The Nets will be without their quickly emerging glue guy Yuta Watanabe for the remainder of their current road trip at the very least.
The fan favorite has a strained right hamstring and will not play against the Trail Blazers at Barclays Center until at least Sunday.
“Yuta received an MRI in Philadelphia and was diagnosed with a hamstring strain,” Jacque Vaughn said prior to the Nets’ 112-98 victory against the Raptors on Wednesday night, adding that he will miss that game and the game against Indiana on Friday. Therefore, we will reevaluate him when we get home
Earlier in the season, during the Nets’ victory over the Grizzlies, Yuta Watanabe attempts a jumper.
The phrase Corey Sipkin
“I will surely miss him. Tuesday, I spoke a little bit about how I put a little amount of strain because it allows us to play large and tiny. And there was a time in which we missed him, so we had to play Royce [O’Neale] for 38, 39, 40 minutes. Therefore, it strains the group as a whole.”
Watanabe, who led the league in 3-point percentage (.571) and true shooting percentage (.781), was a member of the Raptors from 2020 to 22.
Earlier in the season, during the Nets’ victory over the Grizzlies, Yuta Watanabe attempts a jumper.
The phrase Corey Sipkin
Watanabe is the finest shooter in the world, according to Kyrie Irving. “The statistics confirm it today. Currently, he is the top shooter in the best league in the world.
Therefore, we want him to maintain confidence and take advantage of the possibilities he encounters. He makes the game more simpler, and we want to reward those who are prepared to sacrifice their bodies night after night, especially when they’re shooting the ball.”
Nick Nurse saw as Watanabe became a fan favorite in Toronto, but he never stayed on the court long enough to realize his full potential.
This year, he’s shooting the ball quite well. In terms of 3-point shooting percentage, he is among the league’s best. That is rather good. “That’s rather satisfactory,” Nurse replied.
“[He provided us] a substantial amount of what you see there. He is a versatile player who works hard, runs, cuts, and shoots, and is a good offensive complement because he understands spacing and cutting so well. Never quite shot the ball as well with us as he is this year with the Nets, nor did he stay healthy with us.”
“He had several instances where it appeared he was on the rise…. He came out of last year’s preseason playing very well and looking like he was going to be a big part of the rotation, but then he went down with an injury, got it fixed around December, started playing well again, and then contracted COVID. The fact that we kept hitting roadblocks was perhaps the largest issue. But a very, very good team player who contributes in numerous small ways.”
In addition to Watanabe, the Nets were without Seth Curry (left ankle) and T.J. Warren (left foot).
Since signing this summer, Warren has not played, but he is getting closer to being cleared for full practice.
“He has played both one-on-one and three-on-three against other players,” Vaughn said. “I missed the last training session, but he’s playing against other players now, so he’s definitely progressed.”
Toronto was without Fred VanVleet (non-COVID illness) and Scottie Barnes (knee).
The Nets’ starting lineup included Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, O’Neale, and Nic Claxton. Claxton told The Post that his “non-COVID illness” was merely a cold, and that he should be permitted to have his minutes increased.