Tag: Rodions Kurucs

Caris LeVert: Nets ‘truly believe’ series win over Raptors is attainable

The Nets have knocked off two title contenders in the bubble already, but their biggest test will come in the first round of the playoffs.

Well before the Brooklyn Nets earned their pair of impressive wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers inside the Disney bubble, Rodions Kurucs expressed he and his teammates could knock off the Toronto Raptors if they faced off in the first round:

If we are the seventh seed, we’re going to go against Toronto probably. We definitely have a chance. We have been competing with that team, and I definitely think we can beat them in Round 1.

With two games left on Brooklyn’s seeding games schedule, the Nets are now, in fact, set to play the reigning NBA champions in the first round of the postseason.

And now Kurucs isn’t the only member of the Nets who thinks they can upset the Raptors:

“We know they’re a really good team. Obviously, they’re playing good basketball, they move the ball really well, they’re a great defensive team, as well,” Caris LeVert said after Sunday’s win, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “But for us, we feel like it’s about us. If we move the ball well, if we play good defense, if we’re locked into the game plan, we can win that series. We truly believe that. So we’re gonna go into that playoff matchup all the way locked in.”

With the way the Nets are playing now, the series, at least, shouldn’t be the cakewalk some might have initially expected.

Jamal Crawford out vs. Magic

Jamal Crawford will not make his Brooklyn Nets debut on Friday against the Orlando Magic.

The Brooklyn Nets will have to make things work on Friday without veteran guard Jamal Crawford. The Disney bubble substitute player has been ruled out against the Orlando Magic, with “conditioning” being the listed reason for his unavailability.

Rodions Kurucs, who was listed as probable on Thursday due to a left hip contusion that he suffered in Brooklyn’s last scrimmage, will be available for Jacque Vaughn and company.

Additionally, prior to the Nets’ 2:30 p.m. tip-off against the Magic, Vaughn told reporters on a Zoom call Donta Hall will be able to make his Nets debut on Friday, per Alex Schiffer of The Athletic.

Hall had not been listed on Brooklyn’s status report prior to Friday’s game, but like Crawford, he did not appear in any of the Nets’ three scrimmages leading up to the restart.

Friday’s game will also be Lance Thomas and Tyler Johnson’s first regular season game in a Brooklyn uniform.

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Jamal Crawford questionable, Rodions Kurucs probable vs. Magic

Brooklyn Nets guard Jamal Crawford is listed as questionable and Rodions Kurucs is probable for the opener with the Orlando Magic.

Brooklyn gets back to work on Friday with their first seeding game against the Orlando Magic starting at 2:30 p.m.

The matchup isn’t just Brooklyn’s first game that counts toward their 2019-20 standing in the Eastern Conference. It’s also a chance for Jamal Crawford and Donta Hall to play in their first game as members of the Nets.

Crawford and Hall are the only two players who didn’t appear in one of Brooklyn’s three Disney bubble scrimmages. Hall will be able to make his first appearance on Friday, given he wasn’t on the Nets’ injury report, which the team released on Thursday.

However, Crawford was one of two players listed on the team’s injury report. He is listed as doubtful, with “conditioning” being the listed reason.

Rodions Kurucs was also on the teams’ injury report. He’s probable with a left hip contusion, which he suffered in Brooklyn’s final scrimmage. [lawrence-related id=12100,12108,12096]

Jacque Vaughn not worried about Rodions Kurucs’ hit to the hip vs. Jazz

Rodions Kurucs finished in double figures once again for the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.

Rodions Kurucs was once again among the members of the Brooklyn Nets to finish in double figures in Monday’s Disney bubble scrimmage against the Utah Jazz. In fact, Kurucs was one of three Nets players to finish in double figures in each of Brooklyn’s three scrimmages, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen being the other two players.

However, Kurucs’ efforts on Monday were not enough to help the Nets get past the Jazz, with Utah winning 112-107.

Kurucs did most of his scoring from 3-point territory, going 3-for-4 from long-range in his 13-point performance. But on a 2-point baseline jumper he hit late in the, Kurucs appeared to injure himself.

The forward received attention soon after, but Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn informed reporters on a Zoom call after Monday’s loss that Kurucs will be fine, per Alex Schiffer of The Athletic. Vaughn said Kurucs took a shot to the hip.

