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 Nets’ System Keeps Them Competitive Against Top Teams, While Loses Keep the Tank On Track
Jan 11, 2024; Paris, FRANCE; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots over Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) in the NBA Paris Game at AccorHotels Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alexis Reau/Presse Sports via USA TODAY Sports|Alexis Reau/Presse Sports-USA TODAY Sports
The Brooklyn Nets had a thrilling and strategically beneficial weekend. Facing off against the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Nets played with heart and intensity, taking both games down to the wire(and Overtime in Boston’s case). Despite the losses, these games were a testament to the team’s approach to the season, even as they improved their draft odds.
The Nets, despite being underdogs, showed they could hang with the Celtics and Cavaliers. It should always be the case that once the jump ball is thrown if your team plays the style of basketball capable of winning games, you root for that victory. There has been, however, a weird contingent of fans that fear strong development and play.
As a lifelong Giants fan trust me - ineptitude, even with the promise of Draft pick glory, leaves you numb and dejected. After the buzzer sounds and the game is lost, the “silver lining” can commence - with improved lottery odds at every losing turn.
It’s a unique situation where the thrill of the game and the long-term strategy align, making each match a win-win for fans. The Nets sit outside the lottery based on playoff seeding, but their record falls into the 8-10 position by most projections.
The weekend’s games also highlighted Cam Thomas’ developmental flow so far this season. Friday night was the offensive output fans have come to expect from Thomas.
However, it is notable that his perimeter shooting is a career-low 32% at the moment, even while his overall scoring has remained near his typical numbers. Saturday was a mixed bag, where Thomas tied a season-high six assists but also matched it with six turnovers.
His overall game has been exactly what we expected to see, and the pre-season defensive focus has clearly translated to the regular season. Now, the question becomes if his overall offensive game can continue to expand or if fans will need to “settle” for a dynamic scorer who may never fully add elite playmaker to the resume.
Ben Simmons remains a topic of debate among fans. His performance has been inconsistent, and while he shows flashes of brilliance, his overall impact on the team is questionable. Simmons’ plus-minus stats are concerning, and his reluctance to shoot limits the team’s offensive potential.
Despite his elite vision and passing ability, his presence on the court often coincides with the team’s struggles. It’s a complex situation, as his minutes seemingly contribute to the team’s strategic losses, aligning with the broader goal of improving draft odds.
The coaching staff, led by Jordi Fernandez, seems to recognize the limitations of playing Simmons alongside Nicholas Claxton. The two don’t complement each other well, and the team’s performance improves when Simmons is off the court. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how the coaching staff manages Simmons’ role and minutes.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Brooklyn Nets’ strategies and player performances, tune into the Locked On Nets podcast for this and much more.
37 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists. The first NBA player to reach these numbers in a game, and Nikola Jokic did it on a Sunday night in Denver, snowy pockets of flurries settling over the city. I wish I’d been collecting these stat lines all along, or had thought to make a note on the calendar when they happened. I’d like to see if there’s a pattern, though I’ve got a hunch that the dates would come to mean less than what the volume of them proves: in Jokic’s hands, the unprecedented becomes routine.
It starts with his skill, we know this. But let’s zero in on how he carries himself around the floor, how he moves. Jokic lopes, jogs, shuffles, occasionally bops, tends to move laterally more than he does in a direct line. It all serves to create an illusion that he’s slow and behind the pace. It’s why so many have a difficult time categorizing what it is he’s doing — he doesn’t work the way a basketball player does, tends to be the refrain. It’s because he looks, most of the time, relaxed
He can also appear pressed, like there’s someplace else he’d rather be. This is not the kind of approach we like to see from our stars. If they don’t look dialled in, if it doesn’t look strenuous at least some of the time, we tend to distrust their effort and skill. But Jokic’s arduousness is some of my favourite in the league, because it presents at our expense. And indeed, it must be exhausting to prove nearly every night that you can manipulate the game at every level.
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.
Analysis Marc Stein questions whether the Nets are too strong to consider tanking given their current performance. (NetsDaily)
Feel Good Joe Tsai’s Social Justice Fund aims to use basketball as a means to reduce gun violence in Brooklyn. (NetsDaily)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Basketball Managers
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) holds his leg after a hard following a play against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Paycom Center.|Photo by Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Managers
Sunday’s NBA action took a concerning turn for the Oklahoma City Thunder as Chet Holmgren, their promising young centre, suffered a hip injury just five minutes into the game against the Golden State Warriors. This incident has left both the team and fantasy managers in a state of uncertainty, as Holmgren’s presence on the court has been pivotal.
The Impact of Holmgren’s Injury
Holmgren’s injury occurred during an attempt to contest a dunk, resulting in a hard fall that left him limping off the court. The Thunder have since reported it as a hip injury, but the full extent and severity remain unclear. Given Holmgren’s importance to the Thunder’s lineup, any absence could significantly impact their performance, especially considering their current lack of depth at the centre position.
Potential Replacements and Adjustments
In the wake of Holmgren’s injury, the Thunder may need to rely on a smaller lineup, as they did against the Warriors. This could mean increased minutes for players like Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace, who might see more court time and opportunities to contribute. In deeper leagues, Ousmane Dieng could also be considered for a temporary boost, though none are likely to replicate Holmgren’s production. Fantasy managers might consider these short-term pickups, but it’s crucial to temper expectations, as the Thunder’s rotation could remain fluid.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nets podcasts.
Brooklyn Nets face a tough stretch, plus more trade ideas The Nets have a tough six-game stretch coming up, starting with a game against the Boston Celtics on Friday night. How will they fair over this run and have they shown enough early in the season to be bullish about any set of games?
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.
