PHILADELPHIA — The Nets have managed to mitigate their inconsistent shooting during the preseason through their diligent work ethic and sharp execution.
However, Wednesday’s game illustrated what occurs when their intensity and ball control lapse.
In a 117-95 preseason defeat against Philadelphia at Wells Fargo Center, new coach Jordi Fernandez expressed frustration, stating the team’s performance was simply not up to par.
The Nets encountered a Philadelphia squad that was missing its All-Stars, Joel Embiid and Paul George.
Prior to this game, the Nets led the preseason in fast break points and ranked third in assist-to-turnover ratio, a testament to their unselfish ball movement.
<img style="aspect-ratio:1.5;display:block" decoding="async" loading="lazy" data-modal-image="33621207" width="885" height="590" src="https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/Cam-Thomas-3.jpg?w=1024" alt="Cam Thomas, who scored 17 points, leaps for the ball over Kelly Oubre Jr. during the Nets' preseason loss." class="wp-image-33621207" srcset="https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/Cam-Thomas-3.jpg?quality=75&strip=all 4500w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/
During the Nets’ 117-95 preseason defeat to the 76ers on October 16, 2024, Dennis Schroder struggled, recording four turnovers while attempting to pass around Guerschon Yabusele. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Previously, Dennis Schroder had the support of Ben Simmons on the court.
With Simmons absent due to a scheduled rest day as he recovers from surgery, all playmaking responsibilities fell on Schroder. He managed only nine points, four assists, and contributed to five of the Nets’ 20 turnovers.
“We weren’t strong with the ball, we didn’t move it well. It’s pretty straightforward. We failed to execute,” Noah Clowney remarked. “We turned the ball over, they capitalized on it and scored. However, I won’t point fingers at our missing players. We need to perform better with the roster we have.”
Adding to their woes, the team struggled to get back in transition, allowing the 76ers to convert those turnovers into 31 points.
A team lacking depth cannot afford these errors once the regular season kicks off.
“We transitioned from having two point guards to just one, which was evident in our ball handling. But the reality is our main point guard, Dennis, had five turnovers,” Fernandez stated. “We can’t have him playing like this since he’s a talented playmaker, a floor general who typically does the right thing. He needs to improve.”
“Clearly, bringing in another point guard will aid us. However, the fact remains that 20 turnovers leading to 31 points is unacceptable. When turnovers occur, you still need to keep playing and securing stops. And in that second half, I feel we didn’t play as hard as we did in the first two games. I communicated to the players that we have higher standards for our performance and competitiveness, and this is not the level we aspire to achieve.”
While Cam Thomas led the team with 17 points, he did so inefficiently, shooting just 2-for-8 from beyond the arc, which hindered playmaking.
Cam Thomas, who netted 17 points, leaps to grab the ball over Kelly Oubre Jr. during the Nets’ preseason defeat.
AP
Cam Johnson stepped in to occupy Simmons’ role by facilitating from the high post and on the elbows, contributing a team-high six assists alongside his 11 points.
The necessity for a backup point guard became glaringly apparent, as Killian Hayes has yet to participate in the preseason.
Shake Milton contributed 13 points from the bench, but as a two-guard, he managed only three assists.
