The Nets’ first three preseason video games provided a revealing have a look at their rookie guards, a glimpse at each their promise and their inexperience.
Nolan Traore confirmed the burst and alter of tempo that made him some of the intriguing prospects in his class, pushing the tempo and attacking the paint with confidence.
Ben Saraf introduced steadiness to the ground, highlighted by an 11-assist efficiency in his newest outing, orchestrating the offense with poise and discovering teammates in rhythm.
And Drake Powell, regardless of becoming a member of coaching camp late, made his mark defensively by forcing turnovers, leaping passing lanes and showcasing the athleticism and power that outline his sport.
For head coach Jordi Fernández, these flashes are precisely what this stage of the preseason is supposed for. His focus isn’t on wins or losses however on progress, instructing his younger guards to play quick, assume clearly and develop habits that may form Brooklyn’s future.
“I feel like we’re ahead of where we were last year, because of the support system that I have; and not just the coaching staff, but also the front office, the relationship with ownership,” Fernández mentioned. “And then with that, players that were here last year. Not a better or worse summer; it was a different summer, but a very good summer. And all those things together just make me feel better.”
All instructed, Brooklyn’s backcourt growth venture is off to a promising begin. The following step helps its younger guards be taught to worth possessions and restrict the errors that include studying the velocity and complexity of NBA defenses.
The Nets have dedicated 74 complete turnovers by way of three preseason video games, together with 34 of their first matchup in opposition to the Phoenix Suns in Macao. Traore, Saraf and Powell have accounted for 22.9 p.c of these errors, a mirrored image of each their heavy involvement in initiating the offense and the steep studying curve that comes with dealing with NBA stress.
“We still have to keep working on cutters and reads, especially against teams like Phoenix that are so good at pressuring and they’re good defensively and very aggressive,” Fernández mentioned. “I thought for us it was the best thing to go through, because it’s really hard to execute with teams that have high-level defenders. It’s going to be a learning process, you know?… So, I’m happy with what I’ve seen, but we still have a long way to go.”
It’s a excessive quantity, however not shocking for a trio nonetheless studying to stability tempo, reads and management. Traore is averaging three turnovers per sport to date this preseason, whereas Saraf has averaged two and Powell one. Fernández sees these errors as a part of the method, the byproduct of development that comes with studying rhythm, timing and decision-making on the NBA degree.
And now Egor Demin’s training can start. The eighth total decide on this 12 months’s NBA Draft is about to make his Nets debut Friday in opposition to the Toronto Raptors.
“We’re going to have to keep helping them, but that’s going to force them to take the next step and the next step after, and so on and so forth,” Fernández mentioned. “So, you know, very happy so far, what they bring to the group. Very happy to bring, now, Egor into the mix, and they all feel like they have to compete really hard. And most importantly, take advantage of their minutes.”
That inside competitors between youth, alternative and endurance is precisely what Brooklyn hoped to create when it invested in upside this summer time. The inspiration continues to be uncooked, however it’s starting to take form.
