The Nets begin their preseason run with a date in San Diego vs. the LA Clippers.
We’re back, kind of. The NBA preseason is here and the Brooklyn Nets are gearing up for what promises to be a new adventure. This is the first of four preseason games over the next week and change before the real show begins on the 23rd.
The Los Angeles Clippers are also on a new adventure following a big offseason of their own.
Where to follow the game
If you have League Pass, you’ll get the arena feed. If you don’t, well you’re out of luck. Tip after 10:30 p.m. ET.
Injuries
No Nic Claxton, Day’ron Sharpe, Trenton Wadford, or Bojan Bogdanovic.
Kawhi Leonard and Trentyn Flowers are out. Mo Bamba will probably be back tonight.
The game
PJ Tucker is also out, and will be out until he finds a new place of employment! He and the Clippers agreed to not have him come around until they find him a spot on a new team. As a vet still looking to compete for a championship, Tucker still has value to a contender. The only question is how to get him there and get him to a team that can accentuate his positives.
In happier news, the Nets will be helping to break in a new arena! The Clippers moved their G-League team to San Diego and they will be playing in the Frontwave Arena later this fall. Of course, the Clips have their own new arena debuting soon, but we’ll see that later this year.
With this being the first preseason game, look for things to be a bit clunky. A lot of the Nets key pieces are out, so we won’t be able to get a true feel as to how things might look when the band is all here.
Someone who promises to take on a big role this season is Noah Clowney. The sophomore big shined during his time with the Long Island Nets in the G-League and had good moments with the big club as well.
Cui Yongxi will also unofficially becomes the seventh Chinese born player in the NBA tonight. And FYI…
With Chinese names the reverse of European — family name first, given name second — as in Yao Ming. So Nets guard name is officially Cui Yongxi. Second reference: Cui. Pronounced “Tshway.”
— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) October 8, 2024
Development is the word of the year for Brooklyn and watching Clowney find his role and establish himself will excite Nets fans through what promises to be an especially long winter.
Player to watch: Ben Simmons
The Ben Simmons Experience, take IV. It’s been a bumpy ride for the former All Star and he’s going to need to carve out a role if he wants to stay in the league past this season. He’ll get to start with Dennis Schroder tonight and it’ll be interesting to see how the Nets make things work. With the Nets completely removed from postseason contention, this in theory is the perfect environment for Simmons to find his groove and reestablish himself as a solid NBA player.
From the Vault
Ones in the air for Cissy Houston
More reading: Clipperholics, SB Nation NBA, Nets Republic, 213 Hoops
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