April 10, 2025 • 31 mins
In Episode 24 of The Backcourt Podcast, YES Network’s Sarah Kustok and NetsDaily’s Lucas dive into all things Brooklyn Nets as we approach the final week of the regular season. Sarah and Lucas discuss the culture being built within the organization, starting with head coach Jordi Fernández, and share positive momentum heading into a crucial offseason. With only a few games left, they spotlight players making the most of increased playing time, including Reece Beekman and Dariq Whitehead.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You are now in the backcourt of Brooklyn Nets podcast
presented by Ticketmaster and hosted by the two of us,
one of us.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Being Lucas Kaplan.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
That is me writer for Nets, Daily, Nets, Film Focus,
all that good stuff, and joining me is always is
Sarah Kustack.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
How are we doing.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
We're good coming off of Brooklyn Nets win and yeah
in this final stretch, so we're doing well.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
How about you?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
I'm well coming off of a very fun win that
you know, kind of is one of those end of
season wins where you just can't believe how much, how
quickly the time passed. And you know we say this
every season obviously, but you know, you see some of
the vets cheering for some of the young guys, some
of the guys that were on two way contracts are
(00:52):
on two way contracts, and somewhat of a full circle
moment that reminds you how long an NBA season is
and yet how quick it seems to fly by. Plus
it's fifty degrees in Sonny outside, so that's always nice.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
It is. I would take sixty degrees in Sonny. But
you know what, we can't be too choosy right now.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
We can't complain you know it's the northeast.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
It was seventy five last week and then forty five
and then seventy.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So as long as the sun is out, that's good.
And the Nets. Can you believe the Nets?
Speaker 1 (01:24):
This is episode twenty four and the Nets just have
three games left after this one? As this season felt
abnormally fast, abnormally slow, anything to you or regular?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
I don't know if abnormal is the right word, but
it's and you alluded to it. It's amazing how fast
it feels like it's flown by. I can't believe we're
already sitting here talking about the Nets having just three
games remaining. However, the thought of what the group like
looked like at training camp, thinking about the iterations of
the group early on the impact of Denis Shooter, Dori
(01:58):
in Phinney Smith. You know, the list goes on some
of those really great stretches around Thanksgiving that when it Phoenix.
There's so many parts of the season that in the
same vein feel like two or three seasons ago, and
I think that's because of the evolution and the changes
that occurred throughout the year. I think with that being said, though,
(02:20):
it's always a bittersweet time for me because for as
much as I know we've been on the grind and
for all these players coaching, you know, had everyone involved.
It takes a lot. Eighty two games is a lot
of just times what work put into this, and so
when it starts to come to a finality and I
(02:41):
think to knowing that it's going to be the end,
so many other cases when you have the postseason look
forward to or what things might look like, there's still
a little bit more runway and uncertainty. But I think overall,
I think you've said it. I've said it. This has
been a tremendous, tremendous group to work with to cover,
regardless of of who it has been on the roster
(03:02):
and what it's looked like. Such a really refreshing look
at what this coaching staff is led by Jordi Fernandez
and a lot of these core pieces of this group
had just been truly a pleasure to be around and
to watch how they show up every day.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
That is something I did really want to talk about
today because you know, and I want to get into
favorite moments of the season, this and that probably next week,
but I'm glad you mentioned that early season West Coast trip.
But just to your point, the starting lineup last night.
We're recording this on Wednesday morning, so a Tuesday night
win against the New Orleans Pelicans. Trenton Watford, Zire Williams,
(03:40):
Nick Claxton, re Speakman, Jalen Wilson. The starting lineup on
opening night close loss to the Hawks, Cam Johnson, Ben Simmons,
Dorian Finney, Smith, Dennis Shrewder, Cam Thomas, So a completely
different starting five. You know, Jalen Wilson did come off
the bench in that game, so did Zaire. But this
(04:00):
team has been through many evolutions and through it all,
they've been really consistently fun to work with, fun to cover,
as Sarah said, And so I think we should just
start by talking about the game last night, which was
really a perfect emblem in many ways of their season.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
You know. Obviously, earlier in the week since.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
We last recorded, they lost a tough game to the Wolves,
you know, a close game for a lot of it,
and then a loss to the Raptors which was not
as close. So it was nice to see them get
a win yesterday against the Pelicans, and it was with
a lot of that. You know, guys who entered camp
is back end to the roster guys, deep bench guys,
or guys.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
That weren't even here.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
So what did you see from really a pretty thorough,
almost wire to wire win for the Nets last night.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
It was, and it got a little closer than I
think you would anticipate towards the end. So I think
overall it was a really dominant performance in terms of
just having a handle on what the Pelicans were trying
to do, the way they were playing, and it was
back and forth early on. I think the fact that
you have seven players in double figures. Every guy that
(05:06):
came off the bench and played was in double figures.
Some of the big nights to look at rees speakman
who had already been coming off of a really impressive
game against Toronto. I know that was a tough game
and a tough loss, but he had the fourteen points,
five assists for rebounds. He has ten assists in this one,
despite the fact that he didn't score. He had his
(05:28):
fingerprints on a lot of different areas of the game.
Of course, Trendon Watford is the player we've talked about
quite a bit and just seemingly did a little bit
of everything, leading the way. But I think the things
that stuck out to me most about that win was
one and it certainly was not perfect, but the totality
of it being a team win in the consistency of
feeling like these guys continue to play in a way
(05:51):
of which they are really unselfish and trying to find
one another. Thirty assists and it's not like, I mean,
they had forty one field goals. It's not like this
was a one hundred and thirty point game. But the
shots they were creating, even the shots that weren't going in.
I think about how many three point shots, especially early on,
or there were stretches where they went cold, that were
(06:13):
just really well created shots. And I know the Pelicans
are not a poster child for a amazing defense, but
I think at the end of the day that doesn't
always matter. Is still a professional team that's got players
that you have some pride. We're playing hard and I'm
trying to get stops. And I think just the way
that the Nets went about it was a reflection of
(06:33):
everything that they've done, the system that they run, especially
when it was a lot of different players getting their
first opportunity or some early opportunities are more run in
these final stretches and playing you know, with different groups
and different combinations, and I thought, just overall, getting to
continue to watch that shows the continuity of just kind
(06:55):
of the foundation that's been laid for this organization.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Yeah, you know, thirty on forty one made field goals,
and it would have been more if they didn't go
to the line.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
You know, they went to the line twenty four times exactly.
