The Backcourt: Episode 8 (12/11)

Published Dec 11, 2024, 2:58 PM

In Episode 8 of The Backcourt, YES' Sarah Kustok and NetsDaily's Lucas Kaplan break down all things Nets basketball. They dive into the return of big man Day’Ron Sharpe, exploring how his presence has impacted the frontcourt and the team’s overall dynamics. The duo also spotlights the recent play of Cam Johnson and Nic Claxton, highlighting their contributions to the squad. To wrap up, they test your knowledge with some fun and exciting Nets trivia!

You are now in the backcourt for episode eight, a Brooklyn Nets podcast presented by a ticketmaster. I am one of your hosts, Lucas Kaplan of NETS Film Focus. I write for NETS Daily. You can find all my written words there. And alongside me, as always is Sarah Coustak voice. I guess not voice of the Nets, that title belongs to Chris Carno, but certainly a voice of the Brooklyn Nets color commentator for Yes Network. Sarah, how are we doing today?

Doing well? I'm doing well, Lucas. We've got the rare stretch of a lot of days. I don't know if we really have off days, but off days from NETS games that this has been a different feel with the Cup games taking place and just the way the Brooklyn schedule is shaken.

Out yep for this opening these two three first weeks in December, the Nets are playing about what two games a week, and they're practicing just as much, which is unheard of in the modern NBA. I think after the All Star break last season, what did they have won two practices? If exactly? Just to recap our listeners, since the last time we recorded, the Nets played two home games at the Barkley Center split them. They defeated the Indiana Pacers in a close, exciting game on Wednesday, and then they narrowly lost to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, another close exciting game. Definitely a different type of game. And that's where we're at right now. The Nets are ten and fourteen. The Nets also hosted plenty of community events this week. I just want to shout those out. Tire Williams was out given toys to Toys for Tots just in the community given out toys for this holiday season, saw Dayron Sharp at Target across the street from Barkley Center. He took a bunch of local youth shopping, and then Camp Thomas, Tyree Smart and Trenton Watford. Nets tweeted out some photos of them playing games at david Busters right with all more youth from the community. I think thirty five kids in total. It was just a really nice start to this holiday season. In addition to the basketball, Sarah, who do you think on this Brooklyn Nets team would be really good at arcade games?

Oh, that's a good question. I would I would suggest a lot of them. I feel like arcade games it takes a lot of hand eye coordination, that's great. So I do have a guess. I feel like I I mean, I don't know why I naturally think Dayron and I don't know, I don't know why I would suggest that. He just seems playful and fun and yeah, but if you have better thoughts.

No, that's where I was going. It was interesting to follow Dayroon around as he took all the kids shopping at Target, and we were talking about, you know, all these these kids want electronics. Now you know, Dayron went right to the board game section. So I think that illustrates your Oh.

Okay, okay, yeah, I love a board game. I love a good board game.

And by the way, that's a good transition into one of our first topics talking about the on court, the basketball that was playing this last week. Dayron is officially back. You know, he debuted against the Chicago Bulls and we talked about that a week ago. But now he has three games under his belt. He's firmly as you would expect in the rotation, getting minutes. So just what have you seen from Dayron this Now that he's really you know, cemented himself back in the rotation.

I think it's just great to see him back on the floor, and I think the totality of it, and I know we'll get into all of it, but having Dorian Phinney Smith back, Nick Claxon back in, you know in a setting that you've got him Ben Simmons, like the size is apparent that has been lacking for Brooklyn, and I think it circles back to give them a ton of credit for how they've plugged holes and just it really has been a next man up mentality. But now it's great to see and for Dayron in particular two, I think it like he's done a nice job of getting his legs un earm quickly, working the timing. We know that he's great the offensive blasts, but I think overall to even some of those pick and role plays or the consistency that he has, whether it's Dennis Shooter, you go down the list of a handful of players that have been finding him. I think it's been fun to watch because he did have a great offseason and preseason expectations for what he may be here in this fourth year is something that I think at this point now of the season will be fun to watch him then get a stretch hopefully of being healthy and being integrated back into the lineup. Yeah.

