Nets: Stay on message
Team doesn’t want important social issues to get lost in return to play
Jacque Vaughn doesn’t want the movement to lose steam. As the NBA positions itself at the intersection of entertainment and social justice, resuming its season amid growing tensions between the Black community and police departments in the wake of George Floyd’s tragic death in Minneapolis, Vaughn says the Nets organization feels education is key.
“That’s the challenge. I was actually part of a small group in our organization, reinforcing our thoughts of continuing to educate our team, whether that is going to be through movies as we are here, through books as we are here,” Vaughn said in a conference call with reporters on Saturday. “So we were organizing that in a meeting yesterday, because that is really the true challenge.”
Basketball is resuming. Teams have landed in Orlando, finished their 36-hour quarantines and had their players and personnel tested negative for consecutive coronavirus tests. Most, if not all teams, had their first full team practice at Walt Disney World for the first time since practice facilities were shut down after the NBA suspended its season.
The news cycles are also beginning to shift away from social issues and back to basketball: Who is being signed, who is healthy, who is playing what position and what teams are positioning for deep playoff runs?
Vaughn wants to make sure the internal message remains clear:
“The basketball part will be easy, but to continue to invest in the bigger picture and the broader message to our entire group, and that comes through education. We’ll continue to push that as an organization. It is definitely on the forethought of our coaching staff, our GM, our ownership. It will not be removed because the ball is bouncing again.”
RODI AT THE 5?
Rodions Kurucs may have started at power forward alongside Jarrett Allen in Brooklyn’s first five-on-five practice action since March, but the second-year forward is expecting to play a steady portion of his minutes at the five when the Nets begin their eight regular-season games with a July 31 re-opener against the Magic
“I’m playing basically fourfive right now. It’s me and J.A. [Allen] as a big man right now, Kurucs said in a conference call on Saturday. “It’s tough to be honest, but I’m getting used to it and getting good at the 5 position too. Because I’m sure I’m gonna have to play some minutes at that position.
“Different positions now, but I think it’s not a problem. I’m a basketball player so, I’m just gonna play my game.”
Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn feels Kurucs will be big for his team for several reasons: his ability to offensive rebound, be a nuisance on the defensive end, knock down shots and be a great cutter.
“So we expect that from Rodi. We know he has it in him and we’re gonna need him for that,” he said. “His ability to just do the little things, be that dog on the inside, get all the garbage points. I’m excited for the opportunity for him, especially, and hopefully he takes advantage.”
Kurucs at the five could give Brooklyn a different look. Allen has practiced threes but has never gotten into a rhythm of comfortably shooting them in games. Kurucs is a 39% three-point shooter, and he says he’s trying to be less hesitant about letting the threeball fly.
This season, the Nets have been dominated by teams with stretch big men, dating all the way back to their preseason opener against Brazilian team SESI/France whose starting center, Rafael Hettsheimeir, scored 26 points and shot 8-of-10 from downtown. But what if Brooklyn turns one of its weaknesses into a strength?
“He’s aggressive and it helps us spread the floor more and he can playmake as well,” reserve guard Chris Chiozza said of Kurucs. “He knows how to play basketball. He’s smart. If he’s at the 5, with us being smaller, I think it’s an advantage because he can get out and run too.
“We’ll continue to be a fastpaced team. With him at the 5, it gives us the threat of him being able to shoot. It might be more of a 5 out. We might do more popping. We’ll see when that time comes, what coach wants to do.”
CARIS IN TOP FORM
Nets guard Chris Chiozza says Caris LeVert looks as fresh as he did when the season was suspended.
“He’s looking great. Out here, he’s doing the job leading us,” Chiozza said on Saturday. “He’s really playing well on defensive end, offensive end, just all around playmaking, making shots. It looks like he hasn’t missed a beat since we left off from the break.”
LeVert’s production will be critical for a Nets team missing three starters and two superstars.
OUT OF SHAPE?
NBA teams have had their first full practices since team facilities shut down after Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus on March 11. The NBA later provided safety protocol allowing no more than one player to a court to practice with no more than two team trainers, but most teams only began starting full three-on-three, fouron-four and five-on-five action this week.
Conditioning is going to be an uphill battle, not just for the Nets, but for all teams who won’t have played an NBA game for at least 140 days since the season abruptly ended.
“That’s a true challenge for us, because you want to push guys and increase their conditioning level, but you have to have the balance of recovery, and also that they just haven’t put this amount of stress on their bodies in this short of time,” Vaughn explained after Saturday practice. “A great challenge for us. Definitely have to use our data. We’ll have to use instincts. Today was a very light day for us after two days of running up and down. There will be some untraditional approaches to use maximizing our guys, and most importantly, keeping them healthy.”
FREE AGENT UPDATE
The Nets are expected to sign reserve forward Justin Anderson to a rest-of-the-year contract, but the signing has yet to be made official. Brooklyn has one remaining open roster slot left. They have added Jamal Crawford, Michael Beasley and Donta Hall as substitutes for players who either opted out or tested positive for the coronavirus. They also waived Theo Pinson to make room for combo guard Tyler Johnson.
“Nothing on Justin Anderson. I will say that Tyler Johnson is en route to get here,” Vaughn said. “Then he’ll begin his quarantine here in Orlando. Those other guys are in the process of quarantining now.”