Inside The Nets

Dennis Smith Jr. gives context behind the Nets' performance against Philly

The Nets got an impressive win against Philly, and Dennis was a big part of that win.

Peter Sunjic

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Dennis Smith Jr. had a superb game off the bench against the 76ers, scoring seven points, dishing out six assists, and getting three steals. He gave the Nets the energy boost they needed to achieve a momentous win against a top team like Philly.

DSJ exemplified the value of being a “hunter” with his energy on both ends of the floor. Coach Kevin Ollie wants more hunters on the team, and Dennis stepped up as a vocal leader and a leader by example with his stellar defense.

“Just resilience. We had to come out and be greedy. We knew that off top. Coach came out and challenged us during the shootaround or walkthrough earlier and he mentioned it yesterday. It’s about how we respond. We had two good games against Atlanta, and then we dropped the ball against Memphis,” DSJ said to the media after winning against the 76ers.

The Nets must match Coach Ollie’s expectations

Coach Ollie believes that Brooklyn is a good team filled with talented players. He also expects them to meet the expectations of being a good team, which involves winning more games than the critics might say. Dropping a game like the one against the shorthanded Grizzlies was a fumble, but the Nets still have opportunities to redeem themselves.

It is why players like DSJ, Dennis Schroder, and Mikal Bridges are vocal in the locker room: they want to make it into the Play-In Tournament. With a performance like the one against Philly, this Nets team has a high ceiling, which can involve postseason success.

Brooklyn must keep having performances like that

Against Philly, Brooklyn looked great because they were playing with energy, and the 76ers couldn’t keep up. The Nets must keep playing like that, as they don’t have a superstar-level player, but they do have some talented names on the roster.

Mikal leads the pack as the go-to guy, but he has a solid supporting cast filled with players who can take over at any point. DSJ is one of those players, especially with his impact on defense.

As the Nets progress in their bid to get into the Play-In Tournament, playing like this will make it easier for them to keep going and playing hard when motivated by a coach like KO.

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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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