ATLANTA — The Nets misplaced an important sport in Atlanta on Saturday night time, failing to beat a decimated backcourt, which was with out two starters and a key contributor.
Beginning taking pictures guard Seth Curry — who hadn’t been listed on the damage report — was a late scratch throughout pregame warmups, struggling with left ankle soreness. Beginning wing Bruce Brown (non-COVID sickness) and key reserve Goran Dragic (well being and security protocols) additionally had been out.
“Properly, it’s one thing we’ve had a variety of expertise doing, so we are going to settle for the problem and discover different guys to step up and play and carry a few of the load,” coach Steve Nash stated earlier than the Nets’ 122-115 loss to the Hawks. “And we’ve been right here earlier than, so we hope we get all our guys again sooner relatively than later.”
Curry had initially been listed as questionable whereas managing the ankle damage that he admits will possible be in a ache for the remainder of the season and require a few month of relaxation over the summer time. Then he was faraway from the damage report and presumed accessible for Saturday, solely to be dominated out throughout warmups.
In the meantime, Dragic is the newest Internet to undergo from COVID-19. And in contrast to some, he’s truly feeling the consequences of it.
“He has signs,” Nash stated of Dragic. “He doesn’t really feel nicely. However that’s all I do know.”
The Nets have been hit exhausting by COVID-19 this season, with 13 totally different gamers lacking at numerous occasions — and 10 concurrently at one level in December. Nash himself had been in protocols and missed a back-to-back towards Toronto.
Brown’s absence had nothing to do with the exhausting fall he took whereas struggling a Flagrant 2 by the hands of Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton two nights earlier. He’s simply sick however not but dominated out for Tuesday’s residence sport vs. Houston.
“No, he has the flu,” stated Nash, hopeful the defensive sparkplug wouldn’t miss an excessive amount of time. “I hope not. I feel a few of these issues are 24 hours to 72 hours. Hopefully, we’re in that timeframe and he can play on Tuesday.”
With out Brown, Curry and Dragic, it may thrust rookie Cam Thomas again into the rotation and create further minutes for Patty Mills. Thomas had been a DNP within the earlier three video games getting into Saturday.
“Everybody can get a shot,” Nash stated. “However extra so, guys will play extra. The bench guys should play extra minutes and have larger roles.”
Post a Comment