So some of those nice.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Passes led to you know, free throw attempts, which I'm
sure you know the NETS coaching staff and they all track.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
I'm glad you started with Reese. Beakman.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Boy, Reese just makes like two or three defensive plays
a game. I know he had tennisists last night, but
he just makes like two or three defensive plays a
game where I'm like, that was really he had a
strip in transition last night. Yeah, Like he's really good.
When the Nets you know double or headge or they
trap a ball screen and they and you know, the
(07:39):
ball handler tries to hit the guy who set the screen,
Reese is always getting his hands on those passes. He's
really he's really got something on defense. I think, like
clearly already a plus defender in the NBA and his
rookie year. I know he's an older rookie, but that's
not easy to do. And you know tennisists last night
he was a plus fourteen. He only turned it over
once some of the catch and shoot three stuff. Is
(08:02):
that just keeps improving for him, Like you can see
how he's gonna be a long term player, and he
just feels like a coach's dream. And it's not surprising
to hear Jordy really talk about, you know, sing his
praises last night.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Slit.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
And Jordi also sung the praises of the veterans who
you know, maybe didn't play their full normal minute total
like Zia and Nick Claxton seventeen minutes a piece, Trenton
Watford twenty three minutes. But you know, what does it
say about all those guys that they not only came
in and really produced in those minutes, they all scored,
you know, Zion nine, Nick's thirteen trended twenty two. But
(08:42):
Drew Timmy's mentioned Nick Clackson as a guy in the
bench that consistently is.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
In his ear.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
They talked about the joy Trenton di'angelo Russell, who didn't
play last night, Zaiya had for those younger guys. You know,
we talk a lot about culture and what this can
mean long term, but when we're actually like in the
and we're seeing the seeds hopefully of something really special
being planted, how do you think it translates long term?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
You know what gives you confidence? We see stuff like that, all.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Of that, Like, that's what makes me feel so good
about what this season was. And the players that are here,
those that you mentioned, and then Nick Klaxon Dangelo Russell,
Cam Johnson promis what he has been on the bet, Like
there is a continuity of how a lot of those
and I guess more of the bets of a D
LOO and a CJ. How they're able to translate what
(09:34):
they've been through their experiences and the enthusiasm they have
of the guys playing on the floor, and that is
always insane. You know, same goes with Nick with how
he plays. But you feel that you see that when
they're making shots and every time they're trying to look
at the bench and the benches you know, get excited
for them. The mutual support that builds, and I think
(09:55):
one builds for an organization because you could tell these
guys care about one another, playing for one another, one
to see the success of their teammates. But it also
is how they're actually playing. And you see those side
conversations you see when timeouts are called and the coaches
are hubbled up at first, like the players interacting and
what they're pointing out to one another and that stuff
one is invaluable for an organization. But to me, I
(10:17):
just if you think about all the stories of and
there's so many that I talked to or that players. Oh,
when I was a rookie, this guy told me this
or this. I watched how he showed up and worked,
I watched the habits that he helped instill in me.
Like this is really important for so many of these
players that again, this is a unique circumstance that they're
(10:39):
getting an opportunity to showcase their skill set in long
run plays. And NBA is so much about fit and
it's so much about what a circumstance is year by year,
and we know that changes so quickly. Obviously things in
the league change so quickly. But you can you can
work your way onto a team or get a role
(11:00):
or going to niche in playing the league for the
next ten years, or there's certain things that if you
don't take advantage of some of those small moments, small windows,
whatever the fit may be, you could be out of
a league. And I think for these players to continue
to understand that, but really soak up what some of
these guys who have established themselves had done despite challenges,
(11:20):
despite changes, that to me is is I always hope
for those players that they really grab a hold of that,
and I think collectively they have and that's what builds
a really good base for an organization.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Yeah, I think you can.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
I think we can, as like as pro basketball fans,
as NBA fans, really underestimate or overestimate the margins of
the league, you know, because all these guys are so
good and they're playing against each other, and you think, oh,
you know, this starter is so much better than this,
you know, bench player on this other team, and so
on and so forth, like, oh, the tenth pick in
this draft is so much better than the twenty fifth pick.
(11:57):
But when you see guys get run and you see
situations change, it really kind of elucidates just how thin
the margins are when you're at the highest level, and
how much is situation dependent. Like you know, Tyree Martin,
for example, is twenty five, about to be twenty six
years old, long career Yukon, you know, been around for
(12:19):
a couple of years now, G League two way contract
with the Hawks, and he's just kind of looks like
he's belonged all season, you know, with consistent run, and
the coaching staff has told him to let it fly
from three, So the three point volume has been up,
but he's shooting really nicely at the rim. He's shown
some really cool stuff getting there, and it's like, you know,
(12:39):
why wasn't this guy getting consistent run on an NBA
team before? And the fact that the Nets have been
able to play a few of those guys and make
him look, you know, like bona fide NBA players, I
think is a really good sign for the player development
staff and the coaching staff and above all, it really
just feels like they got the right group of guys
(13:00):
and under the right leadership for this season. You know,
they're going to end with somewhere between twenty six and
twenty nine wins. And so you look at that and
it clearly doesn't tell the story of what this season is.
