” It’s devastating to lose like this “, laments Mikal Bridges, while Joe Harris does not hide an obvious “ frustration “. Behind these reactions from Nets players, there is a designated person responsible: isaac okoro.
The latter scored the winning shot in the last moments of this important meeting for the Nets, with a view to keeping their 6th place in the East.
” There was a lot of pressure with that shot, of course. You always feel good with a winning shot. It was the first for me. It’s the best feeling in the world », delivers the hero of the night for the Cavs.
A first “game winner” in less than optimal conditions. With 11 seconds remaining, Donovan Mitchell had just missed his second free throw to equalize. After two tap attempts from the back, the Cavs recovered the leather somehow, after two local players got in the way on the defensive rebound…
Watched by two players, Caris LeVert, rather than trying to find Donovan Mitchell, fixed to serve Isaac Okoro, alone in the opposite corner. The winger, this player whose external address has been questioned since the start of his career. This player who had been left open by these same Nets during the “play-in” last season, to the point that he had been taken out of the five of the Cavs during the second round of “play-in” against the Hawks.
“My teammates will continue to trust me”
Tonight, the 22-year-old winger, who has a better 36% success rate behind the arc this season, did not flinch. ” Caris trusted me, sent the ball to me and as soon as it left my hand, I knew it was going to go home. There was a lot of pressure with that shot, but I’m training for it. I will continue to trust me, my teammates will continue to trust me and pass me the ball in the corner and I will continue to take it “Displays Isaac Okoro, author of 11 points (3/4 from afar) in the match.
This one was celebrated as it should be by his teammates. First in the seconds following his shot, then when his team’s victory was sealed after Mikal Bridges’ impossible attempt at the buzzer.
“ We always laugh about it, but Isaac shows no emotion or fear while playing. There’s no apprehension in his game. He’s working hard on that shot and he’s not afraid to take it at this point in the game. Most importantly, Caris saw he was open, trusted him, and gave him the ball. This shows the spirit of this team », Appreciates JB Bickerstaff.
Similar speech from Donovan Mitchell who considers that his teammate has them “ off the hook » the Cavaliers and him, in this part: “To see him not only improve his 3-point shooting throughout the year, but also experience a moment like this, where he leads us to victory, is all the hard work that pays off. . That’s what makes this moment special. We fought and Ice gave us victory. »
| isaac okoro | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2020-21 | KEY | 67 | 32 | 42.0 | 29.0 | 72.6 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 9.6 |
| 2021-22 | KEY | 67 | 30 | 48.0 | 35.0 | 76.8 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 8.8 |
| 2022-23 | KEY | 74 | 22 | 48.9 | 35.3 | 75.2 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 6.4 |
| Total | 208 | 28 | 45.7 | 32.7 | 74.8 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 8.2 | |
