The ‘high ball’, the Nets’ new secret weapon?

Zaire Williams2m06. Michael Porter Jr etc Noah Clowney2m08. Nic Clacton etc Danny Wolf2m11. No, this isn’t a list of the tallest players on the Nets team (although, since only Dai’Ron Sharpe is included at 2m08). It’s really a five aligned by Jordi Fernandez Wednesday in Chicago. And not only during the last quarter without much stake, but also the second composition that the technician from Brooklyn used the most (7 minutes and 34 seconds according to specialized site pbpstats.com) behind the middle finger. This experimentation bore fruit, because it actively contributed to success on the Bulls floorthe first time this season that a New York team has two wins.

The Nets didn’t want to push the interior, nor did they particularly want to dominate the rebounding battle. This seemingly baroque group seemed like an interesting find. Without a professional leader, but with three inside and two wings, Jordi Fernandez offered a game of chess to his opposite number Billy Donovan. The action at the beginning of the fourth quarter perfectly illustrates this option.

Freshman Danny Wolf, a tall interior but center for Michigan last season in the NCAA, is used as a ball-handling leader and launch system. He finds Michael Porter Jr., who accelerates toward midcourt at the 3-point line, and immediately sets up a screen for him. Surprised, Jevon Carter, who defended on “MPJ”, left Wolf alone, who was immediately found by Porter Jr. He pretended to attack Carter off the dribble thanks to his size advantage while bringing the play to where Nick Claxton was already. Porter Jr. moves to the side, as if it would be better for him, and directs the attention of the defense. That’s it. In fact, it is Clacton who is served and immediately serves Porter Jr. for a good 3-pointer, which the Bulls hardly expected. The rope, the Nets are back above the ten-point lead, a cushion they will hold until the final buzzer.

just hard to keep. CHI tries to negate MPJ’s second touch and here’s a makeshift blind DHO, high enough up the court for MPJ ​​to convert to a three: pic.twitter.com/1CkKiuNE17

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) December 4, 2025

« We played collectively all the time » to continue Jordi Fernandez after the meeting. « Even though I suggested five different ones, the guys communicated well, stayed in agreement and made good choice after good choice. » Both the Bulls and Nets took 38 shots Wednesday: 20 on Chicago’s decisive pass to 30 for the visitors, otherwise better armed collectively despite a largely redesigned team.

“Jordi Fernandez is a genius”

In the absence of Cam Thomas, expected among the main offensive players of this team, the role of leader is taken by defector Michael Porter Jr. But we’re far from the “MPJ” Nuggets version, often confined to the corner of the floor. He serves as a magnet for the opposing rearguard with his goal-scoring qualities, while also providing space for his teammates. So is Noah Clowney, averaging 16 points over his last 15 games on 7.6 3-point attempts per game and 38.6% success. Or Nick Claxton, who is emerging as the primary player averaging a career-high 4.2 assists per game, more than doubling from last season.

It’s not easy for him when he has to play his defense one-on-one, Michael Porter Jr. is enjoying this small revolution in the Nets’ game with an average of 25.3 points and three of the last five outings above 30 units.

« Jordi is a coaching genius » said “MPJ” on Tuesday about his coach, with whom he worked between 2019 and 2022 when the Spaniard was Mike Malone’s assistant in Denver. ” We’re a young team, we’ll continue to improve, but he’s a genius with the systems he sets up, especially in attack for me. The way teams defend me individually to stop me from touching the ball and the different creative ways that Jordi has to make us play systems so that I can touch the ball and have positions to shoot without the ball, it’s really high level. Playing my game is so easy thanks to him. »

On Wednesday, Nick Claxton scored six of his ten points on the night, close to a triple-double with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. And it’s the seventh time in 21 games this season, compared to four in the last two seasons combined. The Claxton-to-Porter Jr. pairing has already entered the NBA Top 10, tied for No. 6 ahead of more “reference” duos like Cade Cunningham to Jaylen Duren.

Danny Wolf, the next evolution?

And the Nets probably aren’t done. With Danny Wolff now available and responsible, Jordi Fernandez has a new tool to help distribute the play while maintaining this tactical advantage of inches. Even logically imperfect, the 27th pick of the last draft perfectly encapsulates the Nets development project.

« Its distribution efficiency must be better » deciphered Jordi Fernandes after the match. ” And as if he already knew he was capable of it. He’s a very good passer, but sometimes he’s a bit too loose, a bit too dribble, he makes some difficult passes and he needs to adjust that. Simple: he made four assists and allowed two turnovers. And if he passes them, then he should make more passes. Obviously, the 4 to 6 ratio is not good tonight. But I believed him. He can run the game, do the right thing, and I will continue to help him. Now it’s up to me to try to make it easier for him to do something other than throw passes into the crowd, try for threes, etc. That’s the beauty of moving forward. And when you make mistakes in winning, it’s nice to see those mistakes and tell yourself that you can do even better. »

With Wolff, Williams, Porter Jr., Clowney and Claxton during this 7 minutes and 34 seconds of “Tall Ball”, the Nets dominated the Bulls 18-15, with numerous quality shots (3/4 on 2-pointers, 3/6 on 3-pointers). And they sowed some promises for the future that they would keep in the midst of expected defeats.