BROOKLYN — Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith didn’t go well with up for Tuesday’s Nets showdown with the Phoenix Suns, however the group’s two latest commerce acquisitions have been inside Barclays Middle for the primary time and already attending to know the position they’ll have on this new look workforce.
Brooklyn goes by means of a metamorphosis as they go from a superstar-filled workforce to at least one with a Kevin Durant-led squad that’s deeper and lengthier. That makes Dinwiddie, the presumptive start line guard when he does play, and Finney-Smith essential to Brookly going ahead.
“You know, we talked about our group being longer and more multi-dimensional and be able to guard multiple positions,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn mentioned on Monday after the Nets misplaced to the Los Angeles Clippers. “both of those guys can. Spencer’s ability to attack on both ends of the floor with the basketball, without the basketball. Shooting at a high clip right now this season. So that’s great for our group. Another three-point shooter. And then Do’s ability to defend and shoot the open three and guard multiple positions. We’re just longer, stronger and overall more athletic as a team.”
The pair have been headed to fulfill with Vaughn after they wrapped up their first Brooklyn press convention a number of hours forward of Tuesday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Suns. Vaughn mentioned earlier than the sport that he was nonetheless cooking up how he would deploy the 2, however Dinwiddie’s recreation is fairly well-known in the halls of Barclays Middle.
Dinwiddie performed 5 seasons in Brooklyn earlier than the Nets traded him to the Washington Wizards through the summer time of 2021.
“In general, it’s probably pretty self-explanatory. Right?” Dinwiddie mentioned about his position. “Be ready to spot up and shoot with (Kevin Durant) when he’s got the ball and being aggressive. If Cam Thomas is on a heater for example, probably get out of his way. Try to create shots for shooters like Joe (Harris), Seth (Curry), Doe. Be aggressive in terms of making plays at the rim. And you know, guard too. I mean, some of this stuff…At this stage I’ve pretty much, kind of, got to do the similar-type stuff: Be aggressive in the pick-and-roll, and if the clock is down, break down the defense.”
Dinwiddie had been enjoying a number of the finest basketball of his profession in Dallas, averaging 17.7 factors and 5.3 assists. Now he offers the Nets added playmaking capacity whereas taking pictures 40% from three-point vary.
His dimension on the guard place ought to assist the Nets on the defensive finish, which compliments the defensive skills of the Nets. Finney-Smith offers Brooklyn added dimension and assistance on the defensive finish, together with a participant that may shoot the three ball nicely.
“I plan on guarding the best player on the court,” Finney-Smith mentioned. “I take the challenge in that. I can guard multiple positions, I can play multiple positions. You ain’t gotta draw up a play for me, I’m gonna find ways to get involved and be aggressive. Just a winning mentality, I’m gonna bring that to the team.”
The Nets don’t look like carried out wheeling and dealing earlier than Thursday’s commerce deadline and there was some hypothesis that each gamers might nonetheless be packaged in a commerce. Dinwiddie was conscious of the chatter however didn’t count on to be moved once more earlier than 3 p.m. on Thursday.
“I mean, I assume I’m here. I plan to be here,” he mentioned. “I don’t think we’d be having this press conference if they weren’t. This would be a lot of trouble just to ship me off in six hours.”