Inside The Nets

Dennis Schroder on the Nets' need to improve on late-game execution

The Nets could’ve won the game against San Antonio if they executed better in the final minutes.

Peter Sunjic

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Brooklyn had a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in their 122-115 overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The Nets blew that lead, as the Spurs forced overtime and eventually won the game due to Victor Wembanyama’s heroics.

It was another example of Brooklyn’s struggles at closing out games, especially with how inefficient Cameron Johnson has been with clutch-time threes. Aside from the players, Coach Kevin Ollie must improve his play calls, leading to Dennis Schroder asking for the team to improve.

“I think we just gotta close out the last couple of minutes better. Overall, that’s how we want to play. How we did in the 42 minutes, I think we did a great job. Wemby, he’s a special talent, he had a lot of impact in winning this game,” Schroder said after losing to the Spurs.

Bridges or Thomas should be the primary options in the clutch

Mikal Bridges and Cameron Thomas are the best players on the Nets roster, and they’ve proven they can get buckets when needed. That should be apparent in the clutch, as they could isolate against a defender but also have the playmaking ability to pass when someone has an open look.

Considering Johnson is shooting 16.7% in clutch-time three-pointers, he should be there as either a decoy or a screen-setter. It would be better to rely on the team’s star players or Schroder, who’s also a reliable player in the clutch but will be the one who sets up the play rather than shooting.

The Nets should win more clutch games

Brooklyn has shown they can compete with any team and take them into clutch time. However, they struggled to deal with the pressure in the last few minutes of a game, leading to some of the team’s worst losses this season.

This loss to San Antonio was just the most recent example, so Brooklyn must learn they must play well across all 48 minutes. The Nets already had a ten-point lead in the final 12 minutes of regulation, and that should be a lead they keep.

Learning how to execute in the late games will lead to Brooklyn winning more games and competing for a Playoff spot. That’s a lesson they should learn for the rest of the games this season, which could be important in the following campaign in the 2024/25 season.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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