Time is operating out on the Nets‘ 2024-25 season.
While Brooklyn technically hasn’t been eradicated from Play-In Event rivalry, sitting eight video games behind Miami Warmth for tenth place within the Jap Convention standings with 10 video games left, the workforce would primarily should win out to get there.
The workforce has a 3-15 document because the All-Star break, and with a 23-49 general document, is tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the fifth finest NBA Draft lottery odds. There are solely 4 groups worse than them at this level within the season: The New Orleans Pelicans (20-53), Charlotte Hornets (18-54), Utah Jazz (16-57) and Washington Wizards (15-56).
With 4 straight losses getting into Wednesday’s sport towards the Toronto Raptors at Barclays Middle, the Nets are at the moment tied with the Sacramento Kings for the second-longest lively dropping streak within the league.
The writing is on the wall. Maybe Brooklyn ought to take into account shutting down a few of its veterans down the stretch, comparable to Cam Johnson, D’Angelo Russell and Nic Claxton, and prioritize minutes for its younger creating expertise. In any case, forward of the season, basic supervisor Sean Marks made it clear that 2024-25 was presupposed to be about figuring out who the “next Nets” are.
Unsung items like Tosan Evbuomwan and Tyrese Martin had been handed alternatives and exceeded expectations. Maxwell Lewis has definitely shocked in prolonged minutes down the stretch. It’s time to find out if Brooklyn has some other diamonds hidden within the tough.
“The approach is the same: get one percent better and go out there and compete and fight for the game no matter who’s out there,” head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned. “I think we’ve done that the whole year… Our main purpose is to get better and see who’s the next Net and who’s worthy of being here for the long run.”
With Johnson (relaxation) and Day’Ron Sharpe (proper knee sprain) slated to overlook Wednesday’s sport towards Toronto, second-year guard Dariq Whitehead — who’s appeared in simply 10 video games this season and none since March 4 — was recalled from G League affiliate Lengthy Island.
Perhaps the Nets ought to check out Lengthy Island ahead Drew Timme, who was named G League Participant of the Week after averaging 35.7 factors, 12.7 rebounds, two steals and taking pictures 63.6% from 3-point vary.
Brooklyn nonetheless has an open roster spot and will name up the previous Gonzaga standout if it selected to. Killian Hayes has additionally strung collectively robust performances since returning to Lengthy Island and may very well be worthy of consideration.
“Obviously we have a job to do and evaluate,” Fernandez mentioned. “It’s good to see all these guys who haven’t played as much, like Max for instance. He’s done a good job. So, that’s going to be our goal, is to keep doing what we’re doing and do it in this way. But obviously those minutes have to be played extremely hard, in the right way, and competing. Whoever, whatever lineups we’ve had out there throughout the year, moving forward, they will go out there and try to compete.”
