Inside The Nets

Jacque Vaughn gives the reasoning behind sitting most of his starters

The Nets did not play most of their starters in the loss to the Bucks.

Peter Sunjic

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Heading into the game against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Nets announced that starters Cameron Johnson and Nic Claxton will miss the game due to injury maintenance. Even Spencer Dinwiddie was ruled out, and the official reason for him was rest.

That did not stop there because both Cameron Thomas and Mikal Bridges played the entire first quarter but were sat on the bench the rest of the way. This did not sit well with some fans, which led to coach Jacque Vaughn's response after the game.

"Mikal played 40 minutes last night, and so the thought was it wouldn't be wise for me to continue and go down this path and have him play 40 minutes again," Vaughn said after the loss. "I ran Cam, Royce, and Mikal pretty long in the first quarter. Just envisioned at the end of the night that I didn't want them touching 40 minutes again."

The Nets needed valuable rest

December has been a busy month for the Nets as this game against the Bucks was their 12th. Brooklyn has two more games to end the year where they will likely have a full squad. However, there is uncertainty, given the team has faced fatigue issues in recent weeks.

The demanding schedule of the five-game West Coast road trip placed a significant burden on Coach Vaughn's team, forcing them to endure extended playing times in a tightly packed itinerary.

"Didn't like the choice and whatever that was. But it's whatever. Definitely was not a fan," Mikal said regarding his frustration about the situation because he wanted to help his team.

Coach Vaughn loved that players got opportunities to perform

While they lost the game, this performance against the Bucks featured names who haven't received many minutes this season. Regular rotation players like Dennis Smith Jr. and Day'Ron Sharpe were present, but names like Armoni Brooks and Jalen Wilson were superb. Wilson, in particular, had a breakout night, scoring 21 points and grabbing ten rebounds.

After the game, Coach Vaughn took exception to the term "exhibition" being used to describe what transpired.

"The great thing about this game is these dudes that play, 450 of them, they're special. It's pretty special to be an NBA player, and I treat them as such. I don't agree with garbage time. I said that to our group. At the end of the game, you continue to play. You compete; that's what you do for a living," Vaughn said.

Moving forward, the Nets should be healthy and ready to go for their games. However, this might become one of the most important games of the season as some players got the opportunity to shine, and they can become potential contributors for Brooklyn.

Coach Vaughn on Dennis Smith Jr.'s role on the Nets roster

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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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