Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Miami Heat didn’t go as planned for Jason Kidd and the Brooklyn Nets, but the always calm head coach is keeping his poise ahead of Thursday’s Game 2.
Facing a well-rested Miami squad, Brooklyn was blasted 107-86 to start the seven-game series, but rather than slapping the panic button, Coach Kidd is pulling from a lesson learned early in his coaching career.
J-Kidd’s tenure as a head coach was off to a similar rocky start, as the Nets began the season 10-21, only to go on a phenomenal tear over the latter half of the season and comfortably make the playoffs. As Jason told USA Today on Wednesday, he didn’t worry then, and he isn’t sweating now.
“How do you respond when things don’t go well?” Kidd said. “We got to find out right off the bat. I wouldn’t panic.”
Jason’s cool demeanor served him well as a player, and it rubbed off on his squad throughout the season. Back then, the Nets stuck together—a lesson that they hope will serve them well as this series goes forward.
“Trust in the locker room and also the coaching staff,” Jason said, speaking on how Brooklyn made it through its rocky beginning. “We have to trust one another that as bad as people painted it, at some point it’s going to turn.”
In a similar way, Brooklyn can now look forward to the rest of the postseason knowing that it can turn the page. And just as Kidd and Co. know they have what it takes, the coach on the other side of the floor, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, recognizes Jason has the leadership to make it happen.
“He has the first part, and the first part is the toughest part, and that’s what he’s been doing all his life,” Spoelstra said. “He’s a leader. He knows how to manage personalities. He knows how to get people together for a common goal. He was doing that for his entire career. That’s probably the biggest factor in coaching in this league. You knew the rest of it would come with experience.”
While Spoelstra was complimentary of Jason, the Nets coach had similar praise for what his team has done.
“We have a lot of respect for the world champs,” Jason said of Spoelstra’s Heat. “That’s what we’re trying to get to. They’ve put in a lot of hard work the last four years, and they’ve had a lot of success, so hopefully we can get there.”
After regrouping following the Game 1 defeat, Coach Kidd has identified several areas where his Nets must improve—starting with slowing down LeBron James. James, a four-time NBA MVP who finished second in this year’s vote, tallied a game-high 22 points off 10-of-15 shooting. His efforts were a big part of Miami’s offensive charge, leaving the Brooklyn defense responsible for making a change this time around.
“You’re talking about the best in the game,” J-Kidd said of LeBron. “So you have to give him different looks. He doesn’t get tired, so we just try to make it tough on him.”
While frustrating LeBron is task one, not far behind is crashing the boards and limiting second-chance opportunities. Jason alluded to the Nets rebounding improvements being a major factor late in their series against the Toronto Raptors. He hopes going forward that his team can control the glass, which should result in more easy buckets in transition.
“We definitely have to rebound this series,” Jason said. “It gives us opportunities to try to get out and get an easy basket, while not giving up a putback or a three. It definitely helps the defense and gives them confidence that they can get stops.”
The final key for Brooklyn lies in its bench. Coach Kidd entered the postseason with a strong bench and top-notch depth in his back pocket. However, the Nets’ second unit struggled in Game 1, particularly in the fourth quarter.
Jason kept that second line on the floor early in the final frame in hopes that they would keep the game close, or perhaps even shave a few points off the 13-point deficit that they carried into the quarter. Instead, the Miami lead grew to 19 points by the seven-minute mark, when Jason would’ve normally re-inserted his starters.
In Game 2, Jason is relying on that depth to put the team within striking distance late in the contest.
“We have plenty of guys that can play,” Coach Kidd said. “I won’t shorten the rotation. We’re built that way—we’re a deep team. I’m trying to get guys in. Hopefully I can find us late in the game with a chance to win.”
Game 2 is set for a 7 p.m. EDT tipoff Thursday night from Miami’s American Airlines Arena and will air on ESPN2.
