2022-23 Season Discussion and Speculation 5 - The KD era begins

[Puff]

Has Durant passed his physical?

What happens if he fails?

The Twins and Crowder back to the desert?

[WeekapaugGroove]

Has Durant passed his physical?

What happens if he fails?

The Twins and Crowder back to the desert?

Cam and Bridges were announced as starters for tonight so that means this one is done done. They had been listed as questionable earlier.

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[Blonde]

Has Durant passed his physical?

What happens if he fails?

The Twins and Crowder back to the desert?

He passed. They’re targeting a return soon after all star break.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[lilfishi22]

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Never take that dirty money Brooklyn

[bwgood77]

Spoiler:

Ishbia caved on Bridges. Then after that they wanted to add Crowder where we were going to trade elsewhere and Ishbia then said forget it, after he had just caved on Bridges. Later he thought about it at dinner and told Jones to call back and take it.

Jones would not have made the deal even with just Bridges and no Crowder in. Though it then would have been Crowder and Saric instead of salaries probably, but the Nets would have never done it without Bridges.

Do you, or does anyone know, when Warren was added to the deal? Was he initially part of the trade -- KD/Warren for the twins and picks? Or was it after the Nets demanded Jae, that the Suns/JJ came back and said something like "fine, but you are taking 3 x Forwards, we need one in return, and want Warren..."

Just curious how Warren was added? Was it a numbers thing, meaning we need Warren's contract as part of the original deal, or was Warren's contract needed only after Jae was added?

I just haven't seen this aspect of the deal expounded upon...

TJ's salary was NOT needed to make the trade work financially. So it stands to reason he was in the deal because the Suns wanted him (or because the Nets wanted him out )

Probably a combination of the Nets needing to send a guy to get to 15 on the roster and he was a minimum guy so it was unlikely he was there long term, and us knowing we would be thinner on the wing, and could use some scoring touch off the bench.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[bwgood77]

If Ish is signed for the season - and he kind of has earned it - that leaves on roster spot

Now if Payne is healthy -- I think thats pretty easy- another shooter like Ross or Barton. With Booker, Paul, Durant and Payne - the Suns have ballhandlers - need another shooter
both are shooting the same from 3's -meaning barton and ross

right now those two would be my pick

just have to see if anybody else becomes available
I guess they could waive Jock to create another roster spot if they sign Ish

I don't like any of Ross or Barton. They aren't good enough on defense and they aren't better than Damion Lee or Shamet now.

What about Justin Holiday or Danny Green? You can trust those guys on defense and they used to be good 3p shooters.

Justin is 33 but healthy. Danny Green hasn't played but on theory he is healthy now.

Green is 35 after a torn acl, and he was declining even before that. If anyone is washed (or just simply not helping) on the buyout market its most probably him.

He does seem washed. At first when I thought that I read it as KD is almost 35 after a torn achilles...

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[bwgood77]

If anyone cares about this...

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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[POLI]

I cannot imagine how difficult Monty's job has to be right now (as other coaches who are receiving new players).
He has now to think of the games we have ahead and then he has to think, prepare and introduce changes in the way we play (off and def) so the team can maximize KD and TJ's abilities and also hide their weak points.

One thing important could be who is able to defend Doncic in a theoretical confrontation with Dallas and then who can defend Irving.
I was of the opinion that the best option against the Mavs is letting Luka go for 65 and avoid the rest of the team shooting thress or going for off boards, then run a little so they always defend with 4 or less.
But now letting Doncic go for 65 could mean that Irving could get his 35 and you are probably done.
Although 65+35 are 100 and even like that the rest of that team is bad as hell and could get like 5 points among all the rest...

Also other teams will have to think how to avoid KD going for 40 and Booker going for 35 and then leaving Ayton badly covered in the middle where he has become automatic...

[SunsRback4Good]

Bridges and CamJ can’t miss both combine for 9 points in 3-4 min of play.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[bwgood77]

I cannot imagine how difficult Monty's job has to be right now (as other coaches who are receiving new players).
He has now to think of the games we have ahead and then he has to think, prepare and introduce changes in the way we play (off and def) so the team can maximize KD and TJ's abilities and also hide their weak points.

One thing important could be who is able to defend Doncic in a theoretical confrontation with Dallas and then who can defend Irving.
I was of the opinion that the best option against the Mavs is letting Luka go for 65 and avoid the rest of the team shooting thress or going for off boards, then run a little so they always defend with 4 or less.
But now letting Doncic go for 65 could mean that Irving could get his 35 and you are probably done.
Although 65+35 are 100 and even like that the rest of that team is bad as hell and could get like 5 points among all the rest...

Also other teams will have to think how to avoid KD going for 40 and Booker going for 35 and then leaving Ayton badly covered in the middle where he has become automatic...

I think you put Craig on Luka and KD can also give him some problems. KD is a tough defender.

No one in the NBA really stops Luka though. Just have to bother him a bit and make him a little less efficient. Craig can be physical on him as can a bit of Okogie and then the length of KD and Ayton may make some of his shots a littletougher.

[POLI]

Bridges and CamJ can’t miss both combine for 9 points in 3-4 min of play.

Finally Bridges started to miss and has missed 3 straight.

What an athletic 5 the Nets are starting, with Bridges at the 2, Cam at the 3 and Dwinwiddie at the a with 6-6.
Then Finney-Smith at PF with just 6-7 and Claxton.
If Claxton was able to shoot, they could round things up with Simmons at PG.

[POLI]

I cannot imagine how difficult Monty's job has to be right now (as other coaches who are receiving new players).
He has now to think of the games we have ahead and then he has to think, prepare and introduce changes in the way we play (off and def) so the team can maximize KD and TJ's abilities and also hide their weak points.

One thing important could be who is able to defend Doncic in a theoretical confrontation with Dallas and then who can defend Irving.
I was of the opinion that the best option against the Mavs is letting Luka go for 65 and avoid the rest of the team shooting thress or going for off boards, then run a little so they always defend with 4 or less.
But now letting Doncic go for 65 could mean that Irving could get his 35 and you are probably done.
Although 65+35 are 100 and even like that the rest of that team is bad as hell and could get like 5 points among all the rest...

Also other teams will have to think how to avoid KD going for 40 and Booker going for 35 and then leaving Ayton badly covered in the middle where he has become automatic...

I think you put Craig on Luka and KD can also give him some problems. KD is a tough defender.

No one in the NBA really stops Luka though. Just have to bother him a bit and make him a little less efficient. Craig can be physical on him as can a bit of Okogie and then the length of KD and Ayton may make some of his shots a littletougher.

KD is a much better defender people usually think. I mean, he is not that good, but it is almost imposible to shoot when he is in front. You can see at the photo that he is taller than DA, which I already imagined...
But Doncic is heavy and can move KD for lay ups and easy shoots.

Last year we tried with Cam (bad idea), Bridges, Booker and even Paul. But not much with Craig, for what I remember...

[SunsRback4Good]

Bridges and CamJ can’t miss both combine for 9 points in 3-4 min of play.

Finally Bridges started to miss and has missed 3 straight.

What an athletic 5 the Nets are starting, with Bridges at the 2, Cam at the 3 and Dwinwiddie at the a with 6-6.
Then Finney-Smith at PF with just 6-7 and Claxton.
If Claxton was able to shoot, they could round things up with Simmons at PG.

Well said, their lineup will play good defense with bunch of long and athletic players now. This year Nets are 12th overall in defense, how do you see them finishing up with another 25 games remaining? Possibly top 10 or 8?

[Fo-Real]

It hurts watching them play in Nets uniforms!!!