I mean his you know, second to third year leap was tremendous when we were talking about him last season, and I think you're seen already some of the things that made him, you know, such an impressive player last season. Right now, you know, not to get too granular, but Jordi Fernandez, they're playing some aggressive pick and roll coverages. I mentioned it last week day Run's having to switch, you know, thirty feet from the basket or hedge and recovery and that mobility, the way he can cover ground. That was definitely a question over his first two years, I think, as with any young big, and he answered them tremendously last year and so far this season, he's looking great just moving around on the court, you know, covering his bases. I assume you know that's what you're seeing when you're sitting right up close.

Yeah, and Lucas too. That's so important to say in talking about the defensive side and the ability to play in the schemes that Jordi Fernandez is asking in terms of pressure in terms of what they're doing in their pick and roll coverage. Because he's a player we saw throughout the course of coming in as a rookie and then the subsequent years of really working on his body and leaning out and figuring out what it takes in a lot of regards to be a professional, be a true pro. And I think he poured a lot of time and a lot of effort into that. And that's tough. When it's the early part of the preseason, you probably feel like you're in your your best shape, you're ready to continue to peak, and then you have an injury that's a lower body injury of what you can't then continue condition or work in the same way. So that's well. I do think it'll still be a work in progress and can be frustrated. I mean, you could say this for a lot of players. I know everyone's it feels like at some point has dealt with that throughout the course of the season for Brooklyn, but I think that will allow him as the games continue on, in these practice times and as the weeks go on, I think we're even going to continue to see a better and better version of him.

That's a really good point because it's not like he was out with a wrist or a finger or anything like that. He was out with a hamstring strain about two months made his debut, and the fact that he you know, still looks as he looked last season, maybe even getting better in terms of mobility, athleticism, all of that. That's really encouraging and lets you know that that physical transformation is and was real. You know, the rest will come along. He's uh, I think I wrote it the other day. He's only taken seven layups so far, Like it's such a small sample size. He's made three of them. You know, we'll get more comfortable finish around the basket. Just the stuff that comes back to you as you get your rhythm and slow under view. As Sarah mentioned, Dorian Finney Smith had missed six of seven games. He's now returned from an ankle sprain. Noah Clowney is officially healthy set to return from an ankle sprain, but just wanted to pour some love on Dayron Sharp since it was his season debut. He missed all of these first two months of the season with that hamstring strain. Quick shout out there, and now we'll get into the more general stuff. I think we have to start with. Jordi Fernandez had some words to say about his team after they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. They lost one hundred and seventeen, one hundred and twelve, I believe, and they gave up sixty seven points in the second half, and he called their effort into question, you know, not so much their effort, but just said it's unacceptable and we got to be better on defense. And personally watching it, I kind of felt like, you know, they certainly had some things they could have done better in that Milwaukee loss. But like Gary Tren Junior made some tough shots, Bobby Portis was like turning into prime Klay Thompson from above the break. So I guess did you kind of see where he was coming from.

I agree with you, and I think the thing you love about Jordi Fernandez is that he is always honest. He's always straightforward. What he says to the media, he has said to the players. Yeah, and I think what jumped out to me most about that postgame press conference is that he always is the first to take accountability. So the first part of that was him saying, my bad, I decided to doubly honest. That opened up to your point of like Gary Trent Junior, Bobby Portis three point shooters and that was my mistake. However, turning to the effort, the way things look the end of the third quarter, the obviously closed of the game, I think that's all a balance of it. I did not feel there's certain times, in certain stretches you feel that. I just I do think it was the nuance of the game. And you see this often. I mean, I think you talk about Yannis being one of those players. Joel Embiid is another one. I remember. You know, for as much as the Nets have played them, or at least a handful of times in the postseason, there's so many questions, Okay, how are you going to handle this? Adjustments you make based on game by game situations. Do you double a player like Giannis? What does that do to open up the rest of you know, the teammates that he has that he can facilitate for. And it's I don't know if there's always seemingly a right answer. And the thing is, in that circumstance, you look at this Milwaukee team. Bobby Portis had not been shooting in the three ball well, he had been struggling throughout the duration of the season. You know, he's a player that has shown in his career that he can get hot. I think whatever his career average three seven thirty eight percent from three, but he was well below that. Gary Trent Junior has been better, but he initially was in the starting lineup. His shot had not been what it was in the early part of the year. He has been so I think you look at a handful of players for Milwaukee that had not been as efficient as than they were that night, and I think that's where it's the give and take of you know, sometimes that happens because those players do have those capabilities. That Milwaukee team, despite coming off of two straight losses, has been playing a lot better, and it's, you know, it's it's a part of the game. I think though, the uh, just the disappointing finish is that they played. To me that I thought they played so well, and they did the little things and the consistency of what we talk about in chemistry and playing for one another, and everyone contributed in some capacity. I thought you saw that. I thought you saw that. I thought Milwaukee just hit some really timely shots, and it felt like every time the Nets went out a run or started to open things up, they were able to respond. I think more than anything. Anytime you have a late lead, that's where at home, that's where it becomes disappointing.

