Whether it’s managing expectations or just plain coach-speak, Jacque Vaughn insists the Nets’ restart “opener” Friday in Disney isn’t the end-all, be-all. But his players aren’t even trying to sell that line.
The Nets face the Magic on Friday and the Wizards on Sunday, well aware of how vital both games are. They’re 0-4 against the Magic and Wizards — the teams chasing them in the Eastern Conference — and aren’t hiding just how important those games are.
“In practice Jamal [Crawford] said it best, how these games should be played: Be played like they almost count as almost two,” Jarrett Allen said via Zoom. “We should give these type of games double the effort especially because they’re close to us in the standings.”
Crawford’s availability for Friday is in question; but his status as the Nets’ elder isn’t. He knows how big these first two games will be if the Nets are going to squeeze into this year’s playoffs.
“These ones are worth two just because of where we are in the standings; and if anything comes down to a tiebreak you always want to hold that card, that chip,” Tyler Johnson said.
“We’re obviously putting importance on every game. But everybody knows it, everybody feels it that these first two games are very important: One for momentum moving forward, and then the other just for seeding and to get off on the right foot.”
Las Vegas has tabbed the decimated Nets to win just 2 ½ games in this eight-game restart, second-fewest, ahead of only Washington. These two games — along with another game against the Magic on Aug. 11 — may be their best shots.
When play halted on March 11 due to the coronavirus, Brooklyn sat seventh in the East, a half-game ahead of Orlando and six in front of Washington. If they finish in eighth — and let the Wizards pull within four games — they’d face a precarious play-in series against Washington.
“These first two games are huge,” Joe Harris said. “Obviously, we’re excited to get back playing a normal, regular-season-type game.
“We’re all ready to go, we’re ready to compete, and we realize how important these first two games are.”
They’d better be ready. The Nets got drilled 101-89 in their last trip to Orlando on Jan. 6, shooting just 10 of 47 from deep. And they lost in the Feb. 24 Barclays Center rematch, somehow taking just eight free throws despite being at home.
Orlando is one of the healthiest teams in the restart, getting back starting forward Jonathan Isaac, presumed to be out for the season. Meanwhile, the Nets’ absences are legion, including Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince.
“I think we’re in a good place,” said Orlando coach Steve Clifford.
“Overall with Orlando, team that beat us twice in a year,” said Vaughn. “Very well-coached team. Multiple weapons with [Terrence] Ross and [Evan] Fournier. The ability for [Nikola] Vucevic to control the paint for them. Very defensively sound team. So, will test our ability to shoot the basketball and make plays.”
To Vaughn’s point, Orlando is ninth in defensive rating and fourth in points allowed. The Magic get back in transition, which is going to make it hard for an offensively challenged Nets squad that must run to score.
“Tactically and strategically we introduced some items of our offense and defense that we’ll see the next couple games that we haven’t seen in the scrimmages,” Vaughn said. “That’s just a part of gamesmanship that still exists.”
That gamesmanship won’t help if their frontcourt can’t deal with Vucevic’s scoring and screening and Aaron Gordon’s athleticism.
“For me with Vucevic, it’s going to be a good challenge,” Allen said. “Coming in from the offseason, seeing how much I’ve progressed, seeing how much my basketball IQ has raised, just seeing how much I’ve improved is going to be a good test against him.”
What to watch for
Three things to keep an eye on when the Nets restart their season Friday afternoon against the Magic:
Social justice
Every single Net is expected to don some sort of messaging for the opener. Will they also kneel before the anthem, or make some other form of statement?
Playing for Jacque Vaughn
The Nets gig is expected to be one of the most plum jobs available. While Jarrett Allen insists “we’re super-willing to give a limb for him,” how the players respond to Vaughn will be part of the assessment.
How disjointed are the Nets?
Brooklyn has lost eight players due to the coronavirus and injuries. Justin Anderson, Tyler Johnson and Lance Thomas are all in, along with (eventually) Jamal Crawford and Donta Hall. How long will it take to get the chemistry mix right?