Taken out by an ill-timed flu, Jordi Fernández was pressured to observe from house because the Nets torched the Milwaukee Bucks 127-82 at Barclays Heart on Sunday.
As an alternative of pacing the sideline, he was holed up at house with a masks strapped on, confined to his personal small quarantine nook whereas Steve Hetzel took the reins. However his household crowded across the TV anyway. Fernández stated he watched all 48 minutes along with his spouse and youngsters, masks on and spirits up, as they roared for each Nets run.
“All four of us were cheering four our guys and the coaches and everybody, so we were sending a lot of love this way,” Fernández stated after returning to follow on Tuesday.
The Fernández household definitely had a lot to cheer about in the midst of a historic night time for Brooklyn. The Nets’ 45-point win tied the biggest margin in franchise historical past. All 5 starters scored in double figures for under the second time this season, and 9 gamers completed with at the least 10 factors, matching essentially the most in group historical past.
Six gamers posted a plus-20 or higher, the fourth time the franchise has ever executed that. And the convincing win, Brooklyn is now 4-2 in its final six video games, taking pictures 39.1% from 3-point vary and averaging 116.0 factors whereas holding opponents to 105.2 factors per sport on 33.9% taking pictures from deep throughout that span.
It virtually makes you surprise if Fernández ought to take sick days extra typically.
“If I have to miss another game and they play that well, I’ll do whatever it takes for the group,” Fernández stated, half-joking and perhaps half-serious.
The Nets are nonetheless wanting up at many of the Jap Convention with a 7-18 document 16 days into December, however the group sits simply three video games again of the ultimate Play-In spot coming into Tuesday’s video games. Brooklyn is starting to attract a bit extra nationwide consideration, too, climbing to No. 23 in The Athletic’s newest NBA energy rankings.
And contained in the locker room, gamers stated Fernández’s absence solely sharpened their focus.
“Pretty much, we were committed to doing the right things,” Drake Powell stated. “Obviously a little bit of motivation since Jordi was out, but he was still watching the game from home, and then we just wanted to get Steve Hetzel his first win.”
After an 0-7 begin, the Nets rank 14th in offensive score (116.4) and second in defensive score (104.8) over their final six video games. Whereas Brooklyn has benefited from a softer stretch, with its 4 wins coming in opposition to the Bucks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans, Tyrese Martin stated the latest surge displays a bunch that’s rising nearer collectively. Terance Mann echoed that sentiment.
“I think just runs by teams, down parts of the game on offense and defense, just all and all earlier in the season, some runs would’ve turned into 10, 20-point leads against us, and now we’re keeping it within two, three points like it was in Dallas,” Mann stated. “I feel like we had a chance to win that game… We’re just growing as a team.”
Brooklyn may have an actual probability to indicate how a lot it has grown over its upcoming stretch, with the Miami Warmth, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets on deck. Feeling related is one factor when the wins are coming. Sustaining that connection when the schedule toughens is the true take a look at.
“It’s like, guys holding each other accountable, or cheering for each other when things aren’t going the right way, or when it’s tough, when there’s adversity,” Fernández stated. “So, I think that’s where the growth has been, and I’m very, very proud of the players.”
