Andray Blatche and Mirza Teletovic got into a "scuffle" Sunday at Nets practice, Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork reports. Jason Kidd and Deron Williams called it a typical event for training camp. With the increased microscope on the franchise though, this kind of thing makes some news.
It's great. That's competition. That's what it's all about," Nets coach Jason Kidd said. "This team is put together to compete at a high level, and you saw that. There's nothing wrong with competition. Tempers might flare, but it's all out of respect, because we're all working hard, and as a coaching staff and as players, that's what you need.
That goes double after the way the first two preseason games have gone. The Nets gave up 106 points to the Wizards in the first preseason game and then 99 in a loss to Pistions. Of course, preseason stats do not matter too much in the long run. Paul Pierce however said Brooklyn's defense took a "step back" in the loss to Detroit.
There are outsized expectations for this team now with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry brought into the fold this season. That luxury tax bill will not pay itself either. There is certainly a lot of pressure on this team to win and win now.
It is somewhat expected for the intensity to boil over in practice. Especially if things go bad early on.
And this is all with a rookie coach too.
The Brooklyn Nets will be a work in progress all year, it seems. It is hard to figure out exactly what this team is with so many players hurt (Deron Williams), aging (Pierce, Garnett and Terry) and fitting together. A fight seems like the last thing the team needs for chemistry.
