Preseason Game 2 takeaway: Nets and Ben Simmons will need those final two preseason games

Early in preseason, Steve Nash revealed that new players learning how to play each other can sometimes look “ugly.” It was “ugly”.

The Nets looked like a new team with little to no continuity. For the second game in a row, there was a lot of woes on the defensive side and just plain sloppiness on both sides. His second preseason game ended in a 29-point loss to the Heat. With Brooklyn in his last two preseasons, it’s clear he needs to take advantage of the game and the Bucks and Timberwolves to sort things out before the game becomes important in two weeks’ time.

“We know they play physical,” Nash said after losing to the Heat in preseason. Don’t get cut, don’t have vision, don’t box, don’t get loose balls, and you can go down the list. must be.”

Plus, no big Nets player needs the final two preseason games more than Ben Simmons. The former All-Star, understandably, struggled to time his passes throughout the contest. He’s new to the Nets staff and hasn’t played in over a year. He spat out six turnovers in the loss.

Simmons said of the six turnovers, “Get them out of here.” “It’s something I’m conscious of and can fix because I have to take it out now. I’m not too worried about it, which means it will be his second fight in a year or so.”

He also took a perhaps extreme pass-first strategy throughout the contest, finishing with just four points on three shots in 25 minutes. Simmons was aggressive on the board and had 10 rebounds, but only managed four assists on Thursday night shift.

“There’s a lot to build and grow, both defensively and offensively, and I’m just trying to figure it out right now,” Simmons said. “Defensively, there’s not a lot of planning going on at the moment, so I think we’re just there, trying to get the ball moving, playing at their pace and getting a feel for everyone’s game. .”

Kevin Durant scored heavily in Brooklyn’s loss. Starr was efficient with his 8/12 shooting from the field and 3 points with his 1/4 shooting from range (5/7 from the foul line) he scored 22 points and scored 26 minutes. 22 points in total for the show. Outside of Durant, they didn’t score much.

“Honestly, I didn’t like anything. It was nice to finish the game on a healthy note,” Durant said. “Every game there are good spurts and bad spurts. We had some good stretches and some bad stretches, and I think that’s part of the preseason.”

Markieff Morris put in a strong performance with 10 points and 6 boards in 15 minutes off the bench. At the end of the game, Cam Thomas scored a goal, as he did with Cam Thomas, in 20 minutes he scored 13 points.

“Keefe played hard tonight,” Nash said of Morris’ performance from the bench. “We went in there and tried to get physical and get offensive rebounds. He can stretch the floor and make threes. The biggest thing you can do is be a leader, teach them how to compete and push them to a higher standard.”

Brooklyn came out of the gate defensively day and night difference compared to Monday. Indeed, they got off to a good start on both ends of the floor, fueled by Simmons’ string of defensive plays. In one, the Nets star intercepted a pass on the wing, brought it down to the court and scored an uncontested slam, with the Nets out of 3-point range (3 of 0) in his first five minutes of play. They held the Heat scoreless to build a 12-6 lead.

At the end of the first, both teams’ attacks faltered. Morris kept the Nets in range, but with a charge that tied with four points and a second unit, Simmons was passive, slicing passes to teammates mostly near the perimeter and basket. Miami predicted the strategy perfectly, blocking the passing lane and forcing three quick turnovers. In one end, Brooklyn trailed 25-18, and Durant led the Nets with a team-high five points in nine minutes.

“I think he’ll grow in that regard,” Nash said of Simmons scoring more aggressively. “I think he’s going to try more. Right now, obviously, it’s a little clunky for us. Tonight we’re going to open up space on the floor, pressure the defense, load it up, do some of those things. We’re missing a player who can do it.Ben is fine.He’s going to improve.He’s going to get better every night and he’s going to be our driving force and a big part of what we do.Me isn’t usually worried about him, but it’s a process.He hasn’t played in a long time.He’s also associated with a new group.It takes time.It’s not going to be perfect. It’s slow and probably won’t be finished anytime soon.If we can keep improving every day, that’s all we ask.”

