Royce O'Neale is in the middle ground of the Nets' bizarre load managing vs. the Bucks

Amid frustrations, Royce sees reasons why coach JV picked to rest them vs. Bucks

Peter Sunjic | Dec 28, 2023

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The Brooklyn Nets drew intrigue on Wednesday by employing mysterious load management amongst its key rotational units. With Jacque Vaughn activating most of the team's rookies and two-way players, the Nets didn't have a chance to withstand the star-studded Milwaukee Bucks, who posted a 144-122 victory.

Upon this move, fans and various circles around the league were left bewildered by the Nets' resting. Apparently, some Nets players, including Royce O'Neale, also expressed their reaction.

Still a logical adjustment

A staple in coach Vaughn's rotation, O'Neale saw himself as one of the team's subjects of hiatus as he only logged 10 minutes of play in which he scored three points on 1-of-4 shooting.

As much as the resting made was indeed frustrating at his end, the veteran sees reasons why Vaughn opted to shelf them most of the entire 48-minute game.

"Who doesn't want to play out there? I feel like if we had the chance, we would say we don't want to rest, but I mean, it's the smart thing to do. It's a long season. Take it game by game," he said.

Focused on the bigger picture

The Wednesday showcase against the Bucks was the tail end of their back-to-back games in which they outlasted the lowly Detroit Pistons last Tuesday.

Brooklyn is about to welcome another grinding road trip in which they'll face four teams on the road starting on Friday against the Washington Wizards. With the Milwaukee loss, they are back below the .500 mark and at the East's ninth spot with a 15-16 record.

Managing a battered and exhausted lineup, Vaughn already admitted that he had to commit to this controversial resting to preserve themselves for the bigger picture.

"I've got to think short term and long term and make executive decisions for the betterment of the group," Vaughn said. "So that's where we're at tonight. Just being smart about what is presented in front of us. … It's unfortunate tonight that they just got to the point where we're putting them in harm's way by putting them out there tonight."

Jacque Vaughn gives the reasoning behind sitting most of his starters

Published Dec 28, 2023

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.