The effects of a conceded offensive rebound, Kyrie Irving talks about it very well. It’s the kind of action that demoralizes fans at home, that demoralizes us as players on the pitch when opponents are constantly getting second chances and doing the little things that really decide a game », develops the Nets point guard.
During the reception of the Pelicans, his team was demoralized more than once in the matter. Dominated physically, the Nets did not hold the shock in the battle for rebounds: 61 catches for the visitors against 39 for the locals. This gap is even more impressive on the offensive rebound where Jonas Valanciunas and the others grabbed… 21 rebounds, against 9 for the Nets. With his six balls recovered or slammed, the pivot of the Pelicans was practically as productive in this sector as the entire opposing team.
This domination resulted in 36 points scored as a “second chance” by NOLA against only 4 for Brooklyn. This explains in large part the collective rout suffered.
” My message to the guys is to raise our standards when it comes to competitiveness. […] We’ve let them into our racket far too often. We prepared and we worked on certain sectors but we were unable to execute them. It’s a process for our group, but there are also standards and it’s an opportunity for us to grow every night. But we have to be competitive at a high level “claims Steve Nash, believing that this first acted as” good warning “.
“The most physical team wins”
His team has an interest in reacting and quickly. Because after the Pelicans, the Nets continue with the reception of the Raptors, then a trip to the Grizzlies. The first three opponents in question were none other than… the three best teams in the league last year in offensive rebound, with at least 12 units each.
Quite a coincidence for a New York formation aware of being able to fish at the physical level and which did not retain its veteran interiors from last season (LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin).
“ We’re never going to be the biggest team in size, we’re not going to be leading the league in rebounds, there’s always a level of understanding that that’s a weakness for us. We talked about it every day “, continues Steve Nash who relies on the young pair Nic Claxton / Day’Ron Sharpe – 18 rebounds between them – in his racket.
While Kevin Durant calls for more late screens from his teammates, Kyrie Irving recalls that “ the most physical team wins. We need to improve in the areas that are considered weak right now, namely the lagging screens and the little things. These are the details that will really dictate our season. It’s about knowing how often and how regularly we’re going to devote ourselves to these little things. »