Yeah, and you know it, I said, we said this off camera, but it was. It's the first time in a while that the Nets have played what felt like a complete game and stuck to their principles and made a lot of shots and still lost it, which is a credit to them because you're not going to win every single one of those games. The NBA is full of good teams. But probably the first time a loss has felt like that, maybe since that early loss to Denver at home, you know, a miss free throw and they went to overtime. But that's a credit to Jordy Fernandez and his staff right there, and obviously the players that they haven't really had a loss like that in a while. I will say, everyone talks about with these great superstars, oh do you want to make them a score? Do you want to you know, let everybody else get theirs and then limit that guy. And that's a lot easier said than done. And sometimes you look up and it's like, yeah, Giannis is over thirty points, and Gary Trent's over twenty, and Bobby Ports and the role players so that is a lot easier said than done. And man, Gary Trent wasn't just make an open threes. Man was hitting like fig stadeaway sixteen footers off one leg. And credit to them, man NBA players can make shots, and I.

Think too real quick to finish that off. It's that's a Milwaukee team that Chris Middleton was back, had a game under he was hitting shots too. They'll look like he was back in his comfort zone in some ways that I think You've got to remember, this is a team that is expected to compete for a championship and whatever that looks like. And however, they beared it out. But they had their full complements of a roster of players that had come in and believe that they were getting themselves back on track. And I think you saw a lot of that.

Definitely credit to Milwaukee. In the first Nets Bucks game, the Nets pulled away in the third quarter after the Bucks threw a punch and then the Bucks just kind of folded. You know, the Nets won that game by twenty. This game, let's go up by twelve and the third quarter Bucks a lot more resiliency, and you got to give them credit there. The but not but both games didn't go like that. You know, the Nets did win against the Indiana Pacers, and they did close with defense, and I think after they closed that game so strong on defense and really played an awesome defensive game except for the third quarter. It shows you that attention to detail, like executing the game plan. I think that's a lot of what Geordie's talking about. It's not just oh we didn't dive on the floor and oh we didn't hustle to the corner. It's you know, the mental awareness, the mental sharpness of the two is a part of that effort. But we can talk about that Indiana win because they did held in Indiana to ninety points. Three thirty five of them came in the third quarter. But man, the Nets really gutted out that win. What did you see you know from that game?

You said it gutting it out. I also think the fun part of all this that we're talking about, the bar has been raised, defa the bar of expectation. It's not just play hard, compete, pressure, trying to disrupt an offense. It is a bad game plan, discipline and the execution of the smallest things on a close out on the rotations, and so to me, that's where and I understand, you know, coaches look at things in a different way or a different capacity, or obviously, I think the entirety of that net scene with the lost to Milwaukee, felt like they had that game and they should have won that game. And I get that, But that's where each and every night you expect this team to be in it and to compete, and I think they showed that with the Pacers win. I also think their composure employees down the stretch was showcased just in how again they were able to find shots for one another. I think just the different players coming in and the ways in which they were able to contribute. But I do think so much of it was on the defensive side, because you look at Indiana and again they're underperforming, underperforming based on preseason expectations or what you but they're a scoring team. They're a team that could up points. They have players that have a lot of offensive firepower, and the nets kept them at day and when it was very necessary. And so I thought that win in and of itself was a great not only feel good win, but one in which you can be very pleased with the execution in particular down the stretch.

And the cool thing about that was it was a bench unit that has not played a lot of time together that closed that game out. And so we've talked on this show a lot about the nets being small this season. All of a sudden, they're looking healthy and the rotation includes Dorian Finney, Smith, Nick Claxton, Noah Clowney, Dyeron Sharp Trend, and Watford, Ben Simmons. That's like six forward slash center type dudes and Lucas.

Think about to that point when I'm talking about the bigs that are there, I forgot even to mention Noan Clowney because he was available, as you mentioned, coming back from injury, but he was a coach's decision DNP because they're now starting to get some of that death that you didn't see, and that's where I think it'll give decisions and decision making in terms of combinations. But I think that's the exciting part. It's like, Okay, now you have a lot more options to look at as opposed to maybe some of those more depleted lineups or rotations that you were dealing with early on because of injury.

And that's going to force Jordie's hand and he said in the preseason, I want that part of my job to be hard. That means that the guys are doing their job and performing. And to that point, the trend in Dayron Ben Simmons front court was awesome against Indiana. I know it sounds a little funky on paper, but they were switching at the point of attack. They were all covering ground. On defense. Ben Simmons had like two steals, two blocks. Dayron was like switching on a TJ. McConnell. It was great, and they mucked things up and then they got out and ran and it was exactly how it's supposed to look. And then against Milwaukee, that unit did not perform as well. I think they had a little bit of a tougher time already in space and then you know, Milwaukee was sitting tough shots to take the ball out of the basket. That limited kind of what Brooklyn could do in transition. So that bench unit, and now that Brooklyn is big, you know, much bigger than they were the first five six episodes we did this show, They're going to have a lot of things to work through just with that bench uniton and what combinations they go to and you know they're gonna they're gonna be a funky team moving forward. And you know, I don't say that as a slight.

No, And I think when you even mentioned that, that's a great point about what that felt like during that There's there's certain juice or energy that different players bring it different moments, and I think how they fit together, and to me, it's very It's very visible throughout different courses of the game. It's not always the same thing, and that's why I think it's fun just as we continue to watch these players understanding just their strengths and the strengths that they can create with some of their other teammates because of those moments and what is the fed or whether it's opening up the floor to hit three point looks. I think as they continue to get we keep talking about this coaching staff and Geordie Fernandez, as the players continue to acclimate themselves to one another, because I think they've done that really quickly, that that will continue to help them flourish in different rotations exactly.

And it's all about the effort and communication. You know, in the NBA these days, the big dudes are just so athletics it's shocking. You know, day are on trend and bend. They all can stay with these guards on switches. But it's more about covering space. You know, Hey, I'm on the weak side guarding the corner. Am I going to rotate to the winging time? That's kind of typically the area generally speaking, where bigger players or you know, traditional centers what have you have a little bit more trouble. But the fact that they did it so well against Indiana and their first you know time shared on the floor together gives you hope moving forward and hopefully that's the norm rather than the Milwaukee game.

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We're gonna move to Brooklyn's finest player that just had a fine week that we want to shout out Sarah, who would you like to pour some more love on as we move forward.

I feel like we've done this before, and I've done this before, so I feel like it's one of those circumstances where I keep kind of looking at different different players that we are on repeat. But Cam Johnson, I think has just been He's just been tremendous in so many different areas. The points obviously is one thing offensively, but I think how he continues to grow game and just the consistency of it and this group. We can't say it enough about just in getting Doring, Phinney Smith Backer getting some players back, but the veteran presence and the ability to have a level of leadership by example, I think is something that Cam Johnson brings to the table in so many different scenarios, and I think that filters into how the team plays or what the lineups look like. And so I think, to me, the steady consistency of the numbers that he put up, but also the way in which you went about it for both those games jumped out to me.

Exactly, and you look at the numbers Cam Johnson is putting up and it's not just standing in the corner shooting threes and then you know, attacking some closeouts. If defenders fly by him, he is his movement and the way they run him off screens and dribble handoffs. I mean you see it, like send courtside, how much just pressure and even if it doesn't end with him getting a bucket or even touching the ball, it feels, you know, to me, like that is an integral part of just the kind of spirit and the pressure Brooklyn puts on opposing defense.

