National Post (National Edition)
Nets coach Nash must decide how to get his stars aligned
WASHINGTON • Step by step over the last month, the Brooklyn Nets have got answers to almost all their most pressing pre-season questions.
Could Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving return to star form after long-term injuries? Yes. Did the Nets have enough minor assets to win the James Harden sweepstakes? Yes. Was Harden willing to turn over a new leaf and fit into a budding superteam? Yes. Would Irving rejoin the team after an unexpected personal leave that lasted seven games? Yes.
Brooklyn’s three stars made their shared debut together Wednesday, flashing their immense shared potential at times before falling 147-135 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The double overtime loss was a reminder that two major questions remain:
Can the Nets stop anyone? Is Steve Nash up to the task of guiding a title contender in his rookie season as coach?
Conceding 147 points to the Cavaliers, who possess the league’s worst offence to date, is inexcusable under any circumstances, regardless of the extra periods. Seven Cleveland players finished in double figures, and Collin Sexton scored a career-high 42 points, including 20 straight for the Cavaliers down the stretch. Nash and the Nets, now 9-7 and owners of a bottom-10 defence, watched passively and barely adjusted as Sexton enjoyed his out-of-body experience.
“We had breakdowns all over the place,” Nash said.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. We know that ... We feel positive that we can improve defensively, but it’s got to be a priority for us.”
Defensive issues were expected, particularly after the Nets parted with shot-blocking centre Jarrett Allen and gutted their bench to acquire Harden. Brooklyn’s front line rotation is thin and starting centre DeAndre Jordan is a far less effective defensive player than he was three or four years ago. But in the loss to the Cavaliers, Irving looked like the Nets’ weakest link on defence, not Jordan. Irving’s lack of physicality and inconsistent focus can have crushing implications, and Nash left him out there.
To make matters worse: Irving logged 48 minutes of action even though he hadn’t played in more than two weeks. Nash also leaned way too heavily on Durant and Harden. New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau might not bat an eye at playing stars 50 minutes in a meaningless mid-January contest, but Nash must exercise a lot more restraint to align himself with modern best practices. Durant needs to be protected from this type of unnecessary mileage at all costs, no matter how sensational he has looked since returning from his Achilles’ injury.
While learning to better manage workloads shouldn’t be that complicated, Nash’s developing relationship with Irving — who has already been fined by the NBA league office for skipping media day and for violating coronavirus protocols — will require extra attention and care. Coach and player didn’t quite seem to be on the same page during Irving’s recent absence, and Nash has adopted to a hands-off approach to game management.
Nash can surely find success by empowering his three stars, but he needs to exert greater control in key moments. Even before the Harden trade, Irving too often sought to play hero ball in clutch situations. Irving is a fantastic shot-creator and shotmaker, so even his contested jumpers are good shots. But the Nets have Durant and Harden, two all-time scorers, and need not settle for just good shots in lategame situations.
Irving is wired to want the ball when games are on the line, and he will be ready when called upon. It’s Nash’s job to steer Irving toward more ball movement and to make sure that Durant and Harden don’t become bystanders. Late against Cleveland, Irving missed multiple tough looks in isolation and was called for a crucial offensive foul call on a drive. No serious title contender should consistently let its third-best player take the outcome of games into his own hands. That’s a fool’s errand.
Perhaps Nash’s greatest coaching virtues are his ability to connect with his stars and his willingness to trust them in the same way that he was trusted by coaches during his playing days. Yet Nash can still add value while letting his players run the show. At the end of the first overtime, Brooklyn had one final shot to win with the score tied and 1.2 seconds on the clock. Toronto’s Nick Nurse has built his reputation on pulling game-winning rabbits out of hats in precisely this situation.
After the Nets ran out of gas in the second overtime, they fell to 5-5 this season in games that were within five points in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime. Understandable for a team with a new coach and a new star trio that has faced some injury issues, but not good enough.
Getting nitpicked like this is a rite of passage for coaches of superstar-laden teams. This is Nash’s life now that Brooklyn’s stars are aligned, and he must adjust quickly to raised expectations and an accelerated learning curve.