Raps vs Nets: Preseason - Fri, Oct 17th, 2025 - 7:00PM EST

[MEDIC]

I am happy they pulled this out and I feel pretty good about them being able to pull out some close games this year but I overall the preseason has me less optimistic of how this season will turnout then I was going in. Even more so if Yak is going to be limited because of injury.

I feel the opposite after watching this game (live). Seeing the starters play big minutes & limiting some.of the other players minutes (that have yet to truly earn earn them) has me more optimistic. You can see the talent in the starting lineup.

Last year was the opposite. You see young guys who aren't ready get big minutes. Guys in and out of the lineup for various reasons. It was hard to decide who should be playing and who shouldn't.

This year, its clear. There are the big boys. Then there is everyone else. It's the way a team should be. Clear pecking order. Clear roles. The starting lineup will gain chemistry as the year rolls on.

[MEDIC]

I’m surprised people are earnestly taking away actual things from this game.

The nets are too bad for me to take this game seriously in anyway or an indication of how we’ll be.

Can’t wait for the season to start and play meaningful games.

The Nets played hard & MPJ couldn't miss from.outside. I just looked at it as taking care of busines against a team that they need to take care of. They had control of the game all night until Darko started putting some funky lineups out there. Evem when the game got close, they took care of business took control of the game again for.the W.

I saw it as a good thing..if they want to be a playoff team, it starts with controlling the game against teams like this.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I think the only negative tonight was Poeltl was missing a lot of easy looks and his back is still bothering him. He's just too important, because Sandro is a mixed bag and Mogbo can't play the 5.

Would have loved to see some CMB minutes and I'm not sure how Darko is going to actually get everyone minutes.

[Tripod]

A game like this was good for BI to see that he doesn't have to shoulder the load every night when others have it going.

But come crunch time, if need be, expect the ball.

[ash_k]

Whenever you have two 2-way small forwards all-stars like that with all that talent, length and agility and complimentary mindset, you have to aim for 50 wins! RJ fits perfectly between those 2 with Scottie's moody offense: Scottie was clearly aware of the critics and wanted to remind his detractors ( "I can score 30 whenever I feel like it")

[ATLTimekeeper]

Yeah we've seen this for years that Scottie creates/inflates injuries to protect himself from bad play. He was flying out there. If that was the Scottie we saw 80% of the time he'd be a top 10 player in the league.

[Pointgod]

The Nets might have the worst PG rotation in the NBA. Don’t think Saraf and Traore were able to get the ball up the court convincingly the entire first half.

+30 in fast break points and you win by 5 against this Nets team. Wonder what that means…

It’s preseason. It literally means nothing

[Buff]

Just preseason, and just the Nets, but that was a nice game.from Scottie (and a few others).

I hope is a eye opener for him and the staff, his success is close to the basket. And rebound and defense and fast break.

And when a bucket is needed look for BI. Next: profit.

[mihaic]

I was at the game with the fam & we had great seats..Great game. I have gone to regular season games that weren't nearly as entertaining.. Really good value. Especially since they played the starters big minutes.

Great game by Scottie. RJ continues to look.extremely confident out there. I think he is going to have a great season. The block, then dunk was amazing. His defense on Porter near the end of the game was clutch as well.

I think RJ is improving under our eyes. He also put a lot of effort on D throughout the game.

[dagger]

I liked one late-game, crunch time move by Darko. He inserted Gradey into the game to spread the defence, then BI hit his 3-pter, and when RJ made it a five point lead, Gradey was subbed out for Ochai to protect what had become a five point lead.

[mihaic]

I overall the preseason has me less optimistic of how this season will turnout then I was going in. Even more so if Yak is going to be limited because of injury.

Same. I had them winning mid-40s win total before this preseason, I thought in a weak Eastern Conference they would be able to rack up wins against a parade of bad teams. But the Nets are going to be one of the worst teams in the East this year and this game came down to the wire because they can't defend anyone, at one point I think Darko had all of IQ, Barrett, Ingram, and Sandro on the floor and it was a defensive abomination, this team is a lock to be bottom 10 defence and has a chance to be bottom 5 especially if Jak's minutes are limited or he misses games. This season is going to be a rough watch, they will throw away games against bad teams because they can't stop anyone.