And you look at this being the first year under
Jordi Fernandez, and they have a bunch of draft picks
coming up, like we've talked about, and it's like, you
(13:23):
do kind of hope, just generally that the roster will
look different in the coming years, just as a statement
of fact. And yet this roster that played in the
twenty four to twenty five season has just done everything right.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
I've done everything that's asked of them.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
They've made the twenty six twenty seven, however many wins
and however many losses, enjoyable and have.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Played really hard.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
And I kind of wanted to give them their props
because you know, you say, they've been fun to be around,
fun to cover, and I think NETS fans who have
watched a lot of games will feel that through the
TV screen, But you know, someone a bit closer to
the team, what makes this team special in that regard
to you?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
To me, it's been their mentality of both professionalism in
how they show up each and every day, but also
the passion and the care factor for one another and
wanting to prove whatever the notion of what they're supposed
to be wrong and say no, no, no, we belong here,
(14:25):
We deserve this I think at some point, and I
don't know if Jordi Fernandez said this, you know, in
a prescott. I can't remember the circumstance, but essentially the
idea of for a player that is getting an opportunity
because someone else is injured or a trade was just made, you,
you as a player need to believe that you can
feel you deserve to be on the floor. You shouldn't
(14:48):
be putting on a jersey and stepping out there if
that's not already your thought process. And I'll seal that
anytime someone steps on the floor. And credit again to
one the players in the dis position character of all
of these guys, but to the coaching staff and steals
that belief in a way, the guys really feel that
this team has felt this regardless through the year. We've
(15:09):
seen that in so many different performances when there were
so many heartbreakers of those one point losses or the
losses or not which which those are tough. And again
I keep circling back to the vets that have been
on this team, those that are still here, those are
not all of it is just a credit to like
truly their their inner understanding of what it takes to
(15:32):
be at this place and try and stay at this
place in how special this league is. And I think
that to me is just there is a high level
of respect for the game and respect for one another,
and that feels like, yeah, of course you're getting paid
to do this, this is your job. Like that's one
we all know that goes out the window when you're
you're in these moments and you're in the trenches and
(15:54):
it's day after day after day for a very long
stretch of time. And two that's we have. I have
not felt that always on everything a single season you're
watching or teams that you're around, and you get a
feel from others that you talk to, and that is
as genuine as it comes. I think often people you
know that are to other teams or whomever that are
(16:14):
not as like, oh man, this must have been a
tough season.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
It's like, actually this was.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
I feel for the losses and for these players for
how much, But no, like for me, this is it
was so much fun to call these games, to be
around this group, to watch them, to watch their development,
their growth, and you always want the best. You feel
for them for injuries and for times that you can't,
but Overall, I look back and I'm like, I'm really
(16:40):
impressed and I'm inspired by how this group has come
together again with a great level of consistency.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Through Yeah, it's very it's very easy to have developed
in a sort of emotional attachment to them, especially guys
that you know, we're not guaranteed NBA careers that may
have solidified NBA careers this season or east it may
be solidified rotation minutes in the future.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
And I don't want to say like they got the
short end of the stick.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
You know, they're in the NBA, they have a chance
to play, but you know, when you're on a team
and a lot of people are just focused on the
long term. They're focused beyond this year and the future
assets and whatever it can. Maybe I'm not in the NBA.
I don't know, but it would seem to me that
it can take away from what you're doing on a
night tonight basis on the court, and they never let that.
(17:28):
That was never part of this group. So I really
want to commend them for that.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
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(17:56):
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Speaker 1 (18:05):
We can kind of end this section with this Jordy
quote because I asked him last night, how does this season,
you know, how does it plant seeds for the future.
How are we sure these you know, these close games,
these fun games like we had last night against the Pels,
aren't just one offs. And he said, I'm very excited
because this is continuity. This is what we want. We
don't want to do something in one season and then
(18:26):
start over, because this is a good beginning. These guys
are driving the culture and they're doing it on their own,
so granting them ownership, obviously, I would argue Jordie had
something to do with that, but he's not one to
take care of here for himself. So yeah, we're actually
now I want to talk about a guy. There is
some injury news over the last week and kind of
(18:49):
wrap up his season as we've done with Camp Thomas,
you know who season ended due to injury. Noah Clowney
suffered another ankle sprain, unfortunately his fourth of the year,
and you know, with a week lave in the season,
I think, you know, everyone kind of came to an agreement.
It makes sense to if I don't know, shut him
down is the right word. But Jordy Fernandez announced he
won't play again this season, and so Clowney's sophomore season
(19:14):
does come to an end a bit prematurely. He played
forty six games, started twenty of them, averaged nine to
four and one in you know, not a ton of minutes.
And Noah Clowney was, you know, one of the probably
the most intriguing young prospects. He was, you know, he's
twenty years old. He had just turned twenty when the
season started. So what did you make of his season?
(19:37):
Big picture?
Speaker 3 (19:39):
I thought there were so many positives and obviously reasons
for optimism, he's what is he still twenty? Is he
twenty one? Yet still still twenty years old? So like,
I think you need to continue to remind yourself just
the trajectory of what that can become for a player
that is still trying to learn and is that young.
In how much he was able to soak up, I
(20:00):
think you saw the improvements of him really becoming a
stretch big and the not only willingness and confidence, but
the added consistency of what he can do and knocking
down three point shots. And we've always seen those defensive
instincts and ability to play the pick and roll of
the slash ability being a lob threat. So again, I
(20:22):
think there's so much positive to take one. I think
availability and being healthy, Like sometimes there's random injuries that occur,
and you know, things that can hamper you that you
can't control, and I think we saw a lot of
that from him this year. But a big part is
going to be what does that availability look like just
in terms of being able to be there on the
(20:42):
floor and the consistency of that. And it was a
tough season for him with that, but overall, I think
you see the upside and you really latch onto the
fact of he's just scratching the surface of I think
areas that he can continue to improve upon and do
so with his skill and with his size frame in
(21:03):
a lot of the other talent that he has.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
You know, forty six games in addition to twenty three
last year, he's played fourteen hundred minutes in the NBA.
If you're playing thirty minutes a night, which he wasn't,
that's like forty seven games. So he got a lot
of good, solid run in the G League last season
that I watched a lot of, and you know, the
end of his rookie season last year felt like a
(21:27):
continuation of that. But overall, he really has not played
a ton in the NBA, and I do think it's
worth noting. I would say his strongest stretch of the
season happened before his first ankle sprain, and it felt
like he never really regathered that rhythm, and maybe he
would have if he didn't suffer three subsequent ankle sprains.
(21:50):
He was shooting just a hair under thirty eight percent
from three you know, I know, small sample size, but
it went down to thirty three point three percent, and
that's pretty much what he's shooting in his pro career.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
You know, from the G.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
League, last NBA season, this NBA season, on a decent
sample size, it's starting to starting to collect and that
is a really strong development. You know, you hear thirty
three point three and you think, maybe not the best number,
but use an eighteen year old freshman in Alabama shot
twenty eight percent shooting NBA threees.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
He's shooting a lot of them.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
The volume ends this year taking about twelve threes per
one hundred possession. That is high, high volume, and it
does feel like the shooting talent outpaced the numbers this year.
I don't know if you'd agree.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
I do think that because I think a lot of
it too is just the ability to figure out how,
when where your shots are coming from, especially for a
player like that that is getting used to just the
comfort and the rhythms of the NBA, who they're playing with,
and with the changing lineups, changing rotation, the in and
out nature for him, like, I think that matters so absolutely.
