TORONTO — With simply two practices beneath his belt as interim coach earlier than the Nets play on Thursday in Toronto, Kevin Ollie doesn’t have time to attempt to reinvent the wheel.
Or the Nets.
However for a group that has dropped 23 of 31 — the final by an embarrassing 50 factors — modifications should be made, not simply on offense and protection however with angle too.
“Each [ends],” Ollie mentioned. “We acquired a pair issues on protection that we’re altering on our pick-and-rolls, and a few issues on offense, some issues that we’re doing so as to add a bit of bit extra spacing.
“However the largest factor is enjoying for one another and making the precise performs. Not being egocentric, getting the ball to the fellows that we have to get the ball to of their proper spots the place they are often very profitable. Simply enjoying the precise approach, and we have to try this extra persistently. In order that’s not a scheme change or something, that’s simply enjoying higher basketball, doing easy higher.”
That spacing will probably be key.
Ben Simmons and Nic Claxton have logged simply 69 minutes collectively this season unfold over 5 video games, and are a horrible minus-34.
The Nets have shot 42.6 p.c with the pair on the courtroom collectively, posting a 97.9 Offensive Ranking. Taking part in each non-shooters will make higher spacing important.
“Precisely proper, so you will have to have the ability to area, you will have to have the ability to minimize, you will have to have the ability to play collectively. Now we have to get out and rebound and get stops to allow them to play with tempo and play in transition offense,” mentioned Ollie. “So all these issues rely. However when it will get slowed down in a half-court scenario, we haven’t had that scenario the place one’s up, one’s down and the way they play off one another is essential. In order that’s why it’s so good for follow time.”
![Ben Simmons](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Ben-Simmons-8.jpg?w=1024)
The Nets signed 6-foot-6 guard/ahead Jaylen Martin to a two-way contract. He’s anticipated to go to G-League Lengthy Island.
The 20-year-old averaged 15 factors and 4.5 boards for the G-League Westchester Knicks, hitting over 40 p.c from deep.
He spent final season with the YNG Dreamerz of Additional time Elite, the place Ollie was teaching director of the league. He averaged 14 factors and 5.9 rebounds, second within the league’s Most Improved Participant voting.
A latest ESPN story about NBA coaches who can nonetheless dunk prompted a query about whether or not Ollie has that form of vertical.
“No, you’ll be able to’t add me to the record,” Ollie laughed. “I used to throw lobs or throw it to [Allen Iverson] when he needed to attain. So, no, I wasn’t a giant dunker man. However I’d get you assists right here and there.”