With D’Antoni and Jacque, Nets cover both ends of court
No, the Nets are not a football team — but they sure will operate like one. New coach Steve Nash has elected to put Mike D’Antoni in charge of the offense and former interim coach Jacque Vaughn at the helm of the defense. Both decisions make tons of sense: D’Antoni was the architect of the Seven Seconds or Less Phoenix Suns offense that Nash directed as a Hall of Fame point guard. Vaughn served as an interim coach for just 10 games and then the playoffs, but the Nets were a top-10 defense during his time at the helm.
The defense, Nash has maintained, is the priority, because champions do not become champions in any sport without putting an emphasis on the defensive side.
Nash said he and Vaughn went through film together, not just of their own team but of trends across the league. They identified a defensive identity that both suits the Nets’ roster and keeps the franchise up-to-date with how the league is trending.
“We realize that we’re trying to compete for a championship and we have to be excellent defensively. It’s going to be a process,” he said. “The defense last year changed in the bubble. Jacque started to put his imprints and adjustments into the defense and the performances in the bubble.
“I think JV’s adjustments in the bubble were going toward where we’ve landed with it and at the same time it is a work in progress. It’s something we’re going to build all year. We may have some rough patches as we adapt, but we realize that this is something we have to stick to and work on and invest in every day if we’re going to be good enough to compete for a championship.”
As for the offense, expect what D’Antoni’s Suns, Knicks and Rockets teams put on display: Pace and space, getting up and down the floor, a lot of threes and opportunities in transition.
LOAD-MANAGING STARS
Don’t expect Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving to appear in every one of the league’s 72 games this shortened season. That’s wishful thinking, even if they don’t run into any nagging injuries.
Irving is returning from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. Durant has wrapped up a year-and-a-half’s worth of rehab from a ruptured Achilles tendon in his right leg.
“It’s probably unlikely that they both play 72 games,” Nash said. “It’s been such a layoff for both of them and in particular Kevin with coming off one of the toughest injuries to deal with as a basketball player. We have to be very careful with him and his adaptation process back into the game.
“Kevin’s done everything you could have ever asked to put himself in this position. He is truly a gift for all of us with not only his talent, but his love for the game and the joy he brings in the building every day. Perhaps we have to protect him from himself in a way because he brings so much joy and passion to the sport.”
This is common nowadays. Kawhi Leonard, for example, played only 60 games his lone season in Toronto, but 60 was the magic number, and he was able to lead his Raptors to a championship. Irving joined Durant on a podcast episode a while back in which he said he doesn’t really see the team having a head coach.
“You know what I mean? KD could be a head coach. I could be a head coach,” he said.
When asked about Irving’s statement, Nash’s first instinct was to respond with some humor: “Can you repeat the Kyrie quote? I never heard that one,” he laughed.
Nash then clarified that he felt Irving’s statement was taken out of context.
“I read what he said. I think it was one phrase at the end of a bunch of things he said about being excited about having me in this position and coaching and maybe he took it to another level that seemed to grab all the headlines, which is fine,” he said. “I’m in a fortunate position where I get to coach Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.”
Nash also addressed the rumors of James Harden’s reported interest in joining the Nets via trade.
“As far as the Harden rumors, I don’t know. That’s ... I love our team, and I love our roster, and I coach these guys, and I’m trying to build something incredibly competitive and enjoyable for our players and staff,” he said. “That’s a question for someone in a different role.”