Andre Drummond suggests ‘pickup’ angle for Brooklyn Nets — ‘Simply take one of the best 5 and attempt to make it work’

NEW YORK — Because the Brooklyn Nets put together for the ultimate 11 video games of the common season, heart Andre Drummond provided an attention-grabbing perspective on how he hopes the group approaches the stretch run.

“Obtained to deal with this s— like pickup,” Drummond mentioned, laughing, after Sunday’s follow. “Simply take one of the best 5 and attempt to make it work. And attempt to construct chemistry whereas we’re on the market.

“However I feel one of the best factor about our group is we’ve got guys which might be skilled, guys which were within the league for 5 to seven-plus years. So I feel with that, we’ll be capable of determine it out.”

The Nets have been shuffling their lineup ever since a COVID-19 outbreak in December and welcomed Kyrie Irving, who is just not vaccinated towards COVID-19, again as a part-time participant in early January. The group additionally handled an MCL damage for star ahead Kevin Durant that saved him out for over a month and a half and a commerce deadline take care of the Philadelphia 76ers that introduced in Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Drummond and two future first-round picks — in trade for All-Star guard James Harden and Paul Millsap.

“I would not go that far,” Nets coach Steve Nash mentioned about Drummond’s remark. “Hopefully we’re extra purposeful than only a pickup sport. However I get what he is saying. And I’ve talked to the group about this. We do not have time to provide away days. … We have talked to the group lots about 11 video games.”

As assured because the Nets, who sit in eighth place within the Japanese Convention with a 37-34 file, stay that they’ll flip issues round, Nash acknowledged that they’re taking part in towards groups that get pleasure from being collectively lots longer than the Nets.

“We’re taking part in towards groups with 4 or 5, six years of company data,” Nash mentioned. “A variety of that end-of-game execution stuff is rote for them. They have been by means of it earlier than. We do not have that. So I feel that is what Andre’s getting at is we obtained to actually work laborious and be conscientious of what are the little particulars which might be going to assist us win video games.”

Because the Nets attempt to get issues so as, they have to accomplish that with Irving nonetheless unable to play in residence video games due to New York Metropolis’s vaccination mandate and ready and hoping that Simmons’ again will enhance to some extent that he can play. Simmons nonetheless is not in a position to do something at follow after getting an epidural in his again this previous week.

Regardless of the setbacks, Nash continues to be hopeful that Simmons performs sooner or later this season.

“I am absolutely anticipating to have him this 12 months,” Nash mentioned. “In order that’s the place my head’s at.”

The Nets declined to make Irving obtainable for remark Sunday.