By Shara Taylor
The Brooklyn Nets will take on the Orlando Magic July 31, almost five months after the NBA season was suspended by the league due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The Nets and 21 other teams with the best NBA records from the 2019-2020 season will play in an eight seeding game series when the season continues July 30 at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fl. before moving ahead to the playoffs. The Nets restart the season without several key players, but with new possibilities and hopes of competing for the eastern conference crown.
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
One guy who is very familiar with the team and organization spoke with the New York Beacon about the challenges they will face. Former Brooklyn Nets Coach Avery Johnson and current CBS Sports Analyst said, “It’s just mainly getting everybody on the same page, the coaching staff, the players, just making sure your organization is really tight and the way you want to play offensively and defensively is crystal clear.”
Kevin Durant was recovering from Achilles tendon Surgery. Kyrie underwear shoulder surgery March 3rd ending his season. Both have been practicing but are not expected to play when the season resumes. Other key players like Spencer Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan opted out of playing in Orlando. “We realize it’s completely their decision,” Nets General Manager Sean Marks told media July 1st and the Nets tweeted the video. “This is voluntary. This is by no means mandatory that people show up in Orlando and in the bubble and everybody has their own reasons as to why this may not be a fit for them.”
According to Johnson this is an opportunity for other team members specifically Caris LeVert to take his game to the next level. “It gives him a chance to get up a lot of shots and show that he can be a player that they can depend on night in and night out,” Johnson said.
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Johnson also said it’s a good time for coaches too. Brooklyn currently has a interim coach in Jacque Vaughan who is basically auditioning for the head coaching job. The Nets fired Kenny Atkinson in March. A move that surprised everyone. Four days later, Commissioner Adam Silver suspended the NBA season “If I was in his (Vaughn’s) situation and coaching, it’s all about developing the young players. It’s all about growing, developing good practice habits and continuing to work on your coaches so that when you get your full arsenal of players back then everybody can blend in together.”
Team management added veteran guard Jamal Crawford (who had some of the best games of his career as a member of the Knicks) and Forward Donta Hall to the roster this July. “Jamal Crawford is 40, so he’s just trying to prove to players that he can be, I guess the Tom Brady of the NBA and play until he’s 43 or 44,” said Johnson. Crawford has averaged 14.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in 19 seasons while playing with multiple NBA teams.
Johnson spoke with Hall, whom he coached at the University of Alabama, and told him just to be himself. “Teams, when they sign you as a substitute player, they’re bringing you in for a particular reason,” said Johnson. “He’s a dunker. He’s a pick and roll. He’s a roller to the basket. He’s a shot blocker, a rebounder.”
Hall played for the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA G League during the 2019-2020 season and averaged 15.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He spent time with the Detroit Pistons on two 10-day contracts and averaged 1.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Johnson said the Nets have a good chance to move ahead. “I don’t see the Nets not making it to the playoffs, but I do see them with a potential first round exit because they just don’t have enough fire power. “I think they have enough to win a couple of games, combined with Washington losing games and then still remaining in the playoffs.”
The Nets currently sit in 7th place in the Eastern Conference with a 30-34 record in the 2019-2020 regular season thus far. The Orlando Magic and the Washington Wizards could bump the Nets from postseason play.
Sports Editor Andrew Rosario contributed to this article.
