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.
Nets Balanced Offense Brings Competitive Basketball Back To Brooklyn
Nov 11, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Brandon Boston Jr. (11) fouls Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images|Stephen Lew/Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
As the Brooklyn Nets continue their journey through the NBA season, there’s a palpable sense of excitement and unpredictability surrounding the team. With a record of 5-6, the Nets have already surpassed expectations, showing a level of grit and determination that has become their hallmark.
Despite facing a depleted New Orleans Pelicans team, the Nets’ recent 107-105 victory highlighted their ability to fight until the final buzzer.
The Nets’ resilience has been a recurring theme this season. Even when facing formidable opponents like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, the Nets have proven they can compete with the best
This fighting spirit is a testament to the coaching staff’s ability to adapt and the players’ willingness to step up, regardless of their challenges. The victory over the Pelicans, despite their missing key players like Zion Williamson and C.J. McCollum, was a prime example of the Nets’ tenacity.
In the win over New Orleans, every starter for the Nets scored in double digits, showcasing the team’s balanced offensive approach.
Cam Thomas, known for his scoring prowess, contributed 17 points on just 10 shots, while Cam Johnson also took 10 shots, highlighting the team’s ability to spread the scoring load. Nic Claxton and Dennis Schröder each took nine shots, emphasizing the team’s depth and versatility.
Off the bench, Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson also made significant contributions, each scoring in double digits. Clowney, in particular, impressed with his willingness to take shots from beyond the arc, going 5 of 10 from three-point range.
This depth and ability to rely on multiple players for scoring have been crucial in keeping the Nets competitive, even when facing adversity.
The team’s success can be attributed to their versatile lineup, which has allowed them to mix and match players effectively. Ziaire Williams’ start in place of the injured Dorian Finney-Smith, and shifting bench roles is a testament to the depth and flexibility of the roster. This adaptability has been crucial in keeping the Nets competitive, even when facing adversity.
Cam Thomas has been a standout performer for the Nets, consistently delivering when it matters most. Beyond the box-score stats mentioned, Thomas dropped in the clutch three-point in the latter stages that sealed the win over the Pelicans.
His ability to contribute without dominating the ball is a promising sign for the team’s future. Under Jordi Fernandez we are seeing for maybe the first time in Thomas’ career, the type of coaching and execution that can help his overall game truly grow.
This distribution of scoring responsibilities not only makes the team harder to defend but also keeps opponents guessing from possession to possession. The coaching staff’s emphasis on ball movement and creating open looks has paid dividends, as evidenced by the team’s impressive shooting percentages.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Brooklyn Nets’ season, tune into the Locked On Nets podcast for this and much more.
Klay Thompson’s homecoming to The Bay started well before he hit the floor last night at Oracle with the Mavs and roughly 19,000 fans started waving nautical Captain hats.
It started mid-way through last season, when Golden State didn’t signal they’d immediately be resigning Thompson as the franchise had, up to then, always been in a hurry to. There were shades of it along with Thompson’s frustrations in his game changing, the splashy shots not falling as fluidly as they used to. Clues came in the way the Warriors felt their frustrations as a team: once together, a cohesive unit, and then splintering and individually.
“Even from July, when Klay decided to go to Dallas to us showing up for training camp and him not being here, it was kind of like a slow build to this night for everybody,” Warriors point guard, Steph Curry, said after last night’s game.
Basketball isn’t played in a vacuum, and Curry sharing the psychic and emotional timeline of the team underscores that in a rare glimpse behind the curtain. Sometimes its brightest full-circle moments have to struggle through discomfort, angst and loss in order to come back around. Often, the storylines with the most ups and downs are the ones that end the most cathartically.
Since this season began, Thompson’s been candid about how necessary the move to Dallas was for him. “Every pro athlete’s human, and uncertainty can bear on you,” he told ESPN prior to Tuesday night’s homecoming game.
“Honestly, it’s rejuvenated me and done something I needed bad just for my mental [state] and my career,” Thompson said.
It’s a knife’s edge between animosity for an athlete’s who’s left a franchise they share a storied history with and sympathy for their decision. What tips fans to one side or the other can skew personal, so isn’t always easy to predict, but Thompson’s tendency toward honesty helps. He’s always been someone who wears what he’s feeling on the floor openly, and for that fans — for the most part — respond with empathy. There’s a sense that through all the years he played for the Warriors there was an open conduit of conversation between him and the fanbase.
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
Legacy Klay Thompson feels “free” after his late-career move to Dallas. (ESPN)
Analysis Ben Simmons is rediscovering his stride in a bench role, providing a spark and versatility for the Nets. (NY Post)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Takeaways From Tuesday - Robert Williams Day
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (35) shoots the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) during the first half at Moda Center. |Photo by Soobum Im/Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Tuesday’s NBA games offered a wealth of insights for fantasy basketball managers. Here’s a closer look at the key takeaways and strategic moves you should consider:
Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic
- Grant Williams: With his move to the starting lineup, Williams is a viable short-term pickup, especially while the Hornets deal with injuries. His ability to contribute in multiple categories makes him a solid addition in deeper leagues.
- Moussa Diabate: Diabate’s rebounding prowess is noteworthy, especially with the Hornets’ frontcourt injuries. He’s a strong option for those in need of rebounds in deeper formats.
- Franz Wagner: Wagner’s performance underscores his value, particularly with Paolo Banchero out. Consider selling high if you can get a top-tier player in return, as his current production may dip once Banchero returns.
Miami Heat vs. Detroit Pistons
- Tyler Herro: After a 40-point explosion, Herro is a prime sell-high candidate. His shooting percentages are unlikely to sustain, so capitalise on his current form to bolster your roster.
- Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey: Both players showed their potential to fill the stat sheet. Cunningham remains a must-start, while Ivey’s bounce-back game suggests he’s worth holding onto for his upside.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nets podcasts.
Brooklyn Nets lose close games to Celtics and Cavs, plus Ben Simmons and Cam Thomas
The Brooklyn Nets had a relatively fun weekend of basketball, going to overtime with the Boston Celtics and then nearly beating the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers.
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.
