Nets’ let-it-fly mentality has been key to unexpected start
Jordi Fernandez’s directive to his team has certainly been heard.
Let it fly.
The Nets’ 3-point prowess is at the heart of their 9-10 start to the season after most predicted them to be NBA bottom-feeders.
It has been stressed throughout the season by their first-year head coach, who wants to make it their offensive identity.
They shot a stellar 18-for-42 (42.9 percent) from behind the arc during their 127-117 win over the Suns on Wednesday night in Phoenix.
For the season, the Nets are shooting 38.8 percent from 3-point range — fourth-best in the NBA entering Thursday. And that’s while shooting 40.9 treys a game — fifth-most in the league.
Last year, the Nets shot 36.2 percent from deep — 19th in the NBA. They took 36.7 3s a game — ninth-most.
This year’s team is relishing Fernandez’s green light.
“It’s big-time,” Trendon Watford said after scoring 18 points — including nailing two 3-pointers — in Wednesday’s win. “I’ve had four coaches since I’ve been in the league and I don’t think there’s a coach that tells us to shoot as much as him.
“He came to me before the game and said he wanted me to shoot 10 threes. I let him down, I only shot six. That’s who Jordi is. He wants to get up 50 3s a game and that’s how we want to play. … We enjoy it.”
The Nets also outscored the Nets 24-13 in transition. It’s an area Fernandez has emphasized in recent games, trying to get his team to play quicker.
They entered Thursday with the slowest pace in the NBA, averaging 96.42 possessions per game.
“If we wanted to have a chance against a team like this, especially when they get to a switching lineup one through five, you have to be able to run, and obviously you have to get stops,” Fernandez said after Wednesday’s win. “But even after makes, we were able to get the ball in quick and throw it ahead and get that earlier shot. The guys played with a lot of purpose knowing what kind of team we were facing. I’m happy with the pace in the full-court and in the half-court.”
As point guard and the primary ball handler, Dennis Schroder is paramount to both the team’s shot selection and how quickly the Nets function on offense.
And he’s enjoying a career year, averaging 18.6 points and 6.3 assists per game.
Schroder poured in 29 points — shooting 4-for-9 from 3-point range — and added three assists in Wednesday’s win. Though he is a looming free agent, he has emerged as a veteran leader this year.
“That’s who he is,” Fernandez said. “He’s extremely tough. He’s gonna let everybody know that we’re here, that he’s here and we’re not gonna back down. That’s pretty much it. That’s how you play the game of basketball. Obviously respectfully.
“But that’s who he is, that’s who we are. The way the group fights, it’s all we want to see.”