Right here’s an early takeaway from the Nets’ first preseason recreation — a 19-point loss to a shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers crew with extra positives to glean than the rating would point out: new addition Royce O’Neale goes to have a huge impact on this Brooklyn crew.
O’Neale earned a league-wide popularity as a coveted 3-and-D wing in a number of seasons with the Utah Jazz, so coveted common supervisor Sean Marks ponied up a first-round decide to pry him from Danny Ainge’s clutches. In his first recreation as a Internet, O’Neale scored 11 factors and hit two of his 4 three-point makes an attempt.
He additionally introduced toughness and flexibility as a fringe defender, which is one thing the Nets desperately lacked final season.
“Royce is a type of gamers that you really want in your crew as a result of he has lots of expertise. He’s been via lots of battles. He understands the nuances of the sport and what it takes to win,” Kyrie Irving mentioned of his new teammate. “I feel he brings his intangibles to our crew rather well. We are able to make the most of him on that wing to be a defensive stopper, which we all know he's, but additionally add some dimension on offense being a space-out shooter. He strikes properly, performs the sport properly being in that Utah system for an extended time frame. Transferring the ball is one thing drilled of their head. He matches properly.”
O’Neale got here off the bench for sharpshooter Joe Harris as head coach Steve Nash’s first substitution. Level guard Ben Simmons immediately discovered O’Neale with a cross-court laser beam of a move for a wide-open three on the wing. Nash additionally used O’Neale in a smaller lineup the place Harris stayed on the ground and Simmons performed middle on protection when beginning large man Nic Claxton went to the bench.
“I feel [O’Neale] will likely be an awesome addition for us,” Nash mentioned. “Unbelievable IQ, really feel for the sport on either side of the ball. I feel he’s going to tie the room collectively on many events.”
Which makes the struggle for minutes on the wing that rather more aggressive.
Harris, the beginning wing, performed in his first recreation after consecutive ankle surgical procedures and shot simply two-of-seven from the sphere, together with two early airballs. Sharpshooter Seth Curry additionally tasks to play some minutes as a flooring spacer alongside each Irving and Kevin Durant and TJ Warren — who just isn't but cleared to play however is healed after lacking two seasons with stress fractures in his foot — will carry a scoring punch when he joins the rotation a while in November. There’s additionally second-year ahead Kessler Edwards, who has confirmed able to utilizing his youthful athleticism to protect a number of positions.
O’Neale defends at a better degree than these he’s competing for minutes in opposition to and he’s a 38% profession three-point shooter. He will certainly be in play as a possible starter or member of the Nets’ closing lineups and he’s already left a mark via only one preseason recreation.
BEN’S BACK
Simmons, a two-time First Crew All-Protection choice, says it’s going to take a while earlier than he will get again to enjoying elite degree protection.
“Defensively, getting down within the stance,” he mentioned. “Clearly when you've again surgical procedure, it’s not the best to get down within the stance and guard, however it’s all coming again slowly.”
Simmons additionally mentioned he’s nonetheless build up his conditioning.
CLICKING?
First Durant constructed chemistry along with his Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Then, he immersed himself into the Golden State Warriors’ approach of doing issues. Now, he’s in Brooklyn, with one more roster reinvented to compete for a championship.
After the massive three of Durant, Irving and James Harden imploded final season, the brand new large three of Durant, Irving and Simmons has set its basis. As somebody who’s performed with a number of superstar-caliber gamers over the course of his profession, how will Durant know when issues have began clicking?
“After we win video games within the common season,” he mentioned. “It’s type of exhausting to say. I feel you realize you get used to your teammates on a regular basis. You speak, have conversations about the place you see one another and how one can assist one another, and go from there. So the dialogue is all the time on with Kai, Ben, myself, Royce, the remainder of the blokes. So I feel it simply occurs.”
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