SAN DIEGO — When the Nets play at the Lakers on Christmas Day, it’s going to feel like a tantalizing preview of an NBA Finals. But the vibe for Sunday’s preseason visit to Staples Center is going to be more skeleton crew than star-studded.
The Lakers announced they will sit LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Trevor Ariza for the preseason opener. Nets head coach Steve Nash effectively replied, hold my beer, and confirmed his team will rest no fewer than seven players.
The Big 3 of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving will all sit for the Nets, as will incumbent starters Joe Harris and Blake Griffin and veterans Patty Mills and James Johnson. That will provide an opportunity for youngsters, such as rookie Cam Thomas, and newcomers, such as Jevon Carter.
“Yeah, that’s a byproduct,” Nash said. “The game came so quickly, preseason, and we have three more. We’ll hold back some guys, and other guys will get more opportunity.”
Typically, the younger players spend the offseason playing pickup and arrive in camp raring to go. The older veterans often take a few weeks to catch up. Harden has acknowledged as much.
“That’s a part of [it]. They’re just younger,” Nash said. “But it’s true, those guys have a heavy, heavy, responsibility all year, physically, mentally, emotionally, so they need that time off. So their ramp up is a little later, theoretically at least.
“So that’s why typically you see some of the vets ramp up in a way that’s a little more cautious, a little slower timeline. We’ve just got to kind of make some smart decisions for the group.”
The Lakers’ Anthony Davis will be by far the most high-profile name on the court, but he is only expected to play for about a quarter. Power forward Paul Millsap and center LaMarcus Aldridge are the biggest for the Nets both figuratively and literally.
“I think LaMarcus will play,” Nash said, adding, “Nobody’s going to play a ton, so we’ll spread it around pretty evenly. We don’t want anyone doing too much and exposing themselves this early. Hopefully he plays enough that he feels good about it, and at the same time isn’t playing too much.”
With Harden, Irving and Mills out, Carter and Bruce Brown seem likely to get the nod in the backcourt.
“I’m just expecting to go out there and just do my job, honestly. Whatever comes with it comes with it,” said Carter, whose skill has exceeded Nash’s expectations. “They told me just keep doing what I’m doing. They just kept telling me that they like what I’m doing, and just go out there, stay aggressive and lead the group.”
The Nets wrapped up the San Diego portion of camp having made at least some headway in terms of fundamentals and more importantly team-building.
“Those times of being able to get to know one another person, we’ve had a couple of dinners and barbecues as well where we’ve had a chance to do that,” Mills said. “That camaraderie built over the course of the season is able to pay off for us … so when you step out here, you know that that trust and respect is there for everyone.”
That has included golfing, dinner at owner Joe Tsai’s house and other bonding experiences in San Diego.
“The week was great,” Nash said. “We laid the foundation for our offense and defense, just tried to be very clear with our principles and what we’re looking for, no confusion. Make a little bit of progress every day and get in shape. Those were the three things and I think we accomplished that this week.”
That may have been helped by getting out of Brooklyn, with fewer distractions.
“I don’t know. That doesn’t bother me really. It’s just nice,” Nash said. “What better place to train than San Diego, and it will make us happy to be home when we’re home and look back on this as a great experience.”
One distraction the Nets avoided was any immediate concern about how New York City’s vaccine mandates would impact Irving’s ability to practice. He was at every practice in San Diego, but did not speak to the media.
