SAN DIEGO — There’s a misconception that culture and chemistry don’t matter on losing or rebuilding teams.
In some ways, that’s when they matter the most.
Fostering closeness and accountability even on teams that aren’t contenders — teams like the Nets that are going to suffer through a lot of losses — is important.
That’s why coach Jordi Fernandez is harping on it during his team building, and using the time away from home to do it.
“It’s important because when you’re at home, you get to go to work, spend time with your teammates and then go home and be with family, friends,” Fernandez said. “But when you’re on the road, that’s all you have is each other.
“It’s been good to spend all these days together, different activities we have going on — dinners, get-togethers. That makes us more connected. We build those relationships. The guys have been buying into it. At the end of the day it’s going to translate on the court. In my opinion, it already is translating.”
Dorian Finney-Smith concurred.
The veteran forward admitted teams that are close and can police themselves tend to succeed.
And being on the road for camp only helps foster that connection.
“The most connected teams always will be the best team. Teams that can get on each other, figure things out amongst the players without the coaches tend to be the best team,” Finney-Smith said.
“The coaches, obviously it’s their job to give us the answers to the test, but they can’t take the test for us. So we’re going to use these days to [bond] as a team. We’ve been doing a bunch of exercises and dinners, and a whole bunch of activities to get to know each other and become closer as a team.”
Cam Thomas — mentored in Brooklyn by James Harden, who he’ll face Tuesday — has a mandate to get more efficient, but is going to absorb extra shots with Mikal Bridges’ departure.
Follow all the basketball buzz in Brooklyn
Sign up for Inside the Nets by Brian Lewis, exclusively on Sports+.
Thank you
Considering his questionable shot selection, there are fears it could lead to bad habits, but Fernandez downplayed them.
“I want him to take the shots. That’s his super power,” Fernandez said. “He’s a very good scorer. And within the way we want to play, which is with ball movement and pace — that’s figuring out where his shots are going to come. And at times he’s going to take [and] make some tough shots.
“He’s done a really good job with playing on the second side, even playmaking, catch-and-shooting. So we’ll put him in those situations and that’s how he gets to a higher volume … I’m not worried about who I’m going to give the shots to. With him, that’s in his nature. That’s what he does. So it’s going to happen for sure.”
The Nets tip off preseason Tuesday versus the Clippers at 10:30 p.m. ET at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, home of their G League affiliate.
The game is sold out.