It's huge, It's huge, And that's the term we always use is gravity and players having gravity, and he's a player that not to keep but is healthy. And how he's moving, like just the speed of which that's another thing that has been extremely noticeable to me, as you mentioned, like sitting there, sitting there court side, watching the speed of which he's moving and attacking and putting the ball on a deck and what that looks like. And for as much as this team is trying to play at pace, I think you see that so visibly and that's changed the dynamic of to your point, of the balance and the spread of the offense. And so that's been a fun part for me to continue to watch. And I think there's a lot of players that we can point to when some that are having a greater impact or maybe higher usage, and you know Cam Johnson being one of those, but then you have some other players that just understand the role. But I think they benefit, they benefit from those type of players, and I think Cam is a huge part of that.

Yeah, and CJ has been very complimentary of Jordy Fernandez, and it's a thing that is interesting to hear, you know a little bit of behind the scenes for us and for fans. It's like Cam Johnson and Jordy talk about the looks that Cam Johnson wants. It really is like a mutual partnership. And obviously you have Cam Johnson and it's like, yeah, this guy can shoot and shoot off the move and you got to incorporate that into your offense. But he's talking about, yeah, I'm running off movement. I'm not taking as many corner threes this year because I'm above the break, I'm getting handoffs, I'm turning and firing. But I enjoy those looks. I feel like you know, I got a sweat going I'm touching the ball. It's like I'm in the rhythm of the offense. And credit to both of those guys, and obviously when I say Jordy, I'm including the whole staff and all the guys in charge of the offense and whatnot. But it's been just a maximization of his skills, which I have loved.

It looks like think about the facts, Sara, I've been looking for the numbers. He's scored twenty six points in each of the last three games he's played in. He didn't play in that Chicago game, but in doing so with such a high level of efficiency, to your point of the balance between how he's been moving, how he's been attacking, opening up the offense, having gravity, define teammates, all of those things have factored into the production of the offense. And I think when you do have that level that goes back to the veteran leadership or by example of the communication with Jordi or with whomever. Those conversations and you could see it on the bench, you could see with so many different players. I feel like the amount of communication, it feels like this this group has is one of the major reasons why they're finding success because they care. They're talking about it, they're talking about it before the games, after the games. All of those things is evident to me that they're pouring in the type of care and concern and it's not just Okay, I'm gonna show up and do my role. They're trying to figure out how to help one another on.

The floor exactly, and whether it's you know, vibes, analytics, the actual x's and o's of the offense, everyone seems to be bought in. And then just generally speaking, every time Cam Johnson shoots this season, I feel like it's going in. I mean it's like, yeah, the guy just step backs if he has a speed under him, even if it's contested. It's just so pure this year and I'm enjoying watching him take all these different types of shots, step backs and pull ups and listen, anytime you get to see Cam Johnson shoot the ball, that's worth the price of admission alone. Hey, and I encourage anybody that goes to Barkley Center, catches the nets on the road, try to get there a little early watching warm up. Watch one of the best shooties in the world. Get to shoot, and it's always a good time. I want to shout out my Brooklyn's finest and that would be a big man that we haven't talked about yet but that we're certainly going to right now in Nick Claxton.

Oh yes, yes, yes, I just.

Thought he was great. I thought the Milwaukee game was like a Nick Clackson game, if that makes sense. That's like what it looks like when he's playing at his best, when he's feeling healthy. Back injuries kept him out of a couple of games this year. You don't want to mess around with that. But man, if you know that's the Nick Claxton, the Nets are getting moving forward, and just not only we'll talk about the skills and what he the uniqueness of what he brings up the center position, but just the verve, the hutzpah, if you will, of how he was getting every loose ball and just getting after it. And when he's bringing that in addition to the athleticism and length and you know, switching and all that, he is just a force for every team to deal with. And you know, I know he had that monster twenty one and ten and four assists, three steals, two blocks, aginst Milwaukee, but against Indiana sixteen and eight, he was everywhere as well, hitting the offensive glass. So what did you see from him this week?

