Nets rookies' early problem arises again in Summer League loss to Knicks

New York Post

4 days ago

LAS VEGAS — The single biggest worry about the Nets' all-important rookie class was its 3-point shooting — being both errant and reticent.
Tuesday night did nothing to allay those fears. If anything, it only amplified them.
Brooklyn's 97-93 summer league loss to the Knicks — dropping them to 0-3 in Las Vegas — put those problems on display.
It wasn't just the inability by the Nets to hit 3-pointers that was vexing. It was their unwillingness to even take them.
The Nets finished just 5-for-25 from deep, while the Knicks went 10-for-38.
With Nets coaches prodding their young team to get up at least 40 attempts even in a shortened summer league tilt, it was timidity that won't go over well.
'I think a little too much hesitation,' said Brooklyn assistant Steve Hetzel, who is coaching summer league. 'Our philosophy is let it fly. We come out here, we want to shoot 40-plus in a 40-minute game, and we're not getting to that number (Tuesday). I thought (Sunday) we did. The bottom line for us, it's not whether it goes in or we miss, it's the attempt. And we did hesitate too much.'
That's going to be a huge factor in determining just how successful this record crop of five first-round rookies ends up being.
Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf combined for 13 points on 5-of-21 shooting Tuesday against the Knicks, but most concerning was the fact they attempted just three 3-pointers, missing them all.
Nolan Traore looks to make a move during the Nets' 97-93 Summer League loss to Knicks on July 15, 2025.
NBAE via Getty Images
'What the coaches have told us, try to get as many 3-pointers as we can. The most important thing for us is to get [3s] after a paint touch or out of transition, wide open. But yeah, we want to shoot a lot of 3s, and we can do it better. It's, as I said, part of the process,' said Saraf. 'We need to make adjustments, me and all the other guys. And we will do it.'
Granted, Traore finished with just two points in 19:13, taking a hard fall and having his back tighten up on him.
The French rookie will be held out Wednesday against Orlando (7:30 pm Eastern), as will Saraf.
Ben Saraf drives to the basket during the Nets' Summer League loss to the Knicks.
Getty Images
Meanwhile, lottery pick Egor Demin and first-rounder Danny Wolf were rested against the Knicks, as were two-way players Tyson Etienne and Tosan Evbuomwan.
Those four will all play against the Magic.
But on Tuesday, Brooklyn missed their offense.
Knicks guard Tyler Kolek tormented Brooklyn in the pick-and-roll, especially early on.
He had 23 of his 25 points in the first half to put the Nets in a 41-39 hole at intermission.
The deficit grew to double digits at 66-56 with 1:26 left in the third on an Anton Watson 3. The Nets couldn't mount a comeback.
Drew Timme was Brooklyn's only reliable offense, coming on late to finish with a team-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Caleb Daniels and Quincy Olivari — making his summer league debut after being on a two-way last season with the Lakers — each added 16.