To start out his pregame press convention, Jacque Vaughn touched on the necessity to defend Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ star guard who torched the Nets for 40 factors when the groups met Feb. 13.
However any defensive changes forward of time or in the course of the recreation — which, Spencer Dinwiddie informed The Submit, included drop protection and ultimately blitzing — failed, as Brunson exploded for one more 39 factors, together with 30 within the first half.
The Nets have been looking for a defensive id since buying what, on paper, gave the impression to be a powerful return for that space on the commerce deadline, however of their 142-118 loss to the Knicks, they confirmed something however that.
“To surrender 142 factors to your crosstown workforce, that hurts,” Vaughn mentioned, “and it ought to damage.”
Brunson reached his spots and related on contested photographs from completely different angles, Vaughn mentioned, and that made him tough to comprise.
The Knicks scored 47 factors within the first quarter, 81 by halftime and related on 14 3-pointers within the first half. Dinwiddie informed The Submit that it’s tough to reply when groups hit 3s at that clip.
Even because the Nets experiment with completely different defenses and attempt to discover what works greatest, each Dinwiddie and Mikal Bridges referenced a necessity to determine which one they’re going to deal with transferring ahead.
They’re working out of time with simply 20 video games left, too.
“Simply nonetheless attempting to determine our protection and what we’re doing,” Bridges mentioned, “so it’s robust, however we simply weren’t getting stops on the market.”
As Kevin Durant made his debut for the Suns on Wednesday, Vaughn was requested earlier than the sport if he’ll verify the field rating within the morning.
Durant completed with 23 factors, six rebounds and two blocks in 27 minutes because the Suns defeated the Hornets.
“Once I go dwelling, I activate League Go and I see what’s happening,” Vaughn mentioned.
“He’s a West Coast workforce, so I’ll most likely watch and see in the event that they’re nonetheless enjoying. I’ll flip it on similar to I activate another recreation. … Pulling for him. Need him to do nicely.”
Ben Simmons will probably be out once more Friday in opposition to the Celtics, Vaughn mentioned postgame. He hasn’t performed for the reason that All-Star break
Yuta Watanabe (again soreness) was out there for the Nets in opposition to the Knicks, one night time after he was a late scratch in opposition to the Bucks and carried a questionable designation all through the day. He didn’t log any minutes, although.
Ed Sumner missed his second consecutive recreation for private causes, which he had beforehand revealed have been associated to his spouse giving beginning. Vaughn mentioned Tuesday that “we’ll see” when requested about Sumner’s availability for Friday in opposition to the Celtics.
Cameron Johnson’s 33 factors was a season-high and 5 wanting his profession excessive, which he set final season.
