Nets rookies early problem arises again in Summer…
LAS VEGAS — The single greatest fear about the Nets’ all-important rookie class was its 3-point capturing — being both errant and reticent.
Tuesday evening did nothing to allay those fears. If something, it only amplified them.
Brooklyn’s 97-93 summer time league loss to the Knicks — dropping them to 0-3 in Las Vegas — put those issues on show.
It wasn’t just the shortcoming by the Nets to hit 3-pointers that was vexing. It was their unwillingness to even take them.
The Nets completed just 5-for-25 from deep, while the Knicks went 10-for-38.
With Nets coaches prodding their younger group to get up at least 40 makes an attempt even in a shortened summer time league tilt, it was timidity that received’t go over effectively.
“I think a little too much hesitation,” stated Brooklyn assistant Steve Hetzel, who is teaching summer time league. “Our philosophy is let it fly. We come out here, we want to shoot 40-plus in a 40-minute game, and we’re not getting to that number (Tuesday). I thought (Sunday) we did. The bottom line for us, it’s not whether it goes in or we miss, it’s the attempt. And we did hesitate too much.”
That’s going to be a big issue in figuring out just how profitable this report crop of 5 first-round rookies ends up being.
Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf mixed for 13 factors on 5-of-21 capturing Tuesday against the Knicks, but most regarding was the actual fact they tried just three 3-pointers, lacking them all.
Nolan Traore seems to be to make a transfer during the Nets’ 97-93 Summer League loss to Knicks on July 15, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images
“What the coaches have told us, try to get as many 3-pointers as we can. The most important thing for us is to get [3s] after a paint touch or out of transition, wide open. But yeah, we want to shoot a lot of 3s, and we can do it better. It’s, as I said, part of the process,” stated Saraf. “We need to make adjustments, me and all the other guys. And we will do it.”
Granted, Traore completed with just two factors in 19:13, taking a laborious fall and having his back tighten up on him.
The French rookie will likely be held out Wednesday against Orlando (7:30 pm Eastern), as will Saraf.
Ben Saraf drives to the basket during the Nets’ Summer League loss to the Knicks. Getty Images
Meanwhile, lottery choose Egor Demin and first-rounder Danny Wolf have been rested against the Knicks, as have been two-way gamers Tyson Etienne and Tosan Evbuomwan.
Those 4 will all play against the Magic.
But on Tuesday, Brooklyn missed their offense.
Knicks guard Tyler Kolek tormented Brooklyn in the pick-and-roll, particularly early on.
He had 23 of his 25 factors in the first half to put the Nets in a 41-39 gap at intermission.
The deficit grew to double digits at 66-56 with 1:26 left in the third on an Anton Watson 3. The Nets couldn’t mount a comeback.
Drew Timme was Brooklyn’s only dependable offense, coming on late to end with a team-high 24 factors and 10 rebounds. Caleb Daniels and Quincy Olivari — making his summer time league debut after being on a two-way final season with the Lakers — each added 16.
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