(23:01):
I do think that, and to me just even watching
him or why Jordy has always for most all players,
but the green light, let it fly, all of those things,
I do think there was stretches that there's a balance
of Okay, when's the best look for the shot for you? Yeah, yeah,
we're high volume three point shooting team. But there's still
an ebb and flow to what that looks like within
(23:22):
the context of the offense and with everyone. And I
think that's still going to be a growth process for
him and it will help in those efficiency numbers.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Yeah, Noah. Jordy mentioned that.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
He mentioned, you know, when we get a look at guys,
you know, we have this development plans for them, we
need to see it helps us to see them in
different lineups, different actions. So we have to let them
show us what they can do. We have to give
them an opportunity to surprise us, to play outside the box.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Tim Kapstraw loves calling this out on the broadcast. But
the nets run what is called Bilbao action. You wanted
me to say it with the accent.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
It's a town ban for Noah Clowney, which is essentially
a sort of screening action where he goes to set
a screen and then twirls around it and pops out
for three. So the nets we're running plays for Noah
to come off screens and shoot threes on the run
this year, and I think that's indicative of how Noah
and the team kind of uws his long term development,
(24:20):
like it's going to start from three and you know,
he I don't know if he's going.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
To play a ton of center.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
I think like those questions are a bit too specific
when you're thinking about long term out lick but outlook.
But I am just curious as to like what, you know,
the promise of Noah is, like how his offense is
going to come beyond the three point shooting. It seems
like he's gonna have opportunities to pump, fake and go.
He's drawing closeouts. You know, shooting a lot of threes
(24:46):
will do that. And I've written on nets daily, like
especially in the G League last year, there were there
was some stuff going to the rim off the bounce.
He made some nice passes this year off the bounce,
and so I'm excited I did to see him continue
to just try stuff put the ball on the deck.
But I do think this is a solid building block.
(25:07):
I do also want to say, you know a lot
of people talked about his block numbers being down. He
just blocked so many shots when he came up rookie
year last year. I do like that he played in
a very different defensive system this year, and I want
to say that is probably a reason for some of
those block numbers being down. The Nets went from twelfth
to twenty sixth in blocks this year, just allowing less
(25:29):
shots at the rim, you know, pressuring the ball up top, flying.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Around four on three.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
It was a little bit less, you know, shell defense,
come over from the weak side, drop coverage, straight up switching,
that sort of stuff. So you know, we'll see with Noah,
but I'm really excited to just continue watch him, watch
him trying stuff. And speaking of that, you know, who's
your favorite Net to watch this past week in terms
(25:57):
of trying stuff showing what they have? Because pretty much
all these and that's I would imagine set highs in
like minutes and shots over a week.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
That's a great question. I don't know if I don't
like to pick favorites, but what I did enjoy was
watching Darek Whitehead. I feel like he's a guy that
similarly in the concept of being young, still being twenty,
what can his ceiling look like? Getting comfortable, getting a rhythm,
getting healthy, all of those things and he was a
(26:27):
player that showcased his would comfort when he got more run,
knocking down some three point looks. And I think too,
you could see the love of his teammates and the
enthusiasm they have when he's making shots, when he's playing well,
and he's someone that you know, I've just been curious,
what does it look like spend a ton of time
with the Long Island nets. Has had some really nice
(26:47):
moments with them, but how could it potentially translate? And
I think we saw some of that, especially against the Pelicans,
with the quickness of his shot and with himself making
himself available to be open from three.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Drina said, you know, this is going to be the
first summer that I can actually work out fully and
not just have to rehab and just focus on getting stronger.
He's only twenty years old, so I'm really excited for
his summer. Fernandez dropped a fantastic sort of coming of
age Troy bolt Troy Bolton style quote last night, calling
this the most important summer of our lives, which felt
(27:23):
accurate but.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Also very you know, most important summer of our lives.
It stood out to me.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Feel like he said, He's I feel like he's he's
said that quoite, And I think that that is because
it's a concept of and probably the next summer will
be Yeah, the next well is important, but it but
it is like that for so many of these players,
a lot of the decision making of what their NBA
career will be or can be, or if it will
(27:50):
be may come down to the work that they put
in in these next few months. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Ryan Ruco said it on the broadcast. You know, Jordi,
this is not just the end of the sea.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
This is just another day, another game, another opportunity to
get better, just as this summer will be an opportunity
to get better for a lot of these guys. And
you know, if you watch this season, you have nothing
but faith that they will. And you know, Drake Whitehead
is one of those guys. And he's thirty of sixty
seven from three this year. That's forty five percent. Everything
(28:20):
else coming along, defense coming along, but uh, you know,
I don't know if he's gonna shoot forty five percent forever,
but he can really really shoot. You feel like every
three is going in and you know, shout out to
guys like Tyson Etienne kept shooting, Drew Tini at sixteen
to nine last night, Tosan hit a.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Couple of threes.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
You we really could have picked anybody, you know for
Brooklyn's finest. I think, and speaking to that, I we
had on the on the outline, we're gonna talk about
Dayron Sharp, but I realized, you know, he hasn't played
in a week with injury. The Nets haven't ruled him
out for the season yet. He may come back in
these next three game, So I don't want to guess
(29:01):
anything but trivia. This week, I did look up some
stats for him, so I will continue with it anyway.
There is a career games minimum to make an all
time leaderboard list. You have to play four hundred games
in the NBA. So when your points per game, you know,
rebounds per this that you got to play four hundred games.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Day Roun's about halfway there.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
However, if he continues at this pace, I want to
ask you where you think Dayirron Sharp would rank on
the all time offensive rebounding list in terms of per possession.
So how often does Dayiron Sharp grab an offensive rebound
relative to NBA history?
Speaker 3 (29:47):
I don't know, top ten.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Yes, do you want to take a guess where seven,
number one, number one.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
I should have realized you led me to why you
probably would have would have.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
I know how crazy is that?
Speaker 3 (30:02):
So?
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Right now, of anyone who's played four hundred games in
NBA history, former Net Jason Williams leads everyone. He grabbed
eight point four rebounds offensive rebounds per one hundred possessions. Yeah,
Dayron Sharp. I don't know if his fourth NBA season
is over yet. You know he might come back in
these next three games. However, he grabs eight point seven
offensive rebounds per one hundred posessions. I had Andre Drummond,
(30:24):
had a Steven Adams had a Moses Malone. I was
pretty crazy when I found that out. I had to
double and triple check. But yes, Dan on pace to
become babewesome, an all time offensive rebounding great. I don't
want to jinx them, but it feels like that matches
up with the eye test.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
No, I agree.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
I agree, And that is a that's a perfect note
to end on right there, Uh, Dayron, maybe making history.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
We'll see the Nets three games left.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
You know this, We have one more episode during the
regular season, and we got a ton of great off
season content coming in the most important summer of all
of our lives. As Jordi Fernandez would say, is there
any parting words?
Speaker 3 (31:08):
No, just have a great, have a great. Let's have
a great rest of the week with three more left,
and I can't wait to talk next week and wrap
it all up.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
Man, it's gone quickly, but we appreciate you rocking it
out with us this Brooklyn Nets season. This has been
episode twenty four of the Backcourd of Brooklyn Nets podcast,
presenter by Ticketmaster. Like rate, subscribe, leave nice comments, all
that stuff. We really appreciate it and we'll see you
next week.
