Rumors

Jordi Fernandez: "I think the NBA doesn’t care about your passport. They care about what you bring to the game—what makes you different, what your superpower is. That’s what matters. Europeans are taught the game differently—we focus more on reads, playing in twos and threes, and multi-positional play. Then you look at the American system, where the skill level, athleticism, and competitiveness are elite. It's not that one is better than the other—they're just different approaches. When you mix both styles, that’s when you get the best results. And it’s exciting to see all these paths and experiences coming together. The NBA game evolves every year, and that evolution is one of the most exciting things about the league."

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Thomas – who was the Nets’ leading scorer last season, and had been a fixture in the starting lineup – has been a reserve ever since returning from another hamstring injury on Dec. 27. He came off the bench for a tenth straight appearance on Sunday, logging 23:58; and Fernandez said his playing time isn’t about to increase. “Yeah, right now we’re happy where he is, with the minutes he’s playing with the production, being that willing playmaker; because we know how good he is scoring the basketball, and taking those steps defensively,” Fernandez said before the Nets’ 124-102 loss in Chicago. “Right now we’re happy where he is. We need him to stay in those minutes a little longer because I, we, just believe what’s most important right now is his body, and (how) his body reacts. And we’re gonna be cautious with that.”

New York Post

The tanking Nets — deep into a youth movement — got spanked by the venerable Clippers 121-105 on Friday at Barclays Center.  With a record five first-round rookies — all but one of whom played — the Nets learned some valuable lessons against Los Angeles. They just weren’t easy ones.  “The reality is you can explain the game plan, but until you don’t go through it, that’s how you learn,” said Jordi Fernández. “Those minutes were very valuable because you see those guys and sometimes you guard and you’re like ‘Oh, that was good defense.’ But for us, because we’ve seen them do it, it’s like that’s not good defense because they’re going to keep scoring, because they’ve done it all their careers and they’re going to keep doing it. So it’s good. That’s how you learn.”

New York Post

Sharif Phillips-Keaton: Nets center Nic Claxton (personal reasons) was not at practice today, but he's on his way back to Brooklyn, HC Jordi Fernandez said. Fernandez went on to say that Claxton will be good to go for tomorrow's game against the Magic.

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Brian Lewis: Jordi Fernandez on Michael Porter Jr. being motivated vs. the #Nuggets that traded him: "If I'm in his shoes, I'll be very excited to play this game. I have no doubt in my mind he's going to go out & perform on both ends. So it's an exciting day for for all of us, especially for him." #Nets

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“Yeah, one thing we know is Day’Ron is going to play extremely hard. And you know going from the minutes he’s played to pretty much 30 minutes, you know your body has to adjust to that,” coach Jordi Fernández. “So it’s a great opportunity for him to play those minutes. But also being careful with that. “[After] the shorter stints, I try to keep watching how he’s reacted. And rebounding — nine. I still think he could have got more and a little more efficient, but I really, really liked how hard he played, how engaged he was and how he took advantage of the opportunity. So, very proud of him.”

New York Post

“The lessons come every day, especially against a good defensive team,” Fernández said of Dëmin after the game. “The 3-point line looked good, but his decisiveness and ability to touch the paint to create assists could have been better. And now he’ll watch film, and he’s always very good with that. “He has high expectations for himself and I’m gonna say the same, I want that 3-point shooting percentage and aggressiveness the same, but I want better setups. I want more paint touches. I want more assists. I want more physicality in both ends. He’s gonna try to do his best. That’s a good thing about our young guys. They have high expectations for themselves and they show up the next day and work.”

New York Post

Cam Thomas is finally making his Nets return. But he’s coming back to a different Nets team. And he’s going to have to change with it. After nearly eight weeks out with a hamstring strain, Thomas is back practicing and is slated to play Saturday at the Timberwolves. It will be the 24-year-old guard’s first appearance since getting hurt on Nov. 5 at Indiana. “He’s expected to play,” said Nets coach Jordi Fernandez. “No pressure … He’s done a good job getting himself back into shape and healthy. And we just want to see his superpowers out there. So, no pressure for him to have to do too much: Just be yourself and help the team compete and go get a win.”

New York Post

A long-armed swarming defense and egalitarian quick-passing offense hunting open 3-pointers has been the order of the day, and it’s worked. And Thomas — who has thrived on iso ball and feasted in the midrange — will adjust to it. “Yeah, last year before he got hurt, we still played like (that), not just shooting 3s but finding the open shot; and he was great at finding those shots. I just want him to balance his scoring ability with his playmaking ability,” said Fernandez. “That means that he’s creating not just points for himself, but points for others. And if he does that, it’s what the team needs from him. “I’ve seen it before he got hurt … Last year the game at Chicago and at Cleveland, he had outstanding games where he scored at a high level but also assisted at a high level. So, that’s what I want from CT: To impact the game at every single level. I want him to be solid defensively, a good defender, a great playmaker, and a great efficient scorer. He’s more than capable to do all those three things. If he doesn’t, then I’m going to have to sit down with him and try to help them get there.”

New York Post

Michael Scotto: Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas will make his return tomorrow night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, coach Jordi Fernandez says. Thomas, who’s missed the past 20 games, has averaged 21.4 points in eight games played this season.

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Content to chuck from behind the arc, they rarely punished Miami for their perimeter aggression by driving with just eight made free throws all night, their second-lowest total of the season. “I thought for the most part, they called a good football game out there because it was not basketball,” coach Jordi Fernandez said, tongue in cheek. “It was physical on both ends … and I’m happy with that. I think we drove enough times that we should’ve gotten the same amount of free throws. But, it is what it is.” Even though the young Nets actually had fewer giveaways, they got punished more for them, with Miami enjoying an 18-9 edge in points off turnovers.

New York Post

Erik Slater: Jordi Fernandez: "I thought they called a good football game out there, because it was not basketball... But I think the officials did a good job, because they let both sides play the same way."

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Erik Slater: Jordi Fernandez tested positive for the flu but is doing well, per assistant Steve Hetzel.

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Michael Scotto: Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernández will miss tonight’s game vs. Milwaukee due to illness. Assistant Coach Steve Hetzel will coach in his place.

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