every championship NBA team has loved playing together and had
fun and express joy on the court. So there's steps
to doing that. You got to be on the right path.
And I think they you know, I think they are
flexibility moving forward, Trush, Shawn Marks, all that, but it
(34:18):
starts here.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
Yeah, exactly, Like talent is obviously a prerequisitive, Like you're
not gonna you know, if you're the best of friends
and you're you know, you don't have top tier talent,
you're not of course winning a championship, but you need
that level of connectivity and cohesion. Like even just look
at the calves, think about how much more connected they
are this year, how much more propive, and look the
(34:39):
results are speaking for themselves even though they had that
same talent a year ago. Essentially, you know, so yeah,
I think like I think it's it's so big. And
then when you tune into a game as a fan,
you want to feel like, you know, you're proud of
the product you're watching and you're enjoying the way the
guys play, And I think, you know, for this year,
that's so important because it establishes a foundation for what
(35:02):
you can expect now from these Nets under Jordi Fernandez,
regardless of who's in the jersey, right, And of course
you hope as time goes on you're gonna accumulate more
and more talent while continuing to hold those principles and
grow them. And and so I think I think that's
been a real win this year for the Nets.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
I think that's one hundred percent true. I think that's
a great place to leave off. I think it is
now time for a special guest edition of Trivia, which
we always wrap up the backcourt is Ryan. Do you
know the first I had to dig for this? You
would be impressed by my PI skills? Okay, the first
NETS on yes game that you broadcasted, I do what?
(35:46):
What was it?
Speaker 2 (35:47):
It was Nets against the Pistons. It was in there.
It was in this the twelve win season in the
nine to ten season. I think it was in March
of twenty ten, and at the time Brook Lopez scored
what was then a career high. I think he had
(36:09):
thirty eight points in the game, and it was one
of their twelve wins that season.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
Were you working for?
Speaker 3 (36:18):
Was that?
Speaker 1 (36:18):
WFUV? Is that for them?
Speaker 2 (36:20):
No? That was that was for Yes. That was my
first That was my first NETS on YES game that
I did doing play by play for for the S Network.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Wow, that's a fantastic memory it. Indeed, Brook Lopez, I'm
looking right now, had twenty five, so you were two off,
he had.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Wait, how many do you have?
Speaker 1 (36:41):
He had, Oh, man, we might need to cut this. Man,
I got the wrong information.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Wait what did you have?
Speaker 1 (36:48):
I looked at all the they all said your first
year with Yes was twenty eleven, twenty twelve.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
So I can explain it. You don't need to cut it.
I could explain it.
Speaker 1 (36:58):
Oh yeah, I got totally Okay.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
No, the reason is because the eleven twelve season is
the first year that I was officially Iien's back up. Okay,
So what happened was this is good because it gives
a story. In the O nine to ten season, they
gave me one game. It was just like, Hey, we're
(37:21):
going to have you do like one game. And my boss,
John Philippelli is one of the great TV guys of
all time, he did something really wonderful. He said to me, said,
I want you to understand something you like. You get
this opportunity on Maris at the production meeting. He called
Frank and Frank annemby the phone. He said, no, matter
what you do today, you are going to get more opportunities,
(37:45):
So don't think of this as an audition like and
it just calmed me completely, you know, and it allowed
me to just do my thing. So I did one
game at the end of twenty ten, then in the
ten elevens and I did four games, and then the
next year eleven twelve is the first year that I
(38:10):
was actually officially the number two with Iron, and I
would do whatever games Ion couldn't do, and then it
took off from there. So that's what that was, like
my official start. But I'm looking up right now.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
That's fantastic. I have it right here. That is so right,
Brook Lopez thirty seven and ten. It is very March
game against the Pistons. Yeah, do you want? Okay, I
guess adjust the question how many of the start and
net starters you think you can name in that game?
