The extra the Nets see of Goran Dragic, the extra they're reminded why they needed him within the first place — and maybe why they may want him greater than they realized.
His efficiency Wednesday night time didn't find yourself propelling the Nets to a win, however Dragic loved his greatest sport of the season.
The purpose guard didn't have the best influence on the Nets’ loss to the Mavericks — a former Nets level guard, Spencer Dinwiddie, earned that title with the game-winning shot. And fellow level guards Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons are extra vital to the Nets. However Dragic has been stable and dependable, precisely what the unreliable Nets wanted, in 10 video games since signing on Feb. 22.
The 35-year-old started this season with the Raptors, then was purchased out following a deadline commerce to the Spurs. Dragic has needed to play greater than anticipated for the Nets as a result of Irving has missed all house video games, Simmons has not performed but, Seth Curry has missed three straight, and Cam Thomas just lately has been restricted by a again contusion.
On a crew that wanted respectable guard play, Dragic shot 9-for-16 from the ground for a season-high 21 factors with 4 assists and three rebounds in opposition to Dallas. He confirmed a burst that he hadn’t just lately, attending to the rim at will and making issues occur.
“I assumed he was sensational. … He’s clearly a big-game participant,” Nets coach Steve Nash, Dragic’s former Suns teammate, stated, earlier than looking forward to a possible minutes crunch. “Once we’re absolutely wholesome, we nonetheless obtained Kyrie and Seth as effectively. It simply relies upon how we share it round, how the sport goes.”
Ideally, the Nets would favor 20-minute bursts — which has sometimes been the case in street video games, when Irving can play — from Dragic, an growing old vet who sat for about 4 months of the season.
Within the win over the Knicks on Sunday, Dragic was pressed for greater than 38 minutes. He totaled 35:32 within the loss to Dallas.
Possibly his legs will remorse it later, however the extra he performs, the extra he will get accustomed to a free-flowing offense, which he's getting a greater deal with on.
“It’s a special scenario with Kevin [Durant] and dealing with the ball. … I’m extra a pick-and-roll man, however I’m getting used to it,” Dragic, who performed within the Finals with the 2020 Warmth, stated. “It’s getting higher. I nonetheless suppose I’m not the place I need to be, but it surely’s going to return.”
It will come even faster if Simmons’ again continues to trouble him and nothing adjustments with New York Metropolis’s personal sector mandate, which is maintaining the unvaccinated Irving from enjoying video games at Barclays Middle.
With out one other level guard, the nights of 30-something minutes ought to proceed.
The Nets listed LaMarcus Aldridge as out for Friday’s sport, which would be the sixth straight sport he has missed. Nash has stated the massive man, who has a proper hip impingement, might be reevaluated subsequent week.
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