SAN DIEGO — There's a misconception that culture and chemistry aren't important when it comes to losing or rebuilding a team.
In some ways, that's when it matters most.
It's important to foster intimacy and accountability even with teams that aren't contenders, teams that suffer a lot of losses like the Nets.
That's why manager Jordi Fernandes has talked about it when building his team, and why he's using his time away from home to do just that.
“This is important because when I'm at home, I can go to work and spend time with my teammates, and then go home and spend time with my family and friends,” Fernandez said. “But when we’re on tour, that’s all we have for each other.
“It's been great to spend the last few days together, doing different activities like dinners and get-togethers. It makes us even more connected. We build those relationships. Players. We support that. At the end of the day, it's going to translate on the court. In my opinion, it's already translating.”
Dorian Finney-Smith agreed.
The veteran forward admitted that teams tend to be successful when they are close and can protect themselves.
And heading to camp helps foster that connection.
“The most connected teams are always the best teams. Teams that get along with each other and can work things out among themselves without a coach tend to be the best teams,” Finney-Smith said. spoke.
“It's obviously the coaches' job to give us the answers to the tests, but they can't take the tests for us. So we're going to use these days to [bond] As a team. We've had a lot of practices, dinners and a lot of activities to get to know each other and grow closer as a team. ”
Cam Thomas, who Tuesday's opponent James Harden coaches in Brooklyn, is tasked with becoming more efficient, but will absorb an extra shot with the departure of Mikal Bridges.
Given his questionable shot selection, that could lead to bad habits, but Fernandes downplayed them.
“I want him to make shots. That's his superpower,” Fernandez said. “He's a very good scorer. And within the way we want to play, which is ball movement and pace, it's understanding where his shot is going to be. And sometimes he takes it. intend to [and] Make some tough shots.
“He's done a really good job playing on the second side, playmaking, catching and shooting. So we're going to put him in those situations and that way he's going to have more volume.” You can get…I'm not worried about who gets the shot. In his case, that's his nature. That's what he does. So it's definitely going to happen. Dew.”
The Nets will tip off their preseason game against the Clippers on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET at FrontWave Arena in Oceanside, home of the G League team.
The game is sold out.
