Brooklyn Nets vs Toronto Raptors preview: Nets close out preseason at home
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images
Preseasons used to be longer. Not any more. Four games and that’s it. So tonight at Barclays will be final preseason game for the Nets and a chance to redeem themselves post-Philly The Brooklyn Nets four-game preseason comes to an end Friday, with a final matchup against the Toronto Raptors at Barclays Center. The Nets are currently 1-2, with a win over the Wizards and losses to the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. The Clippers loss out in San Diego was easily dismissed. It was the first game after a short training camp, but loss two nights ago to the 76ers in Philly was not, despite the absence of starters Ben Simmons and Nic Claxton and several bench players.
Jordi Fernandez was not pleased with more than one player’s performance. It didn’t matter if the player was a veteran (Dennis Schroder) or a 20-year-old (Noah Clowney.)
In matter-of-fact criticism typical of European coaches, the Nets rookie head coach let it be known that he wanted more. Fellow European Schroder particularly felt the coach’s sting.
“Obviously, we went from two point guards to one. That showed in taking care of the ball. But, the reality is our true point guard, Dennis (Schroder), had five turnovers,” Fernandez said. “We cannot afford for him to play like this, because he’s a really, really good playmaker. He’s a floor general, he does the right thing. So, he has to be better. Obviously, adding another point guard will help us,”
Of Clowney, who got pushed around by Andre Drummond, Fernandez said.
“I think he did not fight hard enough. Obviously it is a great learning experience for everybody,” Fernandez said post-game. “There’s technicalities obviously, like how you front somebody, how you push him out. It’s definitely a challenge. But I would have liked to see a better fight.”
The Raptors are coming off a revenge win against the defending champions in the Boston Celtics, led by a near triple double from the Raptors’ very, very, very rich rising star Scottie Barnes. This past June, the 23-year-old Barnes agreed to a $225 million deal for five years, which shows how much the Raptors value him with only a couple of years in his belt.
The big question for tonight is how much the starters — and some key young players — will get in the final wrap-up.
Where To Catch The Game
Catch the action at 7:30 p.m. ET on the YES Network. One thing to note: The WNBA Finals Game 4 in Minneapolis starts at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. If the Liberty win, they will be WNBA champions ... and Barclays Center will be emptying at about that same time. Impromptu celebration on the plaza??
Injuries
This will be the big question for Brooklyn. Ben Simmons was rested in Philly and he’s expected back tonight, but we still don’t know the fate of Nic Claxton who the Nets have said they want to see in at least one preseason game despite a hamstring issue. Also uncertain is Killian Hayes, the 6’5” point guard (hip) who’s fighting for a job but hasn’t played although Fernandez told reporters Wednesday morning. “He’s done a good job,” said of Hayes who’s been troubled by a foot issue. “We have our own evaluation on him, and we’re very happy with him.”
Day’Ron Sharpe and Trendon Watford (both hamstring strains) as well as Bojan Bogdanovic (foot surgery rehab) are out. Sharpe won’t be ready for the season opener. The two others’ situation remains uncertain.
For the Raptors, R.J. Barrett and Ja’Kob Walter (both shoulder) are out as is Immanuel Quickley (thumb.)
The Game
If you want to get a good read on what to expect from these two teams, both pegged as bottom dwellers, all you had to do was to take a look at what the teams’ two GMs were doing last night, as Zac Joseph of The Block chronicled via Twitter.
Sean marks in attendance at St John’s/ Rutgers scouting #2/#3 recruits Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. Masai Ujiri also here #Nets pic.twitter.com/7UVFtUkIK5— Zac Joseph (@zacjoseph8) October 17, 2024
That’s Toronto’s Masai Ujiri with his back to the camera.
Both teams are in serious rebuilds. Brooklyn, as every serious Nets fan knows, currently has six picks in the Draft, four in the first, two in the second. Toronto currently has only one, a first, but pundits expect that number to grow.
Being the last game, expect both teams to try to get a good look, despite injuries, at what they have less than a week before the regular season begins. That includes determining who stays and who goes when cutdowns start perhaps as early as Saturday. That’s the last day a team can waive a player on a non- or partially guaranteed contract and not incur a salary cap charge.
Said deadline affects a number of the Nets young players, starting with Keon Johnson who’s got a partially guaranteed deal. Jalen Wilson is in the same situation, but he’s not going anywhere. Also affected: Hayes, Amari Bailey and Tyrese Martin. It’s possible one of the latter two could wind up with the third two-way or the Nets could wait to see what other teams do with roster cuts and sign someone from that group.
Also look for some hugs pre-game between Fernandez and at least one member of Team Canada, Raptors big Kelly Olynyk who he’s coached the last two years as head coach of Team Canada in the FIBA World Cup and Paris Olympics. Barrett also played for Fernandez, but he is continuing his rehab.
Player to Watch
Of course, it’s Scottie Barnes, particularly after his big contract and performance against the Celtics. Barnes went eight months without playing after breaking his hand on March 1. However, he seemed unbothered by the injury Tuesday night vs. the Celtics, putting up a near triple double of 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in 30 minutes, the most he’s played in preseason. And the Raptors won, 119-118, despite facing most of the Celtics rotation. Barnes said he feels good.
“The way we play and the way we’re going to have to play throughout the season, it’s going to be a lot of hard work,” said Barnes about his preparation level. “We’re going to have to move our bodies so we’ve got to be well rested, get good treatment, make sure we’re getting active with our training staff to make sure our bodies are prepared.”
For the Nets, one player to watch is Shake Milton a throw-in from the Mikal Bridges trade. Playing back-up point, the 28-year-old Milton has proven that he can back up at both guard positions.
From the Vault
It’s been a decade since Masai Ujiri ended a pre-game pep rally in Toronto with an obscenity before a playoff game between the Raptors and Nets...
The game and the series was won by the Nets and Ujiri apologized. So, word to the wise whether it the Nets or Liberty, don’t F with Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Nets Game Notes - Brooklyn Nets
Toronto Raptors Game Notes - Toronto Raptors
What will Shake Milton’s role be for the Nets this season? ($) - C.J. Holmes - New York Daily News
Nets’ Noah Clowney’s physicality was put to the test in 117-95 preseason loss to 76ers ($) - C.J. Holmes - New York Daily News
Raptors’ Scottie Barnes ready for regular-season return after nearly eight months off - CP
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