You are now in the backcourt of Brooklyn Nets podcast
presented by Ticketmaster and hosted by the two of us,
one of us.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Being Lucas Kaplan.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
That is me writer for Nets, Daily, Nets, Film Focus,
all that good stuff, and joining me is always is
Sarah Kustack.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
How are we doing.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
We're good coming off of Brooklyn Nets win and yeah
in this final stretch, so we're doing well.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
How about you?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
I'm well coming off of a very fun win that
you know, kind of is one of those end of
season wins where you just can't believe how much, how
quickly the time passed. And you know we say this
every season obviously, but you know, you see some of
the vets cheering for some of the young guys, some
of the guys that were on two way contracts are
(00:52):
on two way contracts, and somewhat of a full circle
moment that reminds you how long an NBA season is
and yet how quick it seems to fly by. Plus
it's fifty degrees in Sonny outside, so that's always nice.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
It is. I would take sixty degrees in Sonny. But
you know what, we can't be too choosy right now.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
We can't complain you know it's the northeast.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
It was seventy five last week and then forty five
and then seventy.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So as long as the sun is out, that's good.
And the Nets. Can you believe the Nets?
Speaker 1 (01:24):
This is episode twenty four and the Nets just have
three games left after this one? As this season felt
abnormally fast, abnormally slow, anything to you or regular?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
I don't know if abnormal is the right word, but
it's and you alluded to it. It's amazing how fast
it feels like it's flown by. I can't believe we're
already sitting here talking about the Nets having just three
games remaining. However, the thought of what the group like
looked like at training camp, thinking about the iterations of
the group early on the impact of Denis Shooter, Dori
(01:58):
in Phinney Smith. You know, the list goes on some
of those really great stretches around Thanksgiving that when it Phoenix.
There's so many parts of the season that in the
same vein feel like two or three seasons ago, and
I think that's because of the evolution and the changes
that occurred throughout the year. I think with that being said, though,
(02:20):
it's always a bittersweet time for me because for as
much as I know we've been on the grind and
for all these players coaching, you know, had everyone involved.
It takes a lot. Eighty two games is a lot
of just times what work put into this, and so
when it starts to come to a finality and I
(02:41):
think to knowing that it's going to be the end,
so many other cases when you have the postseason look
forward to or what things might look like, there's still
a little bit more runway and uncertainty. But I think overall,
I think you've said it. I've said it. This has
been a tremendous, tremendous group to work with to cover,
regardless of of who it has been on the roster
(03:02):
and what it's looked like. Such a really refreshing look
at what this coaching staff is led by Jordi Fernandez
and a lot of these core pieces of this group
had just been truly a pleasure to be around and
to watch how they show up every day.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
That is something I did really want to talk about
today because you know, and I want to get into
favorite moments of the season, this and that probably next week,
but I'm glad you mentioned that early season West Coast trip.
But just to your point, the starting lineup last night.
We're recording this on Wednesday morning, so a Tuesday night
win against the New Orleans Pelicans. Trenton Watford, Zire Williams,
(03:40):
Nick Claxton, re Speakman, Jalen Wilson. The starting lineup on
opening night close loss to the Hawks, Cam Johnson, Ben Simmons,
Dorian Finney, Smith, Dennis Shrewder, Cam Thomas, So a completely
different starting five. You know, Jalen Wilson did come off
the bench in that game, so did Zaire. But this
(04:00):
team has been through many evolutions and through it all,
they've been really consistently fun to work with, fun to cover,
as Sarah said, And so I think we should just
start by talking about the game last night, which was
really a perfect emblem in many ways of their season.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
You know. Obviously, earlier in the week since.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
We last recorded, they lost a tough game to the Wolves,
you know, a close game for a lot of it,
and then a loss to the Raptors which was not
as close. So it was nice to see them get
a win yesterday against the Pelicans, and it was with
a lot of that. You know, guys who entered camp
is back end to the roster guys, deep bench guys,
or guys.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
That weren't even here.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
So what did you see from really a pretty thorough,
almost wire to wire win for the Nets last night.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
It was, and it got a little closer than I
think you would anticipate towards the end. So I think
overall it was a really dominant performance in terms of
just having a handle on what the Pelicans were trying
to do, the way they were playing, and it was
back and forth early on. I think the fact that
you have seven players in double figures. Every guy that
(05:06):
came off the bench and played was in double figures.
Some of the big nights to look at rees speakman
who had already been coming off of a really impressive
game against Toronto. I know that was a tough game
and a tough loss, but he had the fourteen points,
five assists for rebounds. He has ten assists in this one,
despite the fact that he didn't score. He had his
(05:28):
fingerprints on a lot of different areas of the game.
Of course, Trendon Watford is the player we've talked about
quite a bit and just seemingly did a little bit
of everything, leading the way. But I think the things
that stuck out to me most about that win was
one and it certainly was not perfect, but the totality
of it being a team win in the consistency of
feeling like these guys continue to play in a way
(05:51):
of which they are really unselfish and trying to find
one another. Thirty assists and it's not like, I mean,
they had forty one field goals. It's not like this
was a one hundred and thirty point game. But the
shots they were creating, even the shots that weren't going in.
I think about how many three point shots, especially early on,
or there were stretches where they went cold, that were
(06:13):
just really well created shots. And I know the Pelicans
are not a poster child for a amazing defense, but
I think at the end of the day that doesn't
always matter. Is still a professional team that's got players
that you have some pride. We're playing hard and I'm
trying to get stops. And I think just the way
that the Nets went about it was a reflection of
(06:33):
everything that they've done, the system that they run, especially
when it was a lot of different players getting their
first opportunity or some early opportunities are more run in
these final stretches and playing you know, with different groups
and different combinations, and I thought, just overall, getting to
continue to watch that shows the continuity of just kind
(06:55):
of the foundation that's been laid for this organization.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Yeah, you know, thirty on forty one made field goals,
and it would have been more if they didn't go
to the line.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
You know, they went to the line twenty four times exactly.
So some of those nice.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Passes led to you know, free throw attempts, which I'm
sure you know the NETS coaching staff and they all track.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
I'm glad you started with Reese. Beakman.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Boy, Reese just makes like two or three defensive plays
a game. I know he had tennisists last night, but
he just makes like two or three defensive plays a
game where I'm like, that was really he had a
strip in transition last night. Yeah, Like he's really good.