I think it's just you said the numbers, but I also think it's him continuing And I don't mean to keep circling back to it, but I don't think you can overlook the magnitude of what injuries do to impact not only the player themselves, but their feel for their teammates or who they're on the floor with and vice versa. And so I think it's just the continued comfort of how am I going to make myself available for my teammates, where are my shots going to come from? How do I do a better job? And I know it was whether it was a couple of games ago or maybe a week or two ago, that Jordi Fernandez had had called him out about the screens that he was setting and set better screens, and I feel like he continues to have a sense of purpose in figuring that out. And I think you saw that in these last two games in particular. And I also think just you can't the defensive end. We saw this from the time he came in as a rookie He's got such great timing on his blocks, and not even just when he's guarding, you know, singularly guarding a play, but his help and how he's helping from behind. I think all those things factor in. And the more he gets himself back to the level of health he wants to be at conditioning, and then also the comfort level with his teammates, and again just where things will come from with this group, and how the offense is running, how the defense is running, I think you're going to continue to see him just flourish as well.

And with Nick you can tell right away, you know, he crosses over Brook Lopezant dunks in the first couple of minutes of that game against Milwaukee. Against Indiana, there's a player early on where he like tips the ball to himself and then tips it again for an offensive handles.

But like to your point, the hand I mean, that's again we've seen it, so you don't want to be like, oh this is you know, you're getting familiar with it. But his ability to grab a board and push it coast to coast, keep it himself right, those things matter for a player of a size. Knock Satten hits a three point shot like could that be something that you eventually start to see happen.

So, yeah, the guy is just so talented and unique at that size, and it's why I've loved watching him, even going back to the G League four or five years ago and seeing like, hey, this dude's six eleven and the way he handles and the fluidity of his movements are not normal. And it's just about as it is for every player putting it together every possession, every possession, over and over, like that Mike Brown press conference over and over and over.

Is that twenty six times, twenty seven times?

It's along a lot of times. I won't do that. We got we got a valuable time, none to spare on this on this show. But yes, and the offense in particular, you kind of see Brooklyn looking for him more. It feels like that's a little bit more of an emphasis, like if a team switches when he sets a screen, he's ceiling and they're trying to look for him. And like there was a play against the Bucks where they kind of just came down and transitioned and there were some cross matches and Nick Claxton happened to have tore and Prince guarding him, and Trendon Watford, whoever had the ball at the top of the key, was like, go post up, go go, and here's the ball and Nick Claxton wheeled and he had one of those lefty hook shots and unassisted bucket, just creating it from thin air. It's like this, these skill sets are not just like a cute little kind of half micro skill that sometimes pops up. This can be like a real offensive weapon for him. It's something Jordy Fernandez talked about. The guy has like really nice touch from that little floater flip shot he has from five to six feet out. He has a lot more to his offensive bag than just your average rim rolling. I can only catch lobs and dunk it center and that's like, to me, his coolest skill. And with that we will move on. And you know, Nick is always a next net to watch. I always want to see him keep adding to his game. But as for our next nets that are not Nick Claxton, I'm gonna go with Keon Johnson someone to watch for. I like this just moving forward. I like that he's earned he's earned the spot in the rotation. You know, when he was timed to a two year contract this offseason. It wasn't exactly clear, you know, what his role would be, but it was clear that the Nets wanted to reward him for a great summer and that he earned it. Now he's starting, he's getting the Damian Lillar assigmon, he's getting the Tyrese Halibert and assignment. You know, he's defending his butt off, and I'm curious, just with this opportunity to see where he can keep growing from here. What do you want to see from Kean, you know, going forward?

I think it's just the consistency, possession by possession sooner said all those things which I could not agree with, more of what he's doing defensively offense. But there's certain and again this is with time of just getting experience, but whether it's certain latses or certain plays or you know, a turnover or something that you know, there was a couple, i would say, critical points of the Milwaukee game that you wish you could add back, and I think that's just a part of the experience and the growth. And so with him though to your point, and he's just he is so unbelievably athletic, ability to jump, how much he utilizes that in taking advantage with his force on the offensive side. There's so many aspects that you just love about it, and you can tell he's confident in finding a shot. And I also think for a player that is inserted in the starting lineup as he had been, but that's a score, that's a shooter, but also recognizing the other talent that you're playing along, how you balance that and knowing, yeah, a part of my role is to be in here score and be aggressive scoring, but it's still the good to great shots that Brooklyn was looking for and making sure that you're walking that line between being conscious of that and I think his team does a great job of that. But the more run he gets, I think you're going to continue to see that improve.

