December 5, 2012, Oklahoma City Thunder-Brooklyn Nets notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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Avery Johnson.
The Nets’ schedule was and is difficult — 21 games in 40 days
spanning mid-November to Christmas Day, with 11 against the NBA’s upper
echelon.
A big-picture thinker would consider the stretch a measuring stick. The
Nets, naturally, have decided to implement minimalist thinking.
“All that will take care of itself,” Andray Blatche said prior to
Tuesday night’s home date with the Thunder. “[We’re] not focusing on
[that].”
Concluding with the nationally televised home game against the Celtics
on Christmas Day, the Nets will have played Boston and the Knicks three
times each, along with the Lakers, Clippers, Heat, Thunder and
Bulls.
To the fullest
The challenge head coach Avery Johnson laid out to his team was simple: play a full game.
“[The Thunder have] been together for a little while. [They have] a good
squad. Playing one half is not good enough,” Johnson said.
The reigning Western Conference champions, Oklahoma City entered last
night’s game second in the West with a 14-4 record. Even without the
traded James Harden, the Thunder leads the league with an average of
105.1 points per game. Johnson singled out Kevin Martin (16.1 points per
game) for praise, noting he has more than ably replaced Harden, who won
the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award last season.
So what did the coach want to see from his charges?
“We have our own pace,” Johnson said. “We’re not going to be good playing at the Thunder’s pace.”
He was also hopeful that being back at home for the first time since the
96-89 overtime win over the Knicks on Nov. 26 would benefit his team.
“Great atmosphere,” Johnson said. “[We] have a lot of energy [playing at home].”
Nets notes ...
The NBA announced on Monday that Avery Johnson was named Coach of the
Month for November. It marked the fourth time in his coaching career he
earned the honor. The first three times occurred when he was the coach
of the Mavericks (April 2005, Nov. 2005 and Jan. 2006). The Nets went
11-4 in November, setting franchise records for the best start to a
season and the most wins in a month. “Anytime something like that
happens [it is recognition of the organization],” Johnson said. ... Joe
Johnson, Reggie Evans and C.J. Watson will teach a cardio kickboxing
class to 60 children at the Flatbush YMCA Wednesday afternoon. … Evans
(flu) and Brook Lopez (a mild sprain of the right foot) missed last
night’s game. “[We] pride ourselves on having depth,” Avery Johnson
said.
Follow Nets beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
Follow Nets beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1157507--nets-notebook-battling-tough-schedule-playing-a-full-game
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:55 PM
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