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.
Three takeaways from the Nets 107-105 road victory over the Pelicans
Nov 9, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney (21) looks to shoot in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images|David Richard/David Richard-Imagn Images
Clowney to be the two-way threat with the size Brooklyn has longed for. Cut to Monday night where Clowney had 10 attempts from deep, converting on 50% in the process.
This was partly due to the absence of veteran Forward Dorian Finney-Smith who missed the game with an ankle injury. Though Finney-Smith has struggled from deep early this year, the Nets needed to replace his 5.5 attempts from distance. Noah Clowney had never attempted more than four three-point attempts going back to last season.
Though Ziaire Williams received the start for the injured Finney-Smith, if the results(and volume) can live even close to what we saw Monday night, Clowney is in for an expanded role sooner than later. Noah Clowney finished the night with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Ben Simmons can still dish dimes:
Shooting? That is a discussion for another day. For this Tuesday, we take a rare occasion to praise Ben Simmons. Coach Jordi Fernandez recently decided to bring Ben Simmons off the bench. The veteran facilitator dished out 10 first-half dimes, finishing the game with a season-high 12.
Though he only attempted five shots, it did come in 22 minutes of action which represents a concerted effort to shoot more, per Jordi Fernadnez request. To go along with five rebounds and two steals, Simmons’ +8 net rating finished second on the night to Cam Thomas who finished +9 in his 33 minutes of action.
Coaches in the past have tried to push two square pegs through round holes in Ben Simmons and Nic Claxton sharing the court. Now it seems increasingly likely that Simmons will helm the bench unit, further evident by the Ziaire Williams replacement of Dorian Finney-Smith in the starting five.
If there was an opportunity to “experiment” Monday night could have been it, but Claxton and Simmons shared the floor for only the first few minutes of the second quarter before being separated for the remainder of the game.
Brooklyn can come late to win a tight game:
One thing has been perfectly clear all season - this team will make you earn every possession. While they held off the Memphis Grizzlies late back on November 4th - This win over the Pelicans required Brooklyn to close a late two-possession gap. The Nets took the lead 101-100 at the 4:38 mark on a Clowney-assisted Cam Thomas three.
From there, it was crickets(and some sloppy play both ways) until the 1:15 mark, when Cam Johnson converted a driving layup. Following a multiple-chance offensive possession for New Orleans that came up empty, Cam Thomas drained a triple with 32.2 seconds remaining. The Nets held off the Pelicans’ last push and sealed the 107-105 road victory.
Like so many moments through the first 11 games for the Jordi Fernandez-led Nets, this game represents the mentality, effort, focus and determination that this team now has. It won’t always be against a short-handed Pelicans team, and it won’t always end in a win. But Brooklyn continues to be one of the easiest teams to root for this NBA season.
The second annual NBA In-Season Tournament/much catchier ‘NBA Cup’ begins tonight, kicking off roughly a month of tournament games that fall on Tuesdays and Fridays. Then, we get into the quarterfinals and conference semifinals, the rules of which I am still not 100% clear on and am not ashamed to admit.
The newness of the Cup is what makes people skeptical of it. It’s what made me skeptical of it last season. It’s difficult to introduce new things into competitive ecosystems that seem largely “set”, which is why it happens rarely. My skepticism of the tournament came from the need to gameify what is already a game, but then I thought about how often the “product” of the NBA (e.g. basketball) gets complained about and realized the league was trying something. Trying something different versus just complaining about what already exists for the sake of griping is also rare.
Part of the fun of the tournament in its current, very green iteration, is its messiness. Last season, athletes were clear about how they, too, were stumped on the rules. How did the point system work? What were the knockout rules? Why were the custom courts so garish? But for the most part, players leaned into it. Did the Lakers lean a little too hard into it by hanging the In-Season Tournament banner in the rafters? Absolutely. But these are Tuesday night games in November — nothing about them should be sacrosanct.
A genuine lift I noticed and liked about last season’s tournament, and my real point of defense, is how these games operated as additional runway for a handful of teams on the verge. The In-Season Tournament was where we started to see the Pacers flourish and use the breakneck speed that went on to become a critical component of their entirely unique offense. The Pelicans also treated the tournament as something different, approaching the games like an escape from the early season injury woes that derailed them (unfortunately in a very cruel deja vu, we’re seeing the same thing this season). There’s going to be more emerging teams and play styles showing themselves this time around.
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
Injury The NBA has a ‘missing stars’ problem with injuries piling up faster than normal. (Yahoo! Sports)
Rumor Did Giannis Antetokounmpo’s fake handshake prank launch a new NBA rivalry?
Preview The tiny town and legendary 1980s NBA team that built NBA Draft phenom Cooper Flagg (ESPN)
Replay The Nets secured a thrilling 107-105 victory over the Pelicans, thanks to a standout performance from Cam Thomas. (NetsDaily) [Nov 11, 2024]
Analysis Discover three key takeaways from the Nets’ comeback win against the Pelicans, highlighting their resilience and strategic adjustments. (NetsDaily) [Nov 12, 2024]
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Monday’s NBA Fantasy Basketball Recap
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts during the second half against the Sacramento Kings at Frost Bank Center.|Photo by Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action featured five games, each packed with performances and injury updates that could reshape your fantasy basketball strategy.
Injury Updates Affecting Lineups
Damian Lillard’s entry into concussion protocol means he’ll miss Tuesday’s game, with a slim chance of returning by Wednesday. This quick turnaround is unusual, so keep an eye on updates. Meanwhile, Gary Trent Jr. is still dealing with back spasms, and despite his fantasy position eligibility, he’s not a point guard, averaging only two assists per game. The Milwaukee Bucks are experimenting with their lineup, with Pat Connaughton and Ryan Rollins as potential backup point guards. Giannis Antetokounmpo can handle point guard duties, but he needs support, especially with Khris Middleton unavailable.
Zion Williamson’s injury update is a blow to fantasy managers. He’s expected to be out for four to six weeks, longer than initially anticipated. If you have an IR spot, hold onto him, but be prepared for a potentially extended absence. Malik Monk’s ankle injury will keep him out for at least two weeks, affecting the Sacramento Kings’ lineup. Kevin Huerter and Keon Ellis could see increased value in the short term.
Game Highlights and Player Performances
The San Antonio Spurs pulled off a surprising 116-96 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Victor Wembanyama was the standout performer, delivering a stellar 34 points and 14 rebounds, solidifying his status as a top fantasy player. De’Aaron Fox’s assist numbers are concerning, especially with DeMar DeRozan’s arrival affecting his role. DeRozan’s on-court fit with the Kings remains a question mark. Kevin Huerter’s inconsistency continues, and while he had a hot streak, his recent performance was lacklustre. Keegan Murray’s struggles are evident, and I don’t see him breaking into the top 75 players this season.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nets podcasts.
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