And for those that didn't watch a ton of key On last year in Long Island, the improvement just the decision making has been so off the charts in the last year, and I think, you know it's on this upward trajectory. I want to see it keep growing. I think sometimes he's so athletic and when he gets to two feet he's such a force that I almost want to see him take it to the rim even more. Get a little stronger, go draw some fouls. You know. I know he's getting those threes up as JORDI wants. But I think for me the thing that not that he's not doing a good job of it, but what I want to see even more is like, go go use that athleticism, let it, let it eat a little bit in the pain, go dunk on somebody. So that that's kind of what I would like to keep seeing from Keon. But again, done a great job earning these minutes.

I'm with you, I'm might see on all of that.

And who would you like to? Who would you? Who are you keeping an eye on as we move forward, you know, for your next net.

I feel like we we've talked about everyone quite a bit, but I and I would I was thinking key On, but I also think just Trndon Watford and just the moments that he has, I think he's somewhay. We may have been through everyone in the rotation and talking about the next net, but I think just the more time he gets him being back to help, what that looks like and inconsistency. So much of this league and so much of you know, those who perform at a high level, and our value by a team comes from consistency, how you show up every night, and how you're able to be versatile. I know in many cases who's playing or how they're being used is based on personnel and based on opponent matchups, but also the ability. And I think he has that to be versatile enough to provide optionality regardless of the opponent, regardless of the matchup, because of what he brings to the table.

Yeah, and he's always going to bring that. And then for him, it's just about executing the little things each time. So he's still staying on the court and you know, covering his bases. And once he does that, it's the versatility. It's posting up other guards. That's all the stuff, the extra stuff that he can bring. And it seems like we've talked about every Net and deservedly show deservedly so on this episode, even though they played just two games this past week, which means it is time for trivia. The NETS PR staff great with the stats. Shout out to Eli pearlstein Man was tweeting about the Nets had three twenty points scores already for the third time this season. Against the Bucks. It was Dennis Shrewder who by the way was awesome in that game. Every we have already talked about him, could not miss h and was you know. I was listening to the Bucks broadcast on the rewatch, inciting a lot of fear in them, but it was Dennis Klax and Cam Johnson. And the Nets have had three twenty points scores now three times this season. They're on pace to far exceed their mark the amount of times they did that last season. So I want to ask you what trio of Nets has scored twenty points in a game the most times in franchise history.

So a trio that has all scored in the same game.

In the same game in history, and in that's history.

This is all time.

This is all time.

I've got two guesses.

Okay, don't overthank you.

Well, I mean I a part of me wants to just say j Kid, Richard Jefferson, and Vince Carter correct.

However, they are tied. Oh no, no, no, no, no, that that counts. They're tied. I was researching this. I think it's great they are tied with another Net from that era where it's Carter, Jefferson and another Net kind of from that era. Martin No christis so kid, Carter Jefferson, you know, classic trio of nets and nets. I grew up falling along. They did that times. But so Vince Carter, r J. And it not Christis who I just want to get. I thought, that's.

Great, that's a great heads up I was gonna say. And I knew they didn't play long enough together. My my other like secondary would have been hardened Kyrie and KD. But enough run together.

But yeah, I figured you'd get that.

I like that. I like that.

And with that, with Sarah splitting the pair of free throws but making the most important one. You know, we were up three, Sarah at the first one to put us up four. Uh, you came through, You came through, came through. We won the game. And with that concludes episode eight of The Backcourt. Thank you so much for listening from Sarah and I. You can like subscribe, rate the podcasts, whatever you got on your platform. Would really appreciate it. And this has been Episode eight of the Backcourt, presented by ticket Master. Thank you guys all for listening.

The Backcourt - A Brooklyn Nets Podcast

The Backcourt, hosted by NBA Analyst Sarah Kustok and beat writer Lucas Kaplan, is your go-to source 
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