The Nets didn’t look anything like a tanking team in Sunday’s 127-82 win over Milwaukee, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. The 45-point margin tied the record for the largest victory in franchise history, and it provided the first career win for assistant Steve Hetzel, who was filling in because head coach Jordi Fernandez was ill.
“Yeah, it was a lot of fun. Just watching how well we played as a team. Normally, (Michael Porter Jr.) has been carrying us offensively, and then you see how spread out the points are. … I don’t think anybody that stepped on the court played poorly,” Hetzel said. “It was a great feeling.”
It was the fourth win in six games for Brooklyn, which has recovered from an 0-7 start to move to within three games of a play-in spot. Four of the team’s five first-round picks played significant roles in the game, and Milwaukee was held scoreless for the final 7:04.
“You hold any team to no points for six minutes, that’s elite,” Noah Clowney said. “This is the NBA. You don’t do that often to anybody. … That’s probably the best form of hoops when everybody eats and everybody’s playing well, everybody’s making shots. It’s just a good camaraderie.”
- Rookies Egor Demin and Drake Powell both responded with quality performances after being criticized by Fernandez following Friday’s loss to Dallas, Lewis states in a separate story. Demin had 17 points in 25 minutes, while Powell came off the bench for 13 points in 23 minutes. “(Fernandez) challenged Egor, he challenged Drake, and they both responded beautifully, with an edge,” Hetzel said. “It’s another step in their progression. They took a big step in having a bad game and then responding. And that’s what the NBA’s all about. You play 82 of them. You got to be quick to forget about the last one, move on and play better, which they both did.”
- Porter has tended to carry the scoring load in his first season with Brooklyn, but Fernandez is concerned that isn’t the best approach for his young team, Lewis adds in another piece. While the veteran forward had 34 points on Friday, the Nets’ other players couldn’t respond when Dallas started sending multiple defenders at him in the fourth quarter. “We kept looking at Mike instead of using him and others taking or making the shot,” Fernandez said. “You can control if you take a good shot, you cannot control if it goes in.”
- Hetzel serves as the Brooklyn’s Summer League coach, so he has extensive experience dealing with the team’s rookies, per C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News (subscription required). Before Sunday’s game, he offered his thoughts on each of them and the progress they’ve made since the draft.
Danny Wolf has been the spark…
I like Noah Clowney too.
Bucks don’t even show up without Giannis. If this isn’t a sign to move him. Then you will never learn.
Only guy who cared it seems was Trent.
The difference in the Bucks with and without Giannis makes a great mvp case for him. They are dreadful without him and a ECF contender with him.
Shows me that depending on individual, usually old and often injured, stars isn’t the way to go in today’s NBA. Teams that follow the OKC model and go with young players make more sense.
Giannis is just 31 and at the peak of his greatness. No, it means he’s just that great.. the Nets were blown out by the Bucks with Giannis just 2 weeks ago.
If everyone could follow “the OKC model” they would.. you mean getting lucky with SGA? And they have only 1 top draft pick (Chet) and have hit on an absurd number of 2nd rounders. Not sure what that “model” is.
I mean going with youth like Brooklyn is doing.
Their model was hoarding picks and then drafting and developing players well
Ok. Good model. Brooklyn just got 5 top picks & will be good soon.
Fire Doc Rivers
Nets just got 5 picks because they sold majority of team. I dont think anyone wants 5 picks in 1st rd or top of 2nd in one season. Contracts will get tricky in a few seasons.
Also, Bucs are not ECF with Giannis this year. Turner was a horrible signing at that number. Like someone else said, the Lilliard trade and the fact they let Middleton & Lopez go for 0 didnt help. Applaud GM for getting a title but his moves since then have been questionable at best.
Egor is still an absolute trash can. One game doesn’t change that.