For the Netslife with out Dennis Schröder formally started Monday in opposition to the Japanese Convention-leading Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Heart. The German level guard, together with a second-round choose, was formally traded to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. Monday’s match provided a primary glimpse and the brand new rotation of Jordi Fernandez.
“Dennis is gone and life goes on, and we’re pleased for him as a result of he’s in a very good scenario, and we’re additionally pleased right here as a result of there are 34 minutes for the opposite guys to play.” , Fernandez mentioned. “There are about 17 photographs the opposite guys can take. There’s six and a half assists for the opposite guys, and all these items that are actually going to be distributed round these guys right here. They need to be excited to go, from the management to the numbers and all the pieces.
Ben Simmons acquired his 14th begin of the season instead of Schröder. Schröder was one of many 20 slowest guards within the league to this point this season, whereas Simmons is likely one of the ten quickest. The variations of their video games are apparent. Fernandez instructed reporters the Nets had been going to construct on Simmons’ strengths, relatively than attempting to transform him into one thing he is not.
Simmons, coming off a 2023-24 season by which he performed simply 15 video games on account of a pinched nerve in his decrease again, was on a minutes restriction this season because the Nets proceed to watch out about its use. He hasn’t performed back-to-back video games. Fernandez didn’t reveal whether or not Simmons’ restrictions can be fully lifted in mild of the Schröder commerce, however mentioned he would play “above the mid-20s” sooner or later.
Brooklyn will want as many shot creations as attainable. Simmons averaged 6.5 assists per sport in his first 13 appearances this season.
“Simply because now we don’t have Dennis doesn’t imply we’re going to alter the best way we play,” Fernandez mentioned. “Clearly, I’ll use Ben in a approach the place he is extra apt to hit the paint straight away as a substitute of enjoying pick-and-roll. It’s normal sense, and it is my job to determine it out, however like I mentioned earlier than, Ben is likely one of the quickest gamers within the NBA and we’ll use him, and he’ll make an excellent work as he has performed to this point. NOW.”
Nevertheless, Fernandez added that enjoying quicker doesn’t imply enjoying extra carelessly. The Nets nonetheless must take higher care of their possessions, enhance their defensive efforts and improve their manufacturing on the glass.
“If we enhance that, it can assist our offense as nicely,” Fernandez mentioned. “Once more, it’s a very good problem for us. We’re a unique group. We could have bigger queues. And we had been complaining about being so small, and now we’re greater, so it is a good problem for us.
ATKINSON RETURNS TO BROOKLYN
Kenny Atkinson returned to the Barclays Heart on Monday for the primary time since accepting his new job as head coach of the Cavaliers. The 57-year-old served as Brooklyn’s head coach from 2016 to 2020. His new workforce defeated the Nets 105-100 in Cleveland on November 9.
“It’s at all times nice,” Atkinson mentioned. “It’s at all times good to come back residence. Most of my household lives right here. My seven brothers stay within the area. So it is nice. I like coming again right here. I like the New York environment. A basketball city. Brooklyn, I’ve at all times mentioned, breathes basketball. So yeah, it’s an excellent feeling to come back right here.
Atkinson mentioned he was not bitter in regards to the finish of his tenure in Brooklyn. He noticed it as a stepping stone to larger alternatives.
“I simply have a look at it as a part of the story, proper, a part of you rising up,” Atkinson mentioned. “Good issues occur to you, you might have setbacks, and – it’s like a participant, how do you bounce again? And it was undoubtedly a rebound. And I feel in the long term, like I mentioned, the journey after Brooklyn actually helped me, helped me develop as a coach. Who is aware of, if that does not occur, perhaps I am not Cleveland. I would not enhance as a lot as a coach if that did not occur. So I see that extra as a optimistic level.
THOMAS, WILLIAMS STAY OUT
The Nets had been with out a guard Cam Thomas and ahead Ziaire Williams once more Monday. Thomas missed his eighth straight sport with a left hamstring pressure, Williams missed his fifth straight sport with a sprained left knee.
Thomas was initially dominated out for at the least three weeks on November 27. No timetable has been supplied for Williams’ return, and Fernandez had no updates to share when requested about his standing Monday.
“No updates. They’re doing very nicely,” Fernandez mentioned. “Every little thing goes very nicely for each. And as soon as we’ve an replace, we will certainly let you already know.
