The Nets had placed their training camp under the sign of physical intensity. Knowing they were less talented compared to the other teams in the league, the Brooklyn players wanted to at least have something to respond to, to make themselves felt physically by their opponent. This first match of the season confirmed this desire, even to the point of excess.
“I liked our physical intensity. We talked about that and we saw it with 32 fouls. However, we have to be smarter”, notes Jordi Fernandez. “Our technique needs to be better. We must defend with our upper body and show our hands. I don't discuss the whistles, the free throws. We have to do better, but the guys played hard. »
Without control, this physical impact is indeed less interesting since it gave the Hawks free points. The intentions are there, the dosage not yet.
“We need to calm down a little. We were very physical during training camp and that's how we want to play. But we have to be smarter: 46 free throws is crazy. We have to be smarter, me first,” begins Nic Claxton. “It shows what we talked about, but we have to control ourselves,” specifies Cam Thomas. “Whether the whistle was fair or not, 46 free throws is unacceptable. »
Claxton's move
And if there's one player who crossed the line, it's Nic Claxton. “ We have to be smarter, me first,” he said, because he lacked lucidity at the start of the last quarter. On a counter-attack, he commits a nasty mistake on Dyson Daniels.
Dyson Daniels took a hard foul from Nic Claxton and Daniels got up in his face
It is currently under review for a potential flagrant foul.pic.twitter.com/TmWHJ6qR9B
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 24, 2024
Logically expelled for this foul, why did the Nets pivot make such a gesture while the match was still close? “I had given a basket plus the foul a few possessions before and there, I put a little too much”he replies.
Without minimizing, Jordi Fernandez confirmed that it was “clearly a mistake”. “You never want to hurt someone and I’m sure he didn’t mean to.”continues the coach. However, this gesture and this expulsion, if they symbolized the excess of envy of the Nets, were avoidable.
“Maybe I need to talk to a psychologist,” smiles Nic Claxton. “I can’t get kicked out of matches. I need to be there for my team. I know my playing time is still reduced but I need to be present for my team. »
