While dealing Dennis Schroder to Golden State is viewed as a tanking move for a team looking to accumulate assets, the Nets can now play at a faster pace, according to coach Jordi Fernandez.
“Dennis was bottom ten slowest point guards in the NBA – pace doesn’t mean you’re better or worse – and Ben (Simmons) is 18th-fastest…We’re going to try to play faster. The ball is going to fly. He’s going to push. He’s going to throw it ahead,” Fernandez said, per Lewis (Twitter link).
We have more from the New York teams:
- As for Ben Simmons, he hasn’t logged over 27 minutes and 20 seconds in any game this season. An unrestricted free agent after the season, Simmons said his playing time could expand soon, Lewis adds in another tweet. “I think my restriction right now is 27. I think it’s around that. So hopefully that changes soon,” he said.
- In an era when playing in all 82 regular-season games is a rarity, Mikal Bridges has established himself as NBA’s iron man. The Knicks wing made his 500th consecutive appearance in Sunday’s 100-91 victory over the Magic, a streak that started from his first rookie game with the Suns, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post notes. “Everyone talks about offensive traits and talents and defensive traits and talents, but the most impactful and the greatest trait you can have is availability and he has it and he’s shown it,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “Shoutout to him. That’s a huge accomplishment.”
- Jericho Sims has garnered some trade interest, according to Bondy. Sims, playing on an expiring $2.1MM contract, has seen his playing time cut in recent games. The center position is the Knicks’ most obvious need, even though Mitchell Robinson is expected to return at some point. But the team doesn’t have many assets left after making two blockbuster trades in the offseason, though Miles McBride and Josh Hart could conceivably be dealt for the right player.
- Towns will return to Minnesota on Thursday for the first time since he was traded to the Knicks. He’s not sure how he’ll be received, according to Bondy. “I don’t know (how they will embrace me). But I know that every single day that I put on that Timberwolves jersey I gave the absolute best of me even when I wasn’t 100 percent,” Towns said. “I gave them all of me mentally, physically, spiritually. I was there nine years, so I go there with a lot of pride and joy for the memories that I have.”
LOL to all you Warrior fans who think you stole a starting caliber PG. Schroeder is what he has been for his entire career, good numbers on a losing team, disappointment on competitive teams.
Except Dennis has played on playoff teams 8/11 seasons of his career and is clearly playing much differently this year, in an obvious career year. Dennis got offered a 4/84 deal from the Lakers and turned it down because he thought he was $100M, he sure is playing like that guy right now. “Disappointment on competitive teams” you can say that about Luka. Once again, the goalposts move when you want them…
This. Except he’s not playing that different from when he was on the Thunder, his best Hawks seasons, or on the Lakers. Just more exposure as he was the lead ball-handler for the Nets, which he hasn’t been in years. Schröder’s always been good.
You are a bit confused. The Warriors already have a starting caliber PG. Schroeder is replacing Melton. He’ll basically be a SG with better ball handling skills. That is what they need.
I’m a Warriors fan and happy to have landed Schroder, but I see your point of view. Other than the career year Schroder is currently having, he’s an average starting PG, at best. That’s indisputable. The Warriors are his 7th team in the last 5 seasons. He’s often played for the vet minimum.
The odds GSW gets the Schroder of the first 10 seasons, not this season, are significant. (He won’t be a lead guard, ball screens are not our bag, etc.) Fingers-crossed that doesn’t happen, and Schroder continues to have a career year.
Worst case: he’s the backup PG we’ve been missing and a PoA defender against ultra-quick guards like Ja and Kyrie.
I mean… the Nets playing fast meant that they ran themselves into rushed passes and bad turnovers against a good team. 130-101 Cavs despite a terrible Darius Garland performance.
“Fastest and slowest” point guards? LMAO where is this information? What does it even mean? Kyle Anderson is “slo mo”, Dennis seems fast on tv? If Ben Simmons is “18th fastest” isn’t that the “bottom 12” slowest? So he’s saying Dennis is 10th slowest but implies Ben is “much better”, then uses a different measurement that also puts him around 12th? What a load of crap. Jordi Fernandez might be the dumbest guy in the NBA.
That’s including all PGs including backups and part-timers.
It’s also talking about pace, not foot speed. Schröder is not a high-pace PG.