When the Nets you know double or headge or they
trap a ball screen and they and you know, the
(07:39):
ball handler tries to hit the guy who set the screen,
Reese is always getting his hands on those passes. He's
really he's really got something on defense. I think, like
clearly already a plus defender in the NBA and his
rookie year. I know he's an older rookie, but that's
not easy to do. And you know tennisists last night
he was a plus fourteen. He only turned it over
once some of the catch and shoot three stuff. Is
(08:02):
that just keeps improving for him, Like you can see
how he's gonna be a long term player, and he
just feels like a coach's dream. And it's not surprising
to hear Jordy really talk about, you know, sing his
praises last night.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Slit.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
And Jordi also sung the praises of the veterans who
you know, maybe didn't play their full normal minute total
like Zia and Nick Claxton seventeen minutes a piece, Trenton
Watford twenty three minutes. But you know, what does it
say about all those guys that they not only came
in and really produced in those minutes, they all scored,
you know, Zion nine, Nick's thirteen trended twenty two. But
(08:42):
Drew Timmy's mentioned Nick Clackson as a guy in the
bench that consistently is.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
In his ear.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
They talked about the joy Trenton di'angelo Russell, who didn't
play last night, Zaiya had for those younger guys. You know,
we talk a lot about culture and what this can
mean long term, but when we're actually like in the
and we're seeing the seeds hopefully of something really special
being planted, how do you think it translates long term?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
You know what gives you confidence? We see stuff like that, all.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Of that, Like, that's what makes me feel so good
about what this season was. And the players that are here,
those that you mentioned, and then Nick Klaxon Dangelo Russell,
Cam Johnson promis what he has been on the bet, Like
there is a continuity of how a lot of those
and I guess more of the bets of a D
LOO and a CJ. How they're able to translate what
(09:34):
they've been through their experiences and the enthusiasm they have
of the guys playing on the floor, and that is
always insane. You know, same goes with Nick with how
he plays. But you feel that you see that when
they're making shots and every time they're trying to look
at the bench and the benches you know, get excited
for them. The mutual support that builds, and I think
(09:55):
one builds for an organization because you could tell these
guys care about one another, playing for one another, one
to see the success of their teammates. But it also
is how they're actually playing. And you see those side
conversations you see when timeouts are called and the coaches
are hubbled up at first, like the players interacting and
what they're pointing out to one another and that stuff
one is invaluable for an organization. But to me, I
(10:17):
just if you think about all the stories of and
there's so many that I talked to or that players. Oh,
when I was a rookie, this guy told me this
or this. I watched how he showed up and worked,
I watched the habits that he helped instill in me.
Like this is really important for so many of these
players that again, this is a unique circumstance that they're
(10:39):
getting an opportunity to showcase their skill set in long
run plays. And NBA is so much about fit and
it's so much about what a circumstance is year by year,
and we know that changes so quickly. Obviously things in
the league change so quickly. But you can you can
work your way onto a team or get a role
(11:00):
or going to niche in playing the league for the
next ten years, or there's certain things that if you
don't take advantage of some of those small moments, small windows,
whatever the fit may be, you could be out of
a league. And I think for these players to continue
to understand that, but really soak up what some of
these guys who have established themselves had done despite challenges,
(11:20):
despite changes, that to me is is I always hope
for those players that they really grab a hold of that,
and I think collectively they have and that's what builds
a really good base for an organization.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Yeah, I think you can.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
I think we can, as like as pro basketball fans,
as NBA fans, really underestimate or overestimate the margins of
the league, you know, because all these guys are so
good and they're playing against each other, and you think, oh,
you know, this starter is so much better than this,
you know, bench player on this other team, and so
on and so forth, like, oh, the tenth pick in
this draft is so much better than the twenty fifth pick.
(11:57):
But when you see guys get run and you see
situations change, it really kind of elucidates just how thin
the margins are when you're at the highest level, and
how much is situation dependent. Like you know, Tyree Martin,
for example, is twenty five, about to be twenty six
years old, long career Yukon, you know, been around for
(12:19):
a couple of years now, G League two way contract
with the Hawks, and he's just kind of looks like
he's belonged all season, you know, with consistent run, and
the coaching staff has told him to let it fly
from three, So the three point volume has been up,
but he's shooting really nicely at the rim. He's shown
some really cool stuff getting there, and it's like, you know,
(12:39):
why wasn't this guy getting consistent run on an NBA
team before? And the fact that the Nets have been
able to play a few of those guys and make
him look, you know, like bona fide NBA players, I
think is a really good sign for the player development
staff and the coaching staff and above all, it really
just feels like they got the right group of guys
(13:00):
and under the right leadership for this season. You know,
they're going to end with somewhere between twenty six and
twenty nine wins. And so you look at that and
it clearly doesn't tell the story of what this season is.
And you look at this being the first year under
Jordi Fernandez, and they have a bunch of draft picks
coming up, like we've talked about, and it's like, you
(13:23):
do kind of hope, just generally that the roster will
look different in the coming years, just as a statement
of fact. And yet this roster that played in the
twenty four to twenty five season has just done everything right.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
I've done everything that's asked of them.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
They've made the twenty six twenty seven, however many wins
and however many losses, enjoyable and have.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Played really hard.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
And I kind of wanted to give them their props
because you know, you say, they've been fun to be around,
fun to cover, and I think NETS fans who have
watched a lot of games will feel that through the
TV screen, But you know, someone a bit closer to
the team, what makes this team special in that regard
to you?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
To me, it's been their mentality of both professionalism in
how they show up each and every day, but also
the passion and the care factor for one another and
wanting to prove whatever the notion of what they're supposed
to be wrong and say no, no, no, we belong here,
(14:25):
We deserve this I think at some point, and I
don't know if Jordi Fernandez said this, you know, in
a prescott. I can't remember the circumstance, but essentially the
idea of for a player that is getting an opportunity
because someone else is injured or a trade was just made, you,
you as a player need to believe that you can
feel you deserve to be on the floor. You shouldn't
(14:48):
be putting on a jersey and stepping out there if
that's not already your thought process. And I'll seal that
anytime someone steps on the floor. And credit again to
one the players in the dis position character of all
of these guys, but to the coaching staff and steals
that belief in a way, the guys really feel that
this team has felt this regardless through the year. We've
(15:09):
seen that in so many different performances when there were
so many heartbreakers of those one point losses or the
losses or not which which those are tough. And again
I keep circling back to the vets that have been
on this team, those that are still here, those are
not all of it is just a credit to like
truly their their inner understanding of what it takes to
(15:32):
be at this place and try and stay at this
place in how special this league is. And I think
that to me is just there is a high level
of respect for the game and respect for one another,
and that feels like, yeah, of course you're getting paid
to do this, this is your job. Like that's one
we all know that goes out the window when you're
you're in these moments and you're in the trenches and
(15:54):
it's day after day after day for a very long
stretch of time. And two that's we have. I have
not felt that always on everything a single season you're
watching or teams that you're around, and you get a
feel from others that you talk to, and that is
as genuine as it comes. I think often people you
know that are to other teams or whomever that are
(16:14):
not as like, oh man, this must have been a
tough season.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
It's like, actually this was.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
I feel for the losses and for these players for
how much, But no, like for me, this is it
was so much fun to call these games, to be
around this group, to watch them, to watch their development,
their growth, and you always want the best. You feel
for them for injuries and for times that you can't,
but Overall, I look back and I'm like, I'm really
(16:40):
impressed and I'm inspired by how this group has come
together again with a great level of consistency.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Through Yeah, it's very it's very easy to have developed
in a sort of emotional attachment to them, especially guys
that you know, we're not guaranteed NBA careers that may
have solidified NBA careers this season or east it may
be solidified rotation minutes in the future.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
And I don't want to say like they got the
short end of the stick.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
You know, they're in the NBA, they have a chance
to play, but you know, when you're on a team
and a lot of people are just focused on the
long term. They're focused beyond this year and the future
assets and whatever it can. Maybe I'm not in the NBA.