Second ugly. And it, again, stemmed from their defensive struggle, with his second unit in Miami dominating against a Nets lineup with both Durant and Simmons on the floor. With the Heat’s efforts to double-team Durant, the Brooklyn side’s ball movement simply failed to find flow.

Meanwhile, Miami took the Nets apart on defense and often took advantage of Brooklyn’s mistakes. With the win, Miami’s lead extended to 15 midway through his second frame. Brooklyn were unable to put together a clean sequence in either end to gain momentum and reached the half-time break with their biggest deficit of the first half, 61-43.

Both Simmons and Durant started in the third quarter for Brooklyn. The Nets’ offense was all Durant, but Miami maintained his 20-point lead and took advantage of the Nets’ overall sloppiness to eventually turn his 26 against his 11 for the Heat. produced an overcoat. His two star night in Brooklyn.

A line-up of Thomas, Chris Chiozza, David Duke Jr., Yuta Watanabe and Day’Ron Sharpe played the majority of the fourth. The young lineup failed to close the double-digit deficit after all.

“Yeah, we’re giving everyone a different look and a different substitution pattern now, so everyone gets a chance in preseason,” Nash said of the fourth lineup.

Joe Tsai courtside

Joe Tsai sat courtside on Thursday and took the whole debacle. He was also in the building during his game against the 76ers on Monday, but after visiting the players in the pre-game warm-up, he entered the contest from Suite 888 on the half court. (The number 8 is considered the luckiest number in China, as ‘8’ is associated with wealth.)

Tsai will also attend Saturday’s opening of the Wu Tsai Theater at Lincoln Center. Joe and Clara Utsai are honored for donating her $50 million to the Philharmonic in New York during the pandemic. The Philharmonic Orchestra plays in the main space of the renovated David Geffen Hall (formerly Avery Fisher Hall).

Halftime on the second night of the week was the scene for the Nets-based Ronny Chieng series. Chen’s character is loosely based on Tsai. It’s unclear when the Hulu show will debut.

Harris, Irving sit down

Joe Harris did not appear in the game because the Nets want to be conservative in their recovery and rehab after two ankle surgeries. Kyrie Irving, who welcomed her second child on Wednesday, is also taking a break. Both were in the game, as was Seth Curry, who was recovering from ankle surgery. Steve Nash said the Nets hope to recall Curry by his fourth and final preseason game against the Timberwolves. This three is his team-best 3-point shooter in percentage, and tonight the Nets shot 17.9% of his 5-of-28 shooting from the deep.

KD on Wenby

With so many fans, media types, and NBA executives out there, compare French 7-foot-4-inch prospect Victor Wenbanyama to Kevin Durant, who better asks about kids than KD himself. He admits to being impressed.

“Such talent and skill makes me smile playing basketball. The evolution of the game has gotten us this far. I heard a comment he made, and someone compared him to a few players in the league, and he said, “I think of myself as one or two players. I think I’ll hurt myself if I compare.

“It’s a very deep statement and I’ve become a huge fan of him,” said the 16-year veteran. Everyone is excited about his arrival in the league, so let’s see what happens.”

Playing for the Metropolitans 92 in France’s Serie A for the past three days, Wenbanyama surprised everyone with very Durant-like skills in two exhibition games at Las Vegas vs. the G League Ignite Stars. In two games, he recorded his 37s and 36s, used a variety of movements to hit difficult shots, and blocked everything in his sight with a wingspan of about eight feet.

Now, can the Nets catch him? Don’t get too excited. The chances are so small that you don’t even think about them. The Nets entered the offseason and entered the first round in 2023 with their own and the 76ers’ pick. Then, on June 30, they traded the worst of the two picks to Utah for Royce O’Neal. So if the IF, IF, IF, 76ers had a nightmare season and fell in the lottery, the Nets should win the lottery.

Can the Nets themselves tank and catch him? The Nets will have to trade picks with the Rockets this season. Sure, there are other permutations, but that’s the basic situation we understand. So don’t bet on it.

what’s next

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The Nets will play the third game of their four-game preseason slate in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

For another perspective on Thursday’s preseason game against Miami, see here hot hot hoops — Sister site that covers heats.