5 observations after Clippers cut down Nets 115-106 in preseason opener

The Jordi Fernandez epoch successful Brooklyn began connected Tuesday with a 115-106 preseason nonaccomplishment to the Clippers successful San Diego. Here are 5 cardinal observations from the Nets archetypal accumulation crippled of 2024-25.

SIMMONS RETURNS

Ben Simmons played successful his archetypal NBA crippled since Feb. 26 connected Tuesday night. He was constricted to conscionable 15 games past play due to the fact that of a pinched nervus successful his little back. And successful his 2024-25 preseason debut, the 6-10 defender finished with 2 points connected 1-of-5 shooting, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 bargain successful 13 minutes.

Simmons started astatine halfway successful spot of an injured Nic Claxton and each of his minutes came successful the archetypal half. The Nets were minus-7 with him connected the tribunal and fell down by treble digits conscionable minutes into the archetypal quarter.

Trainer Chris Brickley promised that Simmons would beryllium successful All-Star signifier erstwhile we adjacent saw him connected the court. To beryllium honest, helium looked similar a relation subordinate astatine champion for Brooklyn connected Tuesday, portion James Harden of the Clippers looked the portion of an All-Star, finishing with 14 points connected 6-of-9 shooting successful 16 minutes. However, preseason games should beryllium taken with a atom of salt. Simmons is coming disconnected different large surgery, truthful rust was expected.

However, determination was inactive plentifulness of good. While Simmons started astatine center, helium was inactive utilized arsenic a superior playmaker successful Fernandez’s offense. The Nets ran five-out sets portion helium was connected the court, which allowed him to play similar a defender successful transition, propulsion the gait and screen-and-roll successful the halfcourt.

Simmons had immoderate flashy passes, astir notably the crockery to Dorian Finney-Smith aboriginal successful the archetypal 4th which led to a highlight-worthy dunk. His lone bucket came disconnected a screen-and-roll to the rim, Finney-Smith delivered the pass. It was thing spectacular, but astatine slightest helium was retired there. And helium finished the crippled healthy, truthful that is ever a triumph for the Nets.

YEAR 4 THOMAS

Fernandez wanted to spot amended violative ratio from Cam Thomas entering Year 4. Well, the 22-year-old defender not lone picked up wherever helium near disconnected past play from a scoring standpoint, finishing with 12 points successful 17 minutes, but helium did it connected a 3-of-5 clip portion playing chiefly disconnected the shot — conscionable similar his first-year caput manager envisioned.

Thomas is simply a bucket. That has ne'er been questioned. But helium played with bully gait connected Tuesday, went 4-of-4 from the escaped propulsion line, 2-of-4 from heavy and adjacent tallied a brace of assists. What we saw was a tiny illustration size, but the accumulation successful constricted enactment was promising.

Many judge that Thomas tin beryllium 1 of the NBA’s apical scorers this play and he’s disconnected to a beardown start. But helium indispensable beryllium accordant and proceed to instrumentality developmental strides successful different areas of his game. This is simply a declaration twelvemonth for Thomas. The Nets’ beforehand bureau — and different teams astir the league — volition surely beryllium keeping tabs connected his improvement.

WILLIAMS SHINES

Ziaire Williams, who was acquired by the Nets via Memphis successful July, was an implicit spark plug for the Nets disconnected the seat successful the 2nd quarter. He moved good without the shot and cashed successful connected casual layups. He was progressive connected the solid and his athleticism allowed him to snatch rebounds and capitalize connected put-backs. His strength connected defence changed the crippled for Brooklyn.

Williams, 23, finished with 10 points connected 5-of-9 shooting, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and a block. He was plus-10 against the Clippers successful 23 minutes. Sometimes a alteration successful scenery is each a subordinate needs. This is conscionable 1 preseason game, but Williams, a erstwhile lottery pick, looked fantastic moving with the 2nd portion successful his Brooklyn debut. And arsenic Fernandez begins the process of finalizing his rotations up of the regular season, Williams made a beardown lawsuit successful San Diego for wherefore helium should consistently play extended minutes connected the wing.

General manager Sean Marks is searching for young foundational pieces. Williams appears to beryllium a task worthy investing in.

VETERAN CONTRIBUTIONS

Finney-Smith and Dennis Schröder, 2 Nets veterans that were often mentioned successful commercialized rumors passim the offseason, were awesome astatine some ends of the tribunal against the Clippers.

Finney-Smith attacked the rim aggressively (5-of-6 from the escaped propulsion line), dove connected the tribunal for escaped balls and brought a definite level of toughness to Brooklyn’s undermanned frontcourt. Schröder dished retired a game-high 5 assists successful conscionable 16 minutes, harassed opposing shot handlers with his on-ball defence and pushed the tempo whenever helium could.

Those veterans took attraction of business. However, it was a unsmooth shooting nighttime for Cam Johnson. The guardant went 2-of-7 from the tract (1-of-3 from deep), and portion helium did grounds 3 rebounds, 1 assistance and 1 block, helium ne'er genuinely made his beingness felt.

ROTATIONS

Fernandez played 15 steadfast bodies against the Clippers. Claxton (hamstring), Trendon Watford (hamstring), Day’Ron Sharpe (hamstring) and Killian Hayes (hip) were each ruled retired up of the game. Schröder, Thomas, Finney-Smith and Simmons started the night. Williams, Keon Johnson, Jalen Wilson and Noah Clowney started the 2nd half.

Wilson and Clowney were the archetypal Nets disconnected the bench. Dariq Whitehead (standard deal), Yongxi Cui (two-way), Jaylen Martin (two-way), Tyrese Martin (Exhibit 10) and Amari Bailey (Exhibit 10) played each of their minutes successful the 2nd half. Wilson (21:40) led each Brooklyn players successful minutes. Cui (8:33) saw the slightest magnitude of action.