'Beast' of a schedule likely to test Nets' character
Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn gestures during the first half of an NBA game against the Cavaliers at Barclays Center on Wednesday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
In describing his team’s opening 10-game stretch, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn has called it “a beast.’’
The beast got even meaner Saturday night as the Nets hosted the Celtics in the second night of a back-to-back, the first of four games against teams that have championship aspirations, or at least rosters designed to play in May and June.
On Monday, they will face the Bucks with Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. On Wednesday, it will be the Clippers and former Net James Harden. On Friday, they’ll have a rematch with the Celtics for their second in-season tournament game.
It’s a tall order, but Vaughn thinks it’ll be a worthy early test that will continue to reveal more about a team that’s battled through close games.
“This group is going to continue to learn about each other,” Vaughn said. “This is just the beginning for us. I’ll continue to challenge them to stay in this space where we’re trying to figure it out together. We’ll grow together, we’ll have some pains together. That’s all right. But we stay in this space, we can get incremental gains on a daily basis, on a game-by-game basis.”
The trust that’s been developed through five games is encouraging. The Nets are figuring out how to play with Ben Simmons and are seeing the benefits when he pushes the tempo.
Simmons, who sat out Saturday’s game because of back maintenance, has stayed healthy and demonstrated how he can affect games without scoring as he leads the Nets in rebounding and assists.
The Nets also held off the Heat for a road win while being down four starters. That showed a trust in the bench, and new additions such as Armoni Brooks and Trendon Watford being able to produce.
“I don’t think we realized how big of a road trip that was to go 3-1, win three straight and stay together, especially on the road,” Mikal Bridges said. “It’s the NBA. We’re not like no dynasty team that’s been together for all these years. So you can’t take a win for granted. I think we should understand what we’ve been doing.”
What they’ve done is add building blocks that can help later. Even if the Nets struggle in these next four games, they’re learning lessons they hope will pay off later in the season.
Besides, the first 20 games of the season are about laying a foundation as much as winning.
Things also get more advantageous after this four-game gantlet. The Nets will get an update on Cam Johnson’s strained calf ahead of Friday’s game in Boston and hope to have the same with Nic Claxton, who’s missed four games with a sprained ankle.
Also, starting Saturday, 11 of next 14 games are at home. They won’t be burdened by a lengthy road trip until December. It’s also a chance to develop more chemistry on friendly grounds.
For Bridges, the road success is only a reminder to keep building on what they’ve done instead of getting comfortable.
“Don’t get happy on the farm, as my old Coach Monty [Williams] used to say,” Bridges said. “Just got to keep going, but it definitely helps and gives us confidence.”
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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