Nets Notebook: No awkward feeling with Seth Curry and Doc Rivers after 76ers-Nets trade
Nets reserve guard Seth Curry says there’s no awkward feeling between him and Doc Rivers, even though Rivers is his father-in-law, head-coaching a Sixers team that traded Curry to Brooklyn in the deal that sent James Harden to Philadelphia.
“Nothing awkward at all. Part of the business,” Curry said after Nets practice at the HSS Training Facility on Friday. “I understand the decision and everything that went into it. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
Curry said he hasn’t spoken to Rivers since the two teams last played in the April 9 regular-season finale at Barclays Center. He said he’s not interested in sticking it to Rivers with a good playoff game specifically — but that he is interested in playing well against his former team and the Sixers fans he once played for.
“It’s nothing about him personally. I just enjoy going back there,” Curry said. “It’s a hostile environment playing against my former team. I think I know them well, know what they do offensively and defensively, and just go back there and put on another show and figure out ways to get wins.”
Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said Curry has given no indication of added motivation going into a playoff series against his old team.
“Man, that dude is the same every single day. He ain’t changing, routine, shot routine, conversation with me, all of the above,” Vaughn said on Friday. “So will I lean on him because he’s been there and maybe some understanding of different plays, sets, reactions? Yes. But he’s ready to go. Same Seth.”
Curry has been the first guard off of Vaughn’s bench in meaningful games this season. He is averaging 9.2 points per game and shooting 40.5% from three-point range for the Nets this season.
SIMMONS WON’T TRAVEL
Nets star Ben Simmons will not travel with the team to Philadelphia for Games 1 and 2 of Brooklyn’s first-round playoff series against the 76ers, Simmons’ former team.
Simmons has been ruled out for the season with a nerve impingement in his lower back. Vaughn said the star forward has not been practicing with the team.
“But organizationally we’re in good shape,” Vaughn said after Friday’s practice at the HSS Training Facility in Industry City. “I’ll call him and see how the games were in his mind, and he’ll stay here and rehab; but besides that, everyone else is good to go.”
Simmons had an unceremonious end to his time in Philadelphia, eventually forcing a trade last season after sitting out the entire first half of the Sixers’ season due to mental health issues. He has been booed vociferously every time he has returned to Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.
FLICK OF THE WRIST
Starting Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith will play through an injury to his right wrist.
Finney-Smith addressed reporters with his right shooting hand taped, but laughed off the idea that the wrist injury could impact his availability for Game 1 of Brooklyn’s first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s playoff time, man,” he said after practice on Thursday. “Everybody’s gonna have bumps and bruises. Just part of the game.”
The starting forward who will likely see some time guarding MVP frontrunner Joel Embiid in the series had been monitoring the number of shots he took in practice this week to avoid over-exhausting his wrist before game day.
“Trying not to do too much, but I also want to get my reps in,” he said. “It’s a fine balance.”