Because that was gonna be my original question.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Oh my gosh, that is such a good question.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
Always great to name some guys.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
Oh my gosh, uh is Ray for Austin on that team? No, okay,
let's see Courtney Lee.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Yes, yes, right, there's an easier one next to him
in the backcourt.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Next to Lee in the backcourt.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Yeah, at the point, Devin Harris correct, Okay.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
Brook Lopez, Cortney Lee, Devin Harris.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
These last two are gonna be correct. Okay, you got
one left. You got one left. It's the hardest one. Wow,
this is a fantastic performance so far.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
It's what's funny is like I remember their first years
of Brooklyn, like is when I started doing like way
more games, like remember all those teams so much more,
And I got the Reggie Evans days.
Speaker 1 (39:38):
Of course me too.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
Who is the other starter? Was it was Humphries with
them yet.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
Yeah, but he came off the bench, so yes, Jarvis Hayes. Wow,
he checked Terrence Williams Key on dueling and Cdr. Chris
Juggles Roberts ran it out the rotation. But yes, Jarvis
hays got the start. That's one one hundred eighteen, one
hundred and ten probably their best offensive game of the
year looking at it in that twelve win season.
Speaker 2 (40:09):
How about that?
Speaker 1 (40:10):
Wow, it's awesome.
Speaker 2 (40:11):
It's so funny, man, because I remember there was someone
on the Pistons too, who, like I you know, I'm
prepping this game. It's one NBA game, right, Yeah, I
prepped for like six weeks, Okay, you know, I mean,
I'm I'm twenty three years old. I'm getting to do
my first NBA game and uh, and I'm working with Fortello,
(40:34):
And I had this story about somebody on the Piston
who was the Piston starters and how how he loved
to like collect old cars, and I remember I was
just hoping he would get to the free throw line
so I could do the story with uh, with Fortello.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
It was Jason Maxil Rip Hamilton yonis your rebco Rookie
yonas your repco. Wow will bind them in Tayshaun Prince.
And then they had a bunch of guys off the bench.
Who was the first guy you mentioned, Jason max Seal.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
I think that my story is about Jason Maxial. I
think it was like so but yeah, man, that was
my That was my first taste that wasn't officially a
member of nets On yes yet. But then I the uh,
the third year I did games, which is the year
you were referencing, eleven twelve was the first year where
I really did a big slate of games.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
Can't trust can't trust Google, Man, can't trust Google.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
Was Jordan Farmar on that eleven twelve team?
Speaker 1 (41:33):
Oh? I want to say yes because he he was.
He's definitely in Jersey and I think he did back
up Darren Williams. I love Jordan Farmar, Yeah, I had.
I had a strong liking to him for some reason.
He was he played two years with the Nets. That
was one of them. And you're right about Jason Maxial.
I just looked it up. Yeah, Jason Maxeal's gas guzzlers
(41:54):
and there's a whole article about.
Speaker 2 (41:55):
There you go, There you go. I clearly did my
prep for that game, and I think.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
You did your prep for this pot. I think you
had an equally successful debut on the backcourt as you
did in that game.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
Thank you, Lucas. I appreciate it. Man.
Speaker 1 (42:10):
We covered a lot of ground. Shout out to our
fathers who yeah, yeah, dude. Shout out to Peter, Shout
out to Gary and Peter. Shout out to USFL. Very
fascinating story. It's a great documentary. Their friend worked one
Mike Toland. Yes, original ESPN thirty for thirty documentary Who
Killed the USFL. Great documentary, but Shout out to the Nets,
(42:33):
they've been fun to watch. Shout out to Jason macseel
For some reason, we got all the way there. We
covered a lot of ground today. Yes, and I once again, dude,
thank you for coming.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
On hey anytime, Lucas. I'm so proud of you and
the work you're doing. Man, keep it up. Nets fans
are lucky to have the really detailed, focused, specific intelligent
work you do and and looking forward to continuing to
read all your stuff on NETS dally and listen to
you here.
Speaker 1 (42:59):
Man, I appreciate that a lot ran This has been
This has been the Backcourt presented by Ticketmaster, a Brooklyn
Nets podcast. Thank you so much for listening. Thank you
so much to Ryan for stopping by, Like, subscribe, rate it,
you know, whatever your podcast platform does, we appreciate it
and we will see you next week
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