Firing head coach Jacque Vaughn might be a part of the answer at Brooklyn nevertheless it clearly gained’t magically remedy the entire Nets’ issues after a 121-93 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
Interim coach Kevin Ollie was given a first-hand look into simply how a lot wants to alter at Brooklyn because the sharpshooting Raptors prolonged the Nets’ dropping skid to 6 of their final seven video games.
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The Nets have seemed to create early scoring probabilities in transition all season however on Friday it was the Raptors who have been getting out within the fastbreak and piling on the factors, outscoring Brooklyn 46-10.
The 46 quick break factors marked probably the most the Nets had given as much as an opponent in a single sport all season.
After all, a lot of the Nets eager to get out in transition within the first place comes again to the very fact it’s the finest likelihood Brooklyn has to get probably the most out of Ben Simmons on offence.
Sadly for the Nets when that isn’t taking place the offence continues to battle within the halfcourt, particularly when Simmons is joined on the court docket by both Nic Claxton or Day’Ron Sharpe, neither of that are real exterior taking pictures threats.
Each have shot 25.0 per cent from downtown this season and Brooklyn’s spacing suffered consequently when both was sharing the court docket with Simmons.
Talking earlier than Friday’s sport, Ollie was requested about what his plans have been to get probably the most out of Simmons along with his rotations.
“Trying on the rotations seeing who matches with him, being round him this entire season, understanding what he must do, how he wants area,” Ollie stated.
“However then it’s additionally on Ben taking it to the rim, additionally his gaps and being very aggressive. We’ve instructed him that and I feel he’s going to try this at the moment.”
Ollie was pressed on that time and despatched a transparent message, telling reporters the workforce is “attempting to push” Simmons to be extra assertive on the offensive finish.
“I feel he’s in a position to do it and that’s what we’re going to proceed to permit him to do with the right spacing however most of it’s with tempo although,” the interim coach added.
“We all know with tempo with Ben earlier than he obtained damage he was rebounding very, very effectively… and pushing the ball up the court docket after which after we get in halfcourt conditions have him play with tempo and the fitting spacing round him goes to be essential for him however when he sees that hole he’s obtained to take it to the rim and I feel he’s going to try this.”
Simmons did simply that on the opening possession of the sport, driving proper to the rim after the opening tip-off solely to be blocked by Scottie Barnes who obtained the end on the opposite finish.
It was not the consequence Simmons was after however the lack of hesitation from the three-time All-Star would have been promising to see for the brand new Nets coach, particularly as he then lower to the rim off the ball on the subsequent possession.
A Simmons turnover, which instantly led to an Immanuel Quickley 3-pointer, prompted Ollie to name a timeout with the Nets trailing 15-8 after 4 minutes.
At that time the Raptors have been beating the Nets at their very own sport, outscoring Brooklyn 5-0 in quick break factors whereas taking pictures 4-for-6 (66.7 per cent) early from downtown.
In the meantime, with out alternatives in transition the Nets offence struggled to generate open appears within the halfcourt, particularly with Simmons and Claxton within the beginning line-up.
Insert Cam Johnson, who’s normally extra of a taking pictures possibility than something to assist area the ground, however on Friday made a direct impression on the defensive finish off the bench.
Johnson pressured a turnover from RJ Barrett, stealing the ball and rapidly shifting up the court docket in transition as he discovered Dennis Schroder who linked with Mikal Bridges for the simple end.
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That noticed the Raptors take a timeout, main 24-16 with 3:31 left within the opening quarter, ultimately ending the interval on prime 31-20 after scoring 11 quick break factors to Brooklyn’s two.
The Nets had been passing and attempting to search for one another extra in Friday’s sport with blended outcomes and whereas at instances it was a bit an excessive amount of it helped Brooklyn shut the hole to 34-30 early within the second quarter.
Improved exterior taking pictures from Brooklyn helped maintain the rating shut late within the second, with Bridges making a pair of 3-pointers whereas Schroder and Lonnie Walker IV additionally made a number of massive buckets.
However a 15-7 run to finish the quarter noticed the Raptors take a 59-48 lead into halftime, with three beginning gamers (Scottie Barnes – 14 factors, Gary Trent Jr. – 13 and Quickley – 10) already on double figures.
Bridges, in the meantime, led the way in which for Brooklyn with 15 factors — greater than all of its different 4 starters mixed. Walker IV had eight factors off the bench.
Simmons had two rebounds, an help and a turnover in a scoreless opening half because the Australian was given simply 10 minutes.
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Simmons was extra closely concerned early within the third as he recorded two fast assists, with the second coming in transition as he handed the ball off to Thomas and set a display screen to permit the Nets guard to drive in the direction of the rim and make the layup.
Simmons’ playmaking is considered one of his greatest strengths, though it may additionally open up the ground for the Australian to showcase different facets of his sport as was the case when he drove previous Barnes to get the end and foul
Dealing with the ball, Simmons had each Barnes and Jakob Poeltl wanting away anticipating the cross and he took full benefit, aggressively committing to the drive as he attacked the basket.
Thomas then made his second bucket of the sport to pressure the Raptors right into a timeout nevertheless it did little to gradual him down, with penetration from Simmons opening up area for the guard to empty a deep 3-pointer and shut the deficit to 61-60.
Simply as Toronto’s lead seemed in jeopardy the Raptors went on a 10-0 run to leap forward 71-60 and didn’t look again from that time, operating out 121-93 winners.