RELATED: Nets drop final scrimmage to Jazz

Nets drop final scrimmage to Jazz

The Brooklyn Nets finished 1-2 in their Disney bubble scrimmages, losing their final game to the Utah Jazz.

The Brooklyn Nets found themselves in a sizeable hole early in their matchup against the Utah Jazz on Monday. They mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, but the Nets ultimately took the 112-107 loss in their third Disney bubble scrimmage.

Caris LeVert led the Nets in scoring once again, finishing with 23 points on 11-for-22 shooting (0-for-3 from 3-point territory). He also had six assists, second to only Chris Chiozza (seven).

Jarrett Allen had his third double-double of the Disney bubble, logging 19 points and 10 boards. Allen’s point total against the Jazz is the highest mark he reached in the Disney bubble scrimmages.

The Nets center also had two blocks and two steals.

Rodions Kurucs and Tyler Johnson were the only other Nets to finish in double figures, scoring 13 and 11 points, respectively, off the bench.

LeVert, Kurucs and Allen were the only Nets players to finish in double figures in each scrimmage.

The Nets are off until Friday, when they take on the Orlando Magic in their first of eight seeding games at 2:30 p.m.

Rodions Kurucs proving he can handle new role for Nets

Rodions Kurucs is being asked to take on the role of the five with Jarrett Allen being the only true Nets center in Disney.

Aside from seeing their team get back to work, there wasn’t much for Nets fans to be excited about after Brooklyn lost 99-68 to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.

The Nets didn’t get off to an ideal start, but they were also down multiple players — including Joe Harris, Tyler Johnson and Jamal Crawford. Good thing for the Nets that the game doesn’t count toward their playoff push.

But there was at least one bright spot for the team, at least from Jacque Vaughn and Garrett Temple’s vantage point, in the sizeable loss: Rodions Kurucs.

The forward finished with 10 points, five rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot. Additionally, he had to handle playing the role of the five — something Kurucs normally does not need to do. Between practice reps and Wednesday, Vaughn likes what he’s seen from the foward:

I think Rodi has really had a good couple weeks for us. He carried it over to a game setting, and that’s what you wanna see.

 

With Jarrett Allen being Brooklyn’s only true center at Disney, the Nets need some fours to take on the role of a small five at times. Whoever can take on that responsibility won’t simply receive more minutes, those individuals can also further prove they should be part of Brooklyn’s future — when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are prepared to make their push.

It’s early in the restart, but Temple is pleased with what Kurucs has done, per Anthony Puccio of Nets Daily:

Rodi looked really good for us. He’s gonna be good for us… I really like the way Rodi played tonight and the way he’s played in practice.

Kurucs will get his next chance to prove himself on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. when the Nets face the San Antonio Spurs.

Rodions Kurucs could receive more minutes in Disney bubble

Rodions Kurucs didn’t play a ton for Brooklyn before the NBA’s hiatus, but that could change in the Disney bubble.

Donta Hall provides the Brooklyn Nets with another bigger body for the Disney bubble while DeAndre Jordan (elected to opt-out after testing positive for COVID-19) and Nic Claxton (left shoulder) sit out the remainder of the 2019-20 season. But the addition of Hall alone isn’t enough.

Like Hall, Michael Beasley is also 6-foot-9 — giving Brooklyn a third player at that height who can play the four.

The third one is Rodions Kurucs, who’s game is unique from his teammates’.

Although he didn’t play a ton for Brooklyn before the hiatus (39 games, four starts), the 2018 second-round pick logged a lot of time as a rookie (64 games, 46 starts). With the Nets running so small, Jacque Vaughn told reporters on a Zoom call Friday that he expects the Latvian will play a significant role in the Disney bubble, per Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News:

I think his energy we’ll need to take advantage of. He had a good practice today. He’s done a good job of being in drills with wings and with bigs.

We’re trying to make him the best basketball player that he can be. So far he’s accepted that challenge and is willing to play any position for us.

Kurucs’ teammates feel similarly.

Jarrett Allen knows Kurucs will “sacrifice his body and sacrifice the other team’s body for everybody’s sake.” And Garrett Temple expects the forward to “cause havoc” and “be a nuisance” for opposing teams, adding:

Everybody’s getting back into shape, but that’s what we’re expecting from Rodi: his ability to just do the little things, be that dog on the inside, get all the garbage points. I’m excited for the opportunity for him, especially, and hopefully he takes advantage.