I don't know, but it would seem to me that
it can take away from what you're doing on a
night tonight basis on the court, and they never let that.
(17:28):
That was never part of this group. So I really
want to commend them for that.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
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(17:56):
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Speaker 1 (18:05):
We can kind of end this section with this Jordy
quote because I asked him last night, how does this season,
you know, how does it plant seeds for the future.
How are we sure these you know, these close games,
these fun games like we had last night against the Pels,
aren't just one offs. And he said, I'm very excited
because this is continuity. This is what we want. We
don't want to do something in one season and then
(18:26):
start over, because this is a good beginning. These guys
are driving the culture and they're doing it on their own,
so granting them ownership, obviously, I would argue Jordie had
something to do with that, but he's not one to
take care of here for himself. So yeah, we're actually
now I want to talk about a guy. There is
some injury news over the last week and kind of
(18:49):
wrap up his season as we've done with Camp Thomas,
you know who season ended due to injury. Noah Clowney
suffered another ankle sprain, unfortunately his fourth of the year,
and you know, with a week lave in the season,
I think, you know, everyone kind of came to an agreement.
It makes sense to if I don't know, shut him
down is the right word. But Jordy Fernandez announced he
won't play again this season, and so Clowney's sophomore season
(19:14):
does come to an end a bit prematurely. He played
forty six games, started twenty of them, averaged nine to
four and one in you know, not a ton of minutes.
And Noah Clowney was, you know, one of the probably
the most intriguing young prospects. He was, you know, he's
twenty years old. He had just turned twenty when the
season started. So what did you make of his season?
(19:37):
Big picture?
Speaker 3 (19:39):
I thought there were so many positives and obviously reasons
for optimism, he's what is he still twenty? Is he
twenty one? Yet still still twenty years old? So like,
I think you need to continue to remind yourself just
the trajectory of what that can become for a player
that is still trying to learn and is that young.
In how much he was able to soak up, I
(20:00):
think you saw the improvements of him really becoming a
stretch big and the not only willingness and confidence, but
the added consistency of what he can do and knocking
down three point shots. And we've always seen those defensive
instincts and ability to play the pick and roll of
the slash ability being a lob threat. So again, I
(20:22):
think there's so much positive to take one. I think
availability and being healthy, Like sometimes there's random injuries that occur,
and you know, things that can hamper you that you
can't control, and I think we saw a lot of
that from him this year. But a big part is
going to be what does that availability look like just
in terms of being able to be there on the
(20:42):
floor and the consistency of that. And it was a
tough season for him with that, but overall, I think
you see the upside and you really latch onto the
fact of he's just scratching the surface of I think
areas that he can continue to improve upon and do
so with his skill and with his size frame in
(21:03):
a lot of the other talent that he has.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
You know, forty six games in addition to twenty three
last year, he's played fourteen hundred minutes in the NBA.
If you're playing thirty minutes a night, which he wasn't,
that's like forty seven games. So he got a lot
of good, solid run in the G League last season
that I watched a lot of, and you know, the
end of his rookie season last year felt like a
(21:27):
continuation of that. But overall, he really has not played
a ton in the NBA, and I do think it's
worth noting. I would say his strongest stretch of the
season happened before his first ankle sprain, and it felt
like he never really regathered that rhythm, and maybe he
would have if he didn't suffer three subsequent ankle sprains.
(21:50):
He was shooting just a hair under thirty eight percent
from three you know, I know, small sample size, but
it went down to thirty three point three percent, and
that's pretty much what he's shooting in his pro career.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
You know, from the G.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
League, last NBA season, this NBA season, on a decent
sample size, it's starting to starting to collect and that
is a really strong development. You know, you hear thirty
three point three and you think, maybe not the best number,
but use an eighteen year old freshman in Alabama shot
twenty eight percent shooting NBA threees.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
He's shooting a lot of them.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
The volume ends this year taking about twelve threes per
one hundred possession. That is high, high volume, and it
does feel like the shooting talent outpaced the numbers this year.
I don't know if you'd agree.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
I do think that because I think a lot of
it too is just the ability to figure out how,
when where your shots are coming from, especially for a
player like that that is getting used to just the
comfort and the rhythms of the NBA, who they're playing with,
and with the changing lineups, changing rotation, the in and
out nature for him, like, I think that matters so absolutely.
(23:01):
I do think that, and to me just even watching
him or why Jordy has always for most all players,
but the green light, let it fly, all of those things,
I do think there was stretches that there's a balance
of Okay, when's the best look for the shot for you? Yeah, yeah,
we're high volume three point shooting team. But there's still
an ebb and flow to what that looks like within
(23:22):
the context of the offense and with everyone. And I
think that's still going to be a growth process for
him and it will help in those efficiency numbers.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Yeah, Noah. Jordy mentioned that.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
He mentioned, you know, when we get a look at guys,
you know, we have this development plans for them, we
need to see it helps us to see them in
different lineups, different actions. So we have to let them
show us what they can do. We have to give
them an opportunity to surprise us, to play outside the box.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Tim Kapstraw loves calling this out on the broadcast. But
the nets run what is called Bilbao action. You wanted
me to say it with the accent.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
It's a town ban for Noah Clowney, which is essentially
a sort of screening action where he goes to set
a screen and then twirls around it and pops out
for three. So the nets we're running plays for Noah
to come off screens and shoot threes on the run
this year, and I think that's indicative of how Noah
and the team kind of uws his long term development,
(24:20):
like it's going to start from three and you know,
he I don't know if he's going.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
To play a ton of center.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
I think like those questions are a bit too specific
when you're thinking about long term out lick but outlook.
