For the Nets, life with out Dennis Schröder formally started towards the Japanese Convention-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday at Barclays Middle. The German level guard, together with a second-round choose, had been formally traded to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. Monday’s matchup supplied a primary look and Jordi Fernandez’s new-look rotation.
“Dennis is no longer here and life goes on, and we’re happy for him because he’s in a good situation, and we’re also happy here because there’s 34 minutes for other guys to play,” Fernandez mentioned. “There’s right around 17 shots for other guys to take. There’s six-and-a-half assists for other guys to pass, and all those things that now are going to be distributed around these guys here. They should be excited to go, from the leadership to the numbers, everything.”
Ben Simmons obtained his 14th begin of the season rather than Schröder. Schröder was one of many 20 lowest-pace guards within the league thus far this season, whereas Simmons is among the ten highest-paced. The variations of their video games are apparent. Fernandez advised reporters that the Nets had been going to lean into Simmons’ strengths, relatively than attempt to convert him into one thing he’s not.
Simmons, coming off a 2023-24 season by which he appeared in simply 15 video games due to a pinched nerve in his decrease again, had been on a minutes restriction this season because the Nets proceed to be cautious along with his utilization. He has not performed in back-to-back video games. Fernandez didn’t reveal whether or not Simmons’ restrictions could be utterly lifted in gentle of the Schröder commerce, however mentioned he would play ” above mid 20s” going ahead.
Brooklyn will want as a lot shot creation as it will probably get. Simmons averaged 6.5 assists per recreation over his first 13 appearances this season.
“It’s not because now we don’t have Dennis, we’re going to change how we’re going to play,” Fernandez mentioned. “Obviously, I’m going to use Ben in a way that he’ll be better at touching the paint right away instead of playing pick-and-roll. That’s common sense, and that’s my job to figure it out, but like I said before, Ben is one of the fastest players in the NBA and we’ll use it, and he’ll do a great job like he’s been doing up until now.”
Nevertheless, Fernandez added that taking part in quicker doesn’t imply taking part in extra carelessly. The Nets nonetheless have to take higher care of possessions, enhance their effort on the defensive finish, and enhance their manufacturing on the glass.
“If we improve that, that’s going to help our offense as well,” Fernandez mentioned. “So, again, a good challenge for us. We’re a different group. We’ll have bigger lineups. And we’ve been complaining about being so small, and now we are bigger, so it’s a good challenge for us.”
ATKINSON RETURNS TO BROOKLYN
Kenny Atkinson returned to Barclays Middle on Monday for the primary time since accepting his new place because the Cavaliers’ head coach. The 57-year-old served as Brooklyn’s head coach from 2016-2020. His new workforce defeated the Nets 105-100 in Cleveland on Nov. 9.
“It’s always great,” Atkinson mentioned. “Always great to come home. Most of my family lives here. My seven brothers live in the area. So, it’s great. I love coming back here. I love the New York vibe. A basketball city. Brooklyn, I’ve always said, breathes basketball. So yeah, great feeling coming in here.”
Atkinson mentioned he isn’t bitter about how his tenure in Brooklyn ended. He seen it as a steppingstone to better alternatives.
“I just look at it as part of the story, right, part of your growth,” Atkinson mentioned. “You have good things happen, you have setbacks, and – it’s like a player how do you bounce back? And it was definitely a bounce back. And I think in the long run, like I said, the journey after Brooklyn really helped me, helped me grow as a coach. Who knows, if that doesn’t happen, maybe I’m not Cleveland. I didn’t improve as much as a coach if that didn’t happen. So, I kind of look at it more as a positive.”
THOMAS, WILLIAMS REMAIN OUT
The Nets had been with out guard Cam Thomas and ahead Ziaire Williams once more on Monday. Thomas missed his eighth straight recreation due to a left hamstring pressure, Williams missed his fifth straight recreation due to a left knee sprain.
Thomas was initially dominated out for no less than three weeks on Nov. 27. There was no timetable supplied for when Williams will return, and Fernandez had no updates to share when requested about their standing on Monday.
“No updates. They’re doing great,” Fernandez mentioned. “Everything is going very well for both. And once we have an update, we’ll definitely let you guys know.”
