With the schedule getting busier – and the tank race getting serious – Brooklyn was able to rest players more often.
No one will be more important than Michael Porter Jr., who was rested after Sunday’s loss to Memphis.
The Nets fell to 0-7 on the season without Porter, giving them an eight-point lead with 2:48 remaining.
“You know the NBA schedule, so (Porter) is on the road for rest. Not only are we playing 17 games in a month, but we’re playing four games a week for five consecutive weeks. So when you kind of go past the month, and when you think about it, it’s crazy,” Jordi Fernández said. “We have to prepare our bodies and our minds to play extremely hard, and then you have different formations.
“It’s important that everyone is fresh… Going through an NBA season is very difficult, and we have to do it the way we do it.”
Porter has been the subject of trade reports, although there is no concrete evidence that the Nets are shopping their top scorer. Marc Stein even threw cold water on recent reports linking Porter to a move.
Danny Wolf got the nod at small forward in place of Porter, earning his first career double-double in his third career start. He had 11 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a block in a solid all-around performance. He even shot 2-for-5 from deep, but missed a look and Fernández suggested the rookie could have shot more.
“The defense and the rebounding are excellent, right? Ten rebounds – including seven defensive rebounds – for which we need him because we missed Michael,” Fernández said. “The aggressiveness, playing with both feet on the rim because they have a lot of good rim protectors and then letting it fly.
“He shot five (3 seconds). I have to watch the film. I still think he could have made at least two or three more, especially late in the game. We needed him to make that shot. But I believe he will. He’s willing to do the right things. I don’t want him to just get into the negative. He’s done a lot of good things. We’re going to continue to help him because he’s trying really hard.”
Day’Ron Sharpe grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds off the bench.
Rookie point guard Nolan Traore had just four points on 2-of-9 shooting but looks more comfortable and confident. He had six assists, no turnovers and was a plus-11, using his speed more effectively.
Ziaire Williams (illness) and Drake Powell (left knee injury manager) were also out for the Nets.
Brooklyn lost for the sixth time in the last seven games. The Nets’ first 20 points of the fourth quarter were scored by backups.
Ja Morant was out for Memphis, although Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo insisted it was due to his right calf and not the trading block.
“Strictly based on the injury,” Iisalo claimed.
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