But I am just curious as to like what, you know,
the promise of Noah is, like how his offense is
going to come beyond the three point shooting. It seems
like he's gonna have opportunities to pump, fake and go.
He's drawing closeouts. You know, shooting a lot of threes
(24:46):
will do that. And I've written on nets daily, like
especially in the G League last year, there were there
was some stuff going to the rim off the bounce.
He made some nice passes this year off the bounce,
and so I'm excited I did to see him continue
to just try stuff put the ball on the deck.
But I do think this is a solid building block.
(25:07):
I do also want to say, you know a lot
of people talked about his block numbers being down. He
just blocked so many shots when he came up rookie
year last year. I do like that he played in
a very different defensive system this year, and I want
to say that is probably a reason for some of
those block numbers being down. The Nets went from twelfth
to twenty sixth in blocks this year, just allowing less
(25:29):
shots at the rim, you know, pressuring the ball up top, flying.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Around four on three.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
It was a little bit less, you know, shell defense,
come over from the weak side, drop coverage, straight up switching,
that sort of stuff. So you know, we'll see with Noah,
but I'm really excited to just continue watch him, watch
him trying stuff. And speaking of that, you know, who's
your favorite Net to watch this past week in terms
(25:57):
of trying stuff showing what they have? Because pretty much
all these and that's I would imagine set highs in
like minutes and shots over a week.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
That's a great question. I don't know if I don't
like to pick favorites, but what I did enjoy was
watching Darek Whitehead. I feel like he's a guy that
similarly in the concept of being young, still being twenty,
what can his ceiling look like? Getting comfortable, getting a rhythm,
getting healthy, all of those things and he was a
(26:27):
player that showcased his would comfort when he got more run,
knocking down some three point looks. And I think too,
you could see the love of his teammates and the
enthusiasm they have when he's making shots, when he's playing well,
and he's someone that you know, I've just been curious,
what does it look like spend a ton of time
with the Long Island nets. Has had some really nice
(26:47):
moments with them, but how could it potentially translate? And
I think we saw some of that, especially against the Pelicans,
with the quickness of his shot and with himself making
himself available to be open from three.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Drina said, you know, this is going to be the
first summer that I can actually work out fully and
not just have to rehab and just focus on getting stronger.
He's only twenty years old, so I'm really excited for
his summer. Fernandez dropped a fantastic sort of coming of
age Troy bolt Troy Bolton style quote last night, calling
this the most important summer of our lives, which felt
(27:23):
accurate but.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Also very you know, most important summer of our lives.
It stood out to me.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Feel like he said, He's I feel like he's he's
said that quoite, And I think that that is because
it's a concept of and probably the next summer will
be Yeah, the next well is important, but it but
it is like that for so many of these players,
a lot of the decision making of what their NBA
career will be or can be, or if it will
(27:50):
be may come down to the work that they put
in in these next few months. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Ryan Ruco said it on the broadcast. You know, Jordi,
this is not just the end of the sea.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
This is just another day, another game, another opportunity to
get better, just as this summer will be an opportunity
to get better for a lot of these guys. And
you know, if you watch this season, you have nothing
but faith that they will. And you know, Drake Whitehead
is one of those guys. And he's thirty of sixty
seven from three this year. That's forty five percent. Everything
(28:20):
else coming along, defense coming along, but uh, you know,
I don't know if he's gonna shoot forty five percent forever,
but he can really really shoot. You feel like every
three is going in and you know, shout out to
guys like Tyson Etienne kept shooting, Drew Tini at sixteen
to nine last night, Tosan hit a.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Couple of threes.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
You we really could have picked anybody, you know for
Brooklyn's finest. I think, and speaking to that, I we
had on the on the outline, we're gonna talk about
Dayron Sharp, but I realized, you know, he hasn't played
in a week with injury. The Nets haven't ruled him
out for the season yet. He may come back in
these next three game, So I don't want to guess
(29:01):
anything but trivia. This week, I did look up some
stats for him, so I will continue with it anyway.
There is a career games minimum to make an all
time leaderboard list. You have to play four hundred games
in the NBA. So when your points per game, you know,
rebounds per this that you got to play four hundred games.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Day Roun's about halfway there.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
However, if he continues at this pace, I want to
ask you where you think Dayirron Sharp would rank on
the all time offensive rebounding list in terms of per possession.
So how often does Dayiron Sharp grab an offensive rebound
relative to NBA history?
Speaker 3 (29:47):
I don't know, top ten.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Yes, do you want to take a guess where seven,
number one, number one.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
I should have realized you led me to why you
probably would have would have.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
I know how crazy is that?
Speaker 3 (30:02):
So?
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Right now, of anyone who's played four hundred games in
NBA history, former Net Jason Williams leads everyone. He grabbed
eight point four rebounds offensive rebounds per one hundred possessions. Yeah,
Dayron Sharp. I don't know if his fourth NBA season
is over yet. You know he might come back in
these next three games. However, he grabs eight point seven
offensive rebounds per one hundred posessions. I had Andre Drummond,
(30:24):
had a Steven Adams had a Moses Malone. I was
pretty crazy when I found that out. I had to
double and triple check. But yes, Dan on pace to
become babewesome, an all time offensive rebounding great. I don't
want to jinx them, but it feels like that matches
up with the eye test.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
No, I agree.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
I agree, And that is a that's a perfect note
to end on right there, Uh, Dayron, maybe making history.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
We'll see the Nets three games left.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
You know this, We have one more episode during the
regular season, and we got a ton of great off
season content coming in the most important summer of all
of our lives. As Jordi Fernandez would say, is there
any parting words?
Speaker 3 (31:08):
No, just have a great, have a great. Let's have
a great rest of the week with three more left,
and I can't wait to talk next week and wrap
it all up.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
Man, it's gone quickly, but we appreciate you rocking it
out with us this Brooklyn Nets season. This has been
episode twenty four of the Backcourd of Brooklyn Nets podcast,
presenter by Ticketmaster. Like rate, subscribe, leave nice comments, all
that stuff. We really appreciate it and we'll see you
next week.
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