Quickley and Trent Jr. scored 24 and 25 factors respectively whereas Scottie Barnes had 18 factors, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block within the win.
Simmoms, in the meantime, completed with two factors, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
THUNDER MAKE TITLE STATEMENT AGAINST CLIPPERS
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have confirmed as soon as once more, if anybody wanted reminding, that they’re the actual deal after outscoring the Los Angeles Clippers by 30 factors within the second half on the way in which to a 129-107 win.
In a battle of Western Convention heavyweights it was OKC who stood tallest, scoring 30 quick break factors within the win whereas additionally taking pictures 48.6 per cent from downtown.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued to construct his MVP case with 31 factors and eight assists however was well-supported by OKC’s starters, with all 5 hitting double figures within the win.
Josh Giddey had 12 factors, 5 rebounds, two assists, one block and three turnovers.
Giddey made a optimistic begin as he scored on James Harden for the primary bucket of the night time, then attacking downhill after a defensive rebound quickly after and going proper on the rim.
Whereas the shot didn’t fall it was promising to see the shortage of hesitation from Giddey, who had a number of moments to overlook early in Friday’s sport too with a pair of turnovers.
The Clippers have been in a position to open up a 23-16 lead with 5 minutes left within the first quarter after a 10-0 run, prompting OKC coach Mark Daigneault to go to his second unit.
It had the specified impact because the bench helped create simple buckets in transition because the Thunder completed the quarter on prime 35-33.
General, the Clippers outscored the Thunder 24-10 within the paint nevertheless it was cancelled out by OKC’s sizzling taking pictures from downtown, making seven 3-pointers in comparison with simply two for Los Angeles.
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Unsurprisingly there was loads of Gilgeous-Alexander within the first quarter for the Thunder, with the MVP candidate scoring 11 factors to go along with three assists, two steals and a block.
New addition Gordon Hayward was met with a rousing applause as he entered the sport in the beginning of the second quarter as a part of the Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren-led line-up.
Norman Powell was the standout although and in all the things early for the Clippers within the second, scoring 14 of their first 17 factors because the Thunder held onto a decent 52-50 lead.
It appeared – at the very least based mostly on the primary half – that this conflict of Western Convention contenders was going to hold within the stability till the ultimate minutes as OKC took a 61-59 lead into halftime.
Giddey, who re-entered the sport halfway by the second quarter for Hayward, was in a position to get to the road at one level and made each free throws after working in the direction of the rim following a pick-and-roll with Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder at halftime with 19 factors, constantly proving himself able to find other ways to attain whereas Kawhi Leonard had a team-high 12 for the Clippers.
What appeared to be a tightly-contested sport blew open within the third quarter as Oklahoma Metropolis stepped it up on the defensive finish, holding Los Angeles to 29 per cent taking pictures within the quarter whereas recording 4 steals and 9 blocks.
It additionally allowed the Thunder to get out in transition for quick break factors the place they continued to thrive on their approach to a 96-82 lead heading into the ultimate quarter.
Curiously, coach Mark Daigneault opened the quarter with Hayward alongside the same old starters as an alternative of Giddey, maybe getting an early glimpse at how the veteran matches into the rotation.
Giddey, who had three factors, a block, help and rebound in his quick third-quarter stint, got here again into the sport early within the fourth for Gilgeous-Alexander with the Thunder main 100-84 at that time.
The Australian had considered one of his finest moments of the sport as he aggressively drove in the direction of the rim, drawing the foul on Paul George for what turned out to be a three-point play.
Giddey was guarded by Clippers massive man Ivica Zubac in what has grow to be an more and more acquainted defensive look on the 21-year-old from opposition groups.
He made Los Angeles pay for it later within the fourth as Zubac sagged off, anticipating Giddey to cross and leaving the Australian with loads of area to confidently drain a mid-range jumper.
LUKA’S NEAR TRIPLE-DOUBLE AS AUSSIE GREEN IMPRESSES IN MAVS WIN
Elsewhere, a mixed 58 factors from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker was not sufficient for the Phoenix Suns in a 123-113 loss to a Dallas Mavericks workforce that obtained 41 factors from Luka Doncic.
It was a close to triple-double for the Slovenian famous person, who added 11 assists and 9 rebounds within the win, whereas Kyrie Irving had 29 factors and Aussie Josh Inexperienced went 3-for-5 from downtown.
Inexperienced had 9 factors, 5 assists and two steals within the win.
The Suns have been sharing the ball round effectively early, leaping out to an 11-3 lead earlier than some Doncic magic had Dallas solely trailing 15-14 with seven minutes left within the quarter.
Phoenix instantly went on a 6-0 run to re-establish its lead and was up 29-19 at one level earlier than eight fast factors within the last minutes of the quarter for Irving noticed Dallas solely path 33-32 after the interval.
The sport was effectively and really within the stability by halftime, with Phoenix main 63-60 earlier than the Mavericks outscored the Suns 36-28 within the third with contributions all throughout the board.
Doncic began the quarter off with 9 fast factors however new additions Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington have been additionally closely concerned, showcasing the much-improved depth Dallas has behind its famous person duo.
Doncic put an exclamation mark on his standout sport with 11 factors, 4 assists and three steals within the fourth quarter alone because the Mavericks completed on prime 123-113.