clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Coach Kidd, nerves gone, says team is "working hard"

By Net Income
Brooklyn Nets

Jason Kidd admitted to being nervous on Wednesday, the first time he donned whistle, sweats and clipboard as coach. Tyshawn Taylor also said he took a bit of a backseat to Lawrence Frank, whose experience includes head or assistant coaching duties with the Grizzlies, Nets, Celtics and Pistons.

Friday things had changed. Kidd's jitters had calmed and as Mason Plumlee noted, he was more "hands-on" during practice.

"The nerves are gone," Kidd said Friday. "Summer school has officially started. I’m excited."

There was still some uncertainty, like when to blow the whistle, but the first-time coach thought Friday's session was productive for both him and his team of 20-somethings.

"It’s something that you have to get good at," Kidd said of blowing the whistle. "Guys are gonna make mistakes, and you want to see how they’re gonna respond to the mistake. So you have to pick and choose, because if you stop it after every mistake, you won’t know how they’re gonna handle when it comes game time."

Kidd mostly liked what he saw, particularly on defense, but also said turnovers have to come down. He did note that turnovers are to be expected on a team that's just come together.

The new coach also talked about his point guard, suggesting that Deron Williams is a better player than he was, "He’s better than me. I mean, he can shoot," he said.

Meanwhile, Mike Mazzeo reports that the Nets' interest in Shaun Livingston as a back-up point guard is "serious." Mid Friday afternoon, Sebastian Telfair set up a twitter spree when he tweeted, "I'm headed home!!!!" which some misinterpreted as him saying he was joining the Nets or Knicks. The Nets and Knicks denied interest and it was later determined the 6'0" point guard was simply saying, he was headed home.

More From NetsDaily