Adam Armbrecht here, the host of the daily Locked On Nets podcast, with your daily Locked On Nets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Nets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Brooklyn’s Tall Task: What to watch for as Nets take on Celtics Friday night
Nov 4, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) looks to drive past Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) in the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports|Wendell Cruz/Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
We have said all throughout the summer and into the surprising 4-4 start to the season, that the Nets fanbase should watch for individual play and improvement over team success. That sentiment will be no more true then Friday night when Cam Thomas and the Nets take on Jayson Tatum and the Celtics at the Garden.
Is anything new in Boston? Jayson Tatum continues to dominate regular season stat-lines - averaging 30 points per game on a 48/37/78 line. As for any team, the Nets will need to deal with his combination of size, strength, and athleticism - which has made him so dangerous on the offensive end throughout his career.
Tatum has put up 25+ points in all but one game this year. The perimeter shot as come and gone, but he has had double-digit looks in six games this season - spiking 42% or more four times.
For Jordi Fernandez and Brooklyn it will be a challenge to defend Tatum at all three levels, but even with the potential absence of Noah Clowney(illness), the Nets will have the length of Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton and Ziaire Williams to rotate different looks across 48 minutes of action.
One key will be their ability to collapse on penetration while rotating coverage on perimeter shooters. Boston has five players including Tatum averaging 37% or better from beyond the arc to start the year, sitting 9th overall in 3PT% in the league.
The more notable box score is Jaylen Brown who is shooting just 40% from the field and under 27% from beyond the arc. Both are career lows, though he is still averaging 25 points per game thanks in part to a career high 7.8 Free Throw attempts, a number that more than doubles his career average. While Brown is set to miss Friday’s game with a hip injury, the Nets will host Boston on November 13th at Barclays and likely see the nine-year pro across the court.
No Jaylen Brown should make for an “easier” offensive assignment for Cam Thomas, but Boston has plenty to throw his way. Jrue Holiday has the size and physicality to frustrate and Derrick White can provide the quickness needed to slow down Dennis Schröder.
The complimentary backcourt for Brooklyn could be taken out of rhythm in a hurry, which could leave Jordi Fernandez searching for answers and on-ball creation.
The Nets will be a 13.5 point dog on the road, though they do hold an. impressive 6-2 record against the spread this season. Meanwhile, despite demolishing the opposition on a regular basis, some monster lines have left Boston 5-4 against the spread overall, and 2-1 at home.
The Celtics have also beaten opponents by 10+ points in six of their seven wins to start the year. Time and again through the first eight games the Nets have proven they will not roll over. Let’s see if they bring that same fight up to Boston Friday night.
The Nuggets did it (Nikola Jokic did it), the Warriors did it (the death lineup and defensive efficiency), the Celtics did it (switching one through five, pre-switching, neutralizing open lanes), and now the Thunder are doing it.
It’s been described as pestering, smothering, swarming, but I‘d like to put “car wash” into consideration. That’s the set up awaiting opponents. The car (the opposing team) gets locked into those self-driving tracks and the gauntlet begins. Lu Dort and Alex Caruso appear as those cylindrical spinning brushes, stripping the ball outright and early or else funnelling players into the next wave of guards. Pressure continues from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Williams but it becomes more targeted, thinking of the jet streams of water now being directed at the car from every angle — and those spinning whirlwinds of Caruso and Dort haven’t relented.
If, somehow, an opposing player finds a sliver of daylight in the so-small-its-micro-ball switching scheme the Thunder are playing, if they manage to get out from the many hands reaching in, pressuring, forcing turnovers, then they will meet Chet Holmgren at the rim. Holmgren is like those long, slapping shammy tentacles that come down on the hood, sides and roof of the car from every angle, though his reach and hands are much more expertly deployed. The Thunder have a defensive rating of 96.5 (for context the Warriors, at second best, seem light-years behind with a respectable 103.8) and lead the league in steals (13.4) and blocks (7.3). The cars are coming out spotless, utterly worked.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Watch Defense wins games? Here’s an insightful breakdown of OKC’s defensive schemes. (Thinking Basketball)
Must Read The Influence of Sedona Price: Take a fascinating look at the domino effect of NIL on college athletics, women’s sports, social media and athlete health. (The New Yorker)
Preview Brooklyn Nets prepare to face Boston Celtics, focusing on containing stars like Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday for a crucial matchup. (NetsDaily)
Analysis Brooklyn’s new identity under coach Jordi Fernandez emphasizes a feisty approach, crucial for upcoming challenges against top teams. (NetsDaily)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Impact of Miles Bridges’ Injury
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) holds his knee after a collision at the basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Spectrum Center.|Photo by Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
With only three games on Thursday, there was ample time to delve into the latest injury news and its implications for fantasy managers.
Injury Updates and Their Impact
Miles Bridges’ knee injury is a significant concern. After initially returning to play, he’s now sidelined for at least two weeks with a knee bone bruise. This situation opens up opportunities for other players. With Nick Richards and Mark Williams also out, Taj Gibson steps in as the starting centre. Grant Williams, who has been getting centre minutes, will likely shift to playing more at the four, alongside Tidjane Salaun. This reshuffling could push Williams into a more prominent role, making him a potential pick-up in 12-team leagues.
The absence of Bridges also means increased usage for Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball. Tre Mann is another player to watch; holding onto him could be beneficial as the team adjusts to these injuries.
Ja Morant’s hamstring injury is another blow, with expectations of a two-week absence. Memphis’ injury reporting is notoriously vague, so fantasy managers should prepare for an extended period without Morant. Tyrese Maxey’s situation is similar, with the Sixers indicating a reevaluation in a week, but realistically, it could be longer. Kyle Lowry is a suitable replacement in the meantime.
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NBA season has been weird, and it’s not great news for the Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets went into this season wanting to tank and are sitting at 4-4 with the 5th-best point differential in the Eastern Conference. Then you have the Milwaukee Buck and Philadelphia 76ers are a combined 2-16 with Joel Embiid not playing yet and Tyrese Maxey getting banged up.
Cam Thomas dishes six assists, a sign of things to come?
Jordi Fernandez had called out Cam Thomas some following the loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, effectively saying Cam had to get more players involved in the offense.
Brooklyn Nets beat the Grizzlies! Is the tank in trouble?
The Brooklyn Nets beat the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday in another wild game. The Nets are now 4-4 on the season with the fifth best point differential in the Eastern Conference. Wild times indeed.
