Brooklyn Nets bench rookie first-round pick Egor Dëmin for entire fourth quarter as they fall to Hawks.
The Brooklyn Nets' season has been focused on development, with five rookies - including Egor Dëmin and Ben Saraf - making significant contributions. However, in a disappointing 117-112 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, coach Jordi Fernández made an unconventional decision: benching his two first-round picks for veteran players Tyrese Martin and Terance Mann during the final quarter.
Martin had a strong game, scoring 13 points and grabbing five rebounds, including eight points and four boards in the crucial fourth quarter. Mann also played well, finishing with 11 points and six assists, as he handled the ball more effectively than Dëmin struggled.
Fernández explained that Martin was "awesome" and rewarded him for his great summer and recent form, stating that the focus should be on team performance rather than individual players' contributions. However, this decision raised questions about Dëmin's role in the team, particularly given his limited involvement in the fourth quarter.
Dëmin had four points on 1-of-6 shooting to finish minus-18, and surprisingly still hadn't taken a shot inside the arc this season. Fernández acknowledged that he needed to improve, admitting that he wanted him to touch the paint more and play off both feet.
The Nets' young core has been touted as key to their future success, but they have struggled with consistency and decision-making on the court. Michael Porter Jr., another rookie point guard, echoed Fernández's sentiments, saying that a solidified point guard position is crucial for winning in the NBA.
In related news, Day'Ron Sharpe became the third player in NBA history to record 500 career offensive rebounds before reaching his 3,000th minute since boards started being tracked.
The Brooklyn Nets' season has been focused on development, with five rookies - including Egor Dëmin and Ben Saraf - making significant contributions. However, in a disappointing 117-112 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, coach Jordi Fernández made an unconventional decision: benching his two first-round picks for veteran players Tyrese Martin and Terance Mann during the final quarter.
Martin had a strong game, scoring 13 points and grabbing five rebounds, including eight points and four boards in the crucial fourth quarter. Mann also played well, finishing with 11 points and six assists, as he handled the ball more effectively than Dëmin struggled.
Fernández explained that Martin was "awesome" and rewarded him for his great summer and recent form, stating that the focus should be on team performance rather than individual players' contributions. However, this decision raised questions about Dëmin's role in the team, particularly given his limited involvement in the fourth quarter.
Dëmin had four points on 1-of-6 shooting to finish minus-18, and surprisingly still hadn't taken a shot inside the arc this season. Fernández acknowledged that he needed to improve, admitting that he wanted him to touch the paint more and play off both feet.
The Nets' young core has been touted as key to their future success, but they have struggled with consistency and decision-making on the court. Michael Porter Jr., another rookie point guard, echoed Fernández's sentiments, saying that a solidified point guard position is crucial for winning in the NBA.
In related news, Day'Ron Sharpe became the third player in NBA history to record 500 career offensive rebounds before reaching his 3,000th minute since boards started being tracked.
I don't get why they gotta bench Dëmin in the fourth quarter like that 
. I mean, he's a rookie and yeah, he's still learning, but what's the point of giving him zero playing time when it matters most? It feels like coach Fernández is more worried about winning games than developing his young players 
. And another thing, 1-of-6 shooting is not that bad 
. I think Dëmin needs a bit more time to find his groove, not be sat on the bench for an entire quarter 
. It's like they're gonna have to work on their decision-making if they wanna win consistently 
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. Egor Dëmin was strugglin' but he's still a rookie, you gotta give him time to figure it out 
. And what's with the focus on individual players instead of team performance? Like, we get it, Martin and Mann played well, but that don't mean they should be benched for an entire quarter 
. The young core is supposed to be the future of this team, so let's not sweep Dëmin under the rug just yet 
. And can we talk about how inconsistent the Nets are? They need to work on their decision-makin' and comin' together as a team 
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. But what's important is how we learn from our mistakes and move forward. Maybe this is an opportunity for Dëmin to re-evaluate his strategy and come back stronger. It's all about growth, guys 
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he looks so lost out there on the court. i get it, Tyrese Martin played well, but that doesn't mean we gotta forget about Dëmin's skills... or lack thereof 
. fernández needs to figure out what's going on with his point guard situation 'cause they're not gonna win a championship with this kinda inconsistency 
it looks like ben saraf got more playtime than him despite being a rookie too 
Martin and Mann played way better and they got rewarded 4 it which sucks cuz Dëmin needed that playtime 2 develop his game like michael porter jr said already a solid point guard is key 2 winning nba championships tho 
Also, I'm loving Michael Porter Jr.'s take on having a solidified point guard position... we need to get our act together as a team 
but maybe needs to work on his confidence? Meanwhile, Martin and Mann are getting the nod... does that mean Dëmin is being benched because of his struggles with shooting inside the arc? 
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I think he needs to work on his ball-handling skills and confidence 
️. Meanwhile, Tyrese Martin and Terance Mann are killing it on the court 
idk but this decision has me curious 
. Anyone else think Dëmin needs more time in the game? 
he's been doing a great job but it looks like he still got some work to do 
coach Fernández is tryin to give him some space to grow and improve 
anyway, i got faith in Egor he'll bounce back from this 
it's one thing to say that team performance is more important than individual player contributions, but to actually put your best players on the court when it matters most? that just doesn't add up. 
i mean, Dëmin only had 4 points and was minus-18... what exactly did Martin bring to the table that Dëmin didn't? 
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. I mean, sure, Martin and Mann played well, but shouldn't that be about playing their strengths? Dëmin's got some decent skills, he just needs to trust himself and play more freely 
. It's all about developing chemistry with his teammates and not overthinking it