Yeah, I was thinking 45 wins on the high side and now I’m more hoping for .500. I am not sure defence is my main concern either. They are way too dependant on creating turnovers to score consistently and commit way too many dumb fouls for me to believe in this team.

The Nets went on that shooting spree when they took Yak out. I think the downgrade in the Interior D led to a lot of dish out to open 3s by the nets. Mamu is nice but we need a traditional big depending on opponent type to back up Yak.

[mihaic]

In the past preseason games when Ingram played, I think his D is actually pretty good. Better than I thought or remember from his Pelicans most recent seasons (granted I did not see a lot of their games). He has length and that allows him to recover.

[ATLTimekeeper]

In the past preseason games when Ingram played, I think his D is actually pretty good. Better than I thought or remember from his Pelicans most recent seasons (granted I did not see a lot of their games). He has length and that allows him to recover.

The extra length helps around the basket when we go with Scottie as a small ball 5. Could be very beneficial in closing line-ups.

[Troubadour]

The Nets might have the worst PG rotation in the NBA. Don’t think Saraf and Traore were able to get the ball up the court convincingly the entire first half.

+30 in fast break points and you win by 5 against this Nets team. Wonder what that means…

It’s preseason. It literally means nothing

Oh my bad, they shouldn't broadcast these games. I'd hate for anyone to think they might mean something.

[ConSarnit]

In the past preseason games when Ingram played, I think his D is actually pretty good. Better than I thought or remember from his Pelicans most recent seasons (granted I did not see a lot of their games). He has length and that allows him to recover.

I thought so too. Did a solid job fighting through screens. He’s the type of guy where if he gives effort he’ll at minimum be neutral on defense because of his size/length.

[mtcan]

Watch on YouTube

[Tor_Raps]

Im very sure that CMB would have closed the game instead of Ochai/Dick if he were healthy. I really hope he can stay healthy and doesnt have the OG health track record because of how hard he plays. Hes going to be extremely important for us this year.

Im surprised that Dick was on the floor for a few possessions at the end instead of Mamu. I cant think of a single thing Dick does better than Mamu. Dudes gonna be one my favorites as long as hes paired with a rim protector.

[mtcan]

Im very sure that CMB would have closed the game instead of Ochai/Dick if he were healthy. I really hope he can stay healthy and doesnt have the OG health track record because of how hard he plays. Hes going to be extremely important for us this year.

Im surprised that Dick was on the floor for a few possessions at the end instead of Mamu. I cant think of a single thing Dick does better than Mamu. Dudes gonna be one my favorites as long as hes paired with a rim protector.

I predict that Scottie will close a lot of games as a small ball center...and in these lineups it makes sense to have another floor spacing out there...so Gradey in a closing line-up makes sense in some cases.

I can also see any of Dick, Walter, Poeltl and CMB closing games depending on matchups.

[Tor_Raps]

Im very sure that CMB would have closed the game instead of Ochai/Dick if he were healthy. I really hope he can stay healthy and doesnt have the OG health track record because of how hard he plays. Hes going to be extremely important for us this year.

Im surprised that Dick was on the floor for a few possessions at the end instead of Mamu. I cant think of a single thing Dick does better than Mamu. Dudes gonna be one my favorites as long as hes paired with a rim protector.

I predict that Scottie will close a lot of games as a small ball center...and in these lineups it makes sense to have another floor spacing out there...so Gradey in a closing line-up makes sense in some cases.

I can also see any of Dick, Walter, Poeltl and CMB closing games depending on matchups.

Mamu seems like a better floor spacer and can actually get to the rim and finish when run off the line. Guess we'll see if Dick can actually make his 3s this year.

[mihaic]

The Nets might have the worst PG rotation in the NBA. Don’t think Saraf and Traore were able to get the ball up the court convincingly the entire first half.

+30 in fast break points and you win by 5 against this Nets team. Wonder what that means…

It’s preseason. It literally means nothing

Oh my bad, they shouldn't broadcast these games. I'd hate for anyone to think they might mean something.

In their defense, the SL was dominating the Nets as expected.