Jordi Fernández preached a “subsequent man up” mentality throughout his first season as Brooklyn fillets head coach. His workforce took the mantra to a different degree throughout a 3-1 highway journey with wins over the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.
The Nets grew to become the primary workforce in NBA historical past to have a unique 30-point scorer in every recreation of a four-game highway journey. Cam Johnson, Cam Thomas And Dennis Schröder scored greater than 30 factors, respectively, within the first three video games. Brooklyn’s very unlikely contribution got here with the two-way signing of Tyrese Martin on Wednesday towards the Phoenix Suns.
Martine scored 30 factors on 8 of 10 taking pictures from three whereas seeing its first prolonged motion of 2024-25 in a 127-120 upset victory. The 25-year-old had scored 33 profession factors on 5-of-18 taking pictures from distance earlier than the efficiency.
“Our coaches do a fantastic job of mixing efficiency and bodily testing to have a plan for everybody to not solely enhance, however be prepared. [to play]”, Fernandez stated of his workforce’s profitable swing on the West Coast. “I believe that preparation confirmed itself in the previous few video games. Everybody did their job very diligently. And once we play no, it is not at all times straightforward as a result of everybody desires to play, however I believe all these guys and the coaches carry vitality on daily basis.
“They work behind closed doorways and nobody sees, and when their title and quantity are known as, they’re able to go. So thanks to them for working, to the coaches for placing all the pieces in place and organizing to seek out methods to enhance additional. After which it seems. I am very happy with these guys for what they’re doing. We should proceed to do that.
Brooklyn additionally acquired high-profile contributions from reserves Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson, Trendon Watford and Shake Milton on the West Coast. Fernandez’s workforce have been underdogs by greater than eight factors in all three wins.
Nets will proceed to press deep whereas battling accidents
The Nets’ depth will proceed to be examined within the coming weeks. They introduced on Wednesday that Thomas injured his hamstring and will likely be sidelined for at the least three weeks. The 23-year-old led the workforce’s shock eighth-ranked offense this season, averaging 24.7 factors and three.4 assists per recreation with taking pictures occasions of 46/39/87, all profession highs.
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Brooklyn additionally misplaced sophomore ahead Noah Clowney to a sprained ankle. The 2023 first-round decide, who made 37.7 p.c of his photographs from three on 4.1 makes an attempt per recreation this 12 months, will likely be out for at the least two weeks.
In the meantime, two of the Nets’ starters suffered accidents that compelled them off the courtroom in the course of the journey to the West Coast. Nic Claxton suffers from again ache which he says will “require administration” all through the season. The 25-year-old has but to succeed in his full potential this season after signing a four-year, $97 million deal.
Dorian Finney-Smith is coping with a sprained ankle that has stored him out of Brooklyn’s final 4 video games. The 30-year-old is off to probably the greatest begins of his profession this season, averaging 10.8 factors whereas taking pictures 41.0 p.c on three makes an attempt on 5.6 per recreation, all profession highs.
The Nets are 9-10 after their three-game profitable streak. They’re on monitor for 39 wins after coming into the season with a projected win complete of 18.5, the franchise’s lowest in 30 years. Fernandez’s workforce will look to proceed its robust begin this weekend in a pair of matchups with the Orlando Magic on the Barclays Middle.
