It was hardly a state secret, however Nets normal supervisor Sean Marks acknowledged what impartial observers had stated all season: That Brooklyn has to get larger.
And meaner.
“Certainly we have to make some modifications when it comes to including some dimension. I feel [Jacque Vaughn] stated it [Saturday] night time, add a little bit nastiness,” Marks stated. “Certainly we have to make some modifications. Add a little bit little bit of the Brooklyn grit that we’ve talked about for type of six years.”
The Nets completed next-to-last within the NBA in rebound share (47.2) and defensive rebound share (68.9).
Their lack of ability to maintain groups off the offensive glass haunted them in permitting second-chance factors, one thing that was used to nice impact by Philadelphia in a first-round sweep.
Marks additionally confirmed an earlier report by The Submit that injured Ben Simmons is progressing in his restoration and that at this level shouldn’t be presently anticipated to wish any follow-up again surgical procedure.
“He’s checking the packing containers on assembly totally different markers alongside the best way. So at this level, he doesn’t want surgical procedure,” Marks stated. “That’s the hope going ahead, that he won’t must endure one other surgical procedure and we are able to hold progressing.
“The timeline for that is that he’ll be again one hundred pc in all probability by Sept. 1. That will be the objective and he’s a full go in coaching camp and able to go.”
Simmons had microdiscectomy surgical procedure for a herniated L-4 disk on Might 5, 2022. He performed 42 video games this season, none after Feb. 15. He was identified on March 24 with nerve impingement in his again and ultimately was shut all the way down to rehab.
Mikal Bridges averaged 26.1 factors for the Nets within the common season, and 23.5 within the postseason. Regardless of the younger small ahead clearly carrying down after main the league in miles run and minutes logged (the latter for a second straight 12 months), Marks sounded assured Bridges could be a No. 1 scoring possibility.
“Concerning Mikal, I feel he’s confirmed to lots of people that his position can proceed to get higher and higher and larger and larger, so I feel I’d be fairly foolish to be up right here and restrict him and say he can’t be one thing,” Marks stated. “I feel that a number of folks have had their eyes opened to what he can do. However now when the ball’s in his palms in these key essential moments of video games, can he step up?”
“Can he be that man that we are able to depend on in large moments? I feel we noticed it a little bit bit in Phoenix when Devin Booker was out, he carried a substantial load for them. After which we noticed this 12 months the place he got here in and instantly was a crowd favourite. You could possibly get behind him. It’s simply the best way he performed, how he performed and he didn’t draw back from these moments both. So I’d positively not restrict him and say he may solely be this for us.”
