The Nets can’t stop winning. After a chaotic start to the season, the Brooklyn team has just continued a fourth victory in Washington and now finds himself in the Top 4 of the Eastern Conference. In Kyrie Irving’s eyes, new coach Jacque Vaughn is clearly no stranger to this spectacular Nets turnaround.
When Jacque Vaughn took charge of the team following the dismissal of Steve Nash on November 1, Brooklyn was posting a record of 2 wins for 5 losses and nothing seemed to be going in the right direction. Today is December 13 and the Nets are fourth in the standings with 17 wins and 12 losses. We did the math for you: under Vaughn, Kevin Durant’s gang won 15 of 22 games played.
The numbers speak for Nash’s successor, but the Vaughn effect goes beyond wins and losses. Today, when we watch Brooklyn games, we see a real team and not just a sum of individuals. We see a group that enjoys playing together and above all makes the effort, even defensively (13th defensive efficiency in the NBA this season). Symbol of this collective which has gained in solidity in recent weeks, the victory in Indiana a few days ago while Brooklyn landed with an F team. Typically the kind of sign that does not deceive, and which should reassure Kevin Durant who had complained of KD-addiction last year.
Kyrie Irving with high praise for Jacque Vaughn:
“Jacque’s made it very clear that if you’re not playing hard enough, he’s gonna let you know regarding it.”
— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) December 13, 2022
Kyrie Irving says it himself: “If you’re not playing hard enough, Jacque lets you know.” It’s unclear if there’s a hidden message to Steve Nash, but it’s clear the overall intensity the Nets have shown under Vaughn is vastly superior to that of the very start of the season, when Brooklyn looked like a fine team. soft.
As soon as he arrived at the head of the team and while the Nets were still in the midst of a Kyrie Irving controversy (not to mention Ben Simmons’ injury problems), Jacque Vaughn knew how to install a new rigor which made it possible to lay the foundations for a more stable future. A new dynamic underlined in particular by Kevin Durant in person and which allowed Vaughn – then interim – to keep his post, Brooklyn effectively deciding to confirm him in his functions instead of going to find another coach elsewhere (even if we also know the reasons for the non-arrival of a certain Ime Udoka…).
Kyrie Irving receives a play from Jacque Vaughn but does an audible & ask a Pick from Ben Simmons which Vaughn immediately calls a Time out.
JV & Kyrie clearly frustrated w. play calling & communication. #NetsWorld pic.twitter.com/yp83JdobgM
— Jeri Tsai (@JeriTsaiNets) November 27, 2022
Today, the Nets finally seem to have found their stride. The infirmary is practically empty, the controversies are (at least for the moment) behind them, and Brooklyn remains on 8 victories in the space of 9 games. A month and a half ago, such a scenario was really hard to imagine in this corner of New York. But Jacque Vaughn took the challenge head-on, and today he is unanimous on the side of BK.
