Jul
5

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Game Recaps, Uncategorized

Summer League Shorthand: Nets vs. Heat

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The first win of the summer for the Brooklyn Nets was snatched away by a game-winning layup by Miami’s Tyler Johnson with 0.4 seconds left. The winless summer league squad showed an expected lack of cohesion, but there were some interesting moments for Brooklyn fans to take note of.

  • Earl Clark continues to struggle as the veteran on the roster. After playing 14 minutes yesterday, Clark lost his starting spot and had just two field goals against Miami.
  • Rondae Hollis-Jefferson showed off some unexpected offense with a few mid-range jumpers and some ball handling off pick-and-roll situations. As the 23rd pick, we knew that he was an elite defender, but the shooting and confidence on the ball bodes well for his chances in the NBA.
  • The summer is usually a tough time for frontcourt players to stand out in front of scouts and coaches because of the fast pace, but the Nets were outplayed down low. Miami’s Willie Reed scored 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting while also outperforming Brooklyn’s bigs on the boards.
  • Jonathon Simmons, a swingman from the Austin Spurs in the D-League, earned the most minutes for the Nets, despite not playing on Saturday or starting against Miami. He scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds, but his moments of athleticism were what stood out, including a devastating block on Justice Winslow that was unfortunately ruled a foul.
  • Ryan Boatright can score in bunches. The Connecticut rookie lit up the Heat to start the third quarter with three straight 3-pointers to get the Nets back in the game. He finished with 23 points on 50 percent shooting while also picking up four assists. As one of the only players on the team that can create his own shot, he could continue to impress.
  • Outside of Boatright, the Nets have struggled to score in the halfcourt. Without a pass-first point guard or multiple shot creators, this summer’s team has relied on hustle and athleticism to stay in games so far.

The Nets continue the Orlando Summer League when they take on the Hornets on Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET.