Few people would have imagined the Nets winning by… 42 points in Washington to equal the franchise record for the biggest away win! Even though Kevin Durant is still very motivated by the idea of playing in the capital, not far from where he grew up, no one expected Brooklyn to give such a basketball lesson. Without Kyrie Irving or Ben Simmons.
“It’s huge, and we talked in the morning about the fact that it didn’t depend on us” reacts Jacque Vaughn, still interim coach of the Nets. “We talked this morning about really having a choice and being able to support each other with our feelings, with our efforts, by being there for each other. We showed that we were there for each other. We really showed endurance to win this game. It’s not more complicated than that.”
To teach such a lesson, Brooklyn relied on players who were hungry for minutes like Cam Thomas, but also players who want to win their place through their defense and their activity like Yuta Watanabe. It was the spirit of Kenny Atkinson’s Nets, and around Kevin Durant, near triple-double with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists, everyone got involved with 7 players at 10 or more points, and 32 assists.
The boss of the franchise is in heaven
“It was a collective effort of everyone” emphasizes Joe Harris. “We did a great job of sharing the ball. 32 assists is incredible, and it puts you in a good position to win. And then defensively, we went up a notch; the communication was really good, the guys went all out for each other. »
There are unmistakable images, like seeing Kevin Durant talking on defense, cheering on his young teammates, and even smiling. An enthusiasm that pleases, and for once, he did not need to play the heroes in attack, with four teammates watching him play.
“Kevin was a hub for us tonight” says Jacques Vaughn. “He really put them in a difficult situation on their two-man strikes. He had the will to pass, and he was productive when he had the chance.
Something to delight the boss, Joe Tsai, who can finally speak about the results of his team, and not about the actions of Kyrie Irving.
