Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson explains his usage of a cue card during Friday’s win over the Houston Rockets.
In the midst of the Brooklyn Nets‘ second victory of 2019, head coach Kenny Atkinson did his best impression of a college football defensive coordinator. During the game, Atkinson held up a cue card with a picture of retired Orlando Magic forward Dennis Scott. The picture had a stop symbol over it.
this is incredible Kenny Atkinson going college football defense play-calling with giant symbol cards. he wants somebody canceled. pic.twitter.com/ZYkdyZZrYF
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) November 2, 2019
Obviously, Atkinson was questioned about it after the win. Just as some expected, it was used for defensive communication purposes.
Kenny Atkinson on the Dennis Scott cue card he was holding up on the sideline tonight:
"It's just a defensive coverage we have. We've had trouble communicating it to the guys in the past…Sometimes you have a little humor in things and it syncs in with the guys" ?? pic.twitter.com/QAAUAIDpWP
— SNY (@SNYtv) November 2, 2019
“It’s just a defensive coverage we have,” Atkinson said of the card. “We’ve had trouble communicating it to the guys in the past. So, we came up with this idea and find a way to communicate so everybody knows. Sometimes, when you have a little humor in things, it sinks in a little more with the guys. I’m not going to tell you exactly what it is.”
The Nets were able to come away with the 123-116 win over a Rockets team that was 3-1 up to that point. Brooklyn was led by forward Taurean Prince, who had a team-high 27 points and 12 rebounds. The Rockets’ top guards, James Harden and Russell Westbrook, combined for 63 points. It was good for more than half of Houston’s scoring but not the win.
Despite allowing 116 points, the Nets only allowed the Rockets to shoot 41% from the field and 25% from behind the arc. Brooklyn out-rebounded Houston 55-40 in the victory.
The Nets’ next game will be on Saturday night. They’ll travel to Detroit to take on the 2-4 Pistons at 7:00 p.m. ET.