Depleted numbers presents Nets’ bench with major opportunities

With the Nets down seven players, Brooklyn will need help from some who had limited opportunities before the NBA’s hiatus.

No team is experiencing what the Brooklyn Nets are heading into the NBA’s restart at Disney World. To not have Kevin Durant (right Achilles) and Kyrie Irving (right shoulder) is one thing, but then take away the team’s 2019-20 leading scorer (Spencer Dinwiddie) and four more players? It’s truly unbelievable.

But, as much as things will be challenging for the Nets in the short term — particularly for Jacque Vaughn as he tries to earn the full-time head coaching gig — this also presents players with opportunity.

Of course, more will be expected of Jarrett Allen — regardless of whether or not the team gets another big — Joe Harris, Garrett Temple and, especially, Caris LeVert.

After those four, the only other Net heading down to Disney that received regular minutes before the hiatus was Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. Even then, he only averaged 17.2 minutes a night throughout the 39 games in which he played.

Tyler Johnson is walking into a situation where he will likely be asked to do far more than he’s used to.

Then there’s Chris Chiozza, Rodions Kurucs, Dzanan Musa, who all have something to prove going into this.

“I think this is important for me, and it’s a chance for me to continue to prove myself,” Chris Chiozza recently told reporters on a Zoom call, per Christian Winfield of the New York Daily News. “Being a free agent coming up, hopefully prove myself enough to stay here or see what happens in the offseason.”

The same goes for Justin Anderson, Jeremiah Martin and whoever Brooklyn can sign as replacement players.

This is the time for those who had smaller roles on the Nets in 2019-20. They’re not expected to go win a title. Outlasting the Washington Wizards — who are down Bradley Beal and Davis Bertans — needs to be the goal.

And for guys like Chiozza, Musa, Kurucs and even Luwawu-Cabarrot, there won’t be a better opportunity to prove they belong in Brooklyn when Durant and Irving return — which is when the real fun begins.

RELATED: Why the Orlando restart could be a turning point for Caris LeVert

Rodions Kurucs likes Nets chances in possible playoff matchup vs. Raptors

If the Nets and Raptors maintain their current standings in the East, they will meet up in the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs.

The Nets will head into the NBA’s restart at Disney World later in July as the No. 7 team in the Eastern Conference. When the league went on hiatus, Brooklyn led the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic by half a game in the standings.

If the Nets hold onto that spot, they’ll face the No. 2 team in the East — which is currently the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors. Although Toronto doesn’t have Kawhi Leonard like they did for their 2019 playoffs run, Pascal Siakam and company have shown they’re a force to be reckoned with.

Still, Nets forward Rodions Kurucs told reporters on a Zoom call on Monday that he likes Brooklyn’s chances in a playoff meeting with Toronto, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post:

If we are the 7th seed, we’re going to go against Toronto probably. We definitely have a chance. We have been competing with that team, and I definitely think we can beat them in Round 1.

But this matchup is by no means a lock to happen. Both teams could slip in the standings.

The Nets are without five players going into the bubble, and the Raptors hold a three-game lead over the Boston Celtics heading into the eight-game slate of seeding contests.

Should the Nets slip to No. 8, they will face the top-ranked Milwaukee Bucks — who hold a 6.5 game lead over the Raptors in the East. If the Raptors drop to No. 3, they’ll face either the Philadelphia 76ers or Indiana Pacers — likely the latter given Victor Oladipo has opted out for the bubble.

Report: Rodions Kurucs’ brother declares for NBA draft

Arturs Kurucs, brother of Brooklyn Nets forward Rodions Kurucs, we’ll be available for teams to select in the 2020 NBA Draft.

It has been close to two years since the Brooklyn Nets selected Rodions Kurucs with the 40th overall pick (10th pick in the second round) in the 2018 NBA Draft. Now 22 years old, the Latvian saw his role decrease in his second season with the Nets after he started in 46 games as a rookie to help Brooklyn reach the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

Though it appears Kurucs’ step back in his sophomore NBA season has not deterred his younger brother Arturs from chasing down his dream in America at the age of 20 — which is how old Rodions was when he declared for the 2018 NBA Draft.

According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, Arturs Kurucs declared for the 2020 NBA Draft on Monday.

In 39 games for BC VEF Riga in 2019-20, Arturs Kurucs averaged  13.1 points per game on 44.4% shooting (40.3% from deep). The 6-foot-3 shooting guard also averaged 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and one steal per game for the Latvian professional team.