Three Things: NetsGC Earn First Victory on the Big Stage
July 1, 2022
By Kristian Cuaresma
Here are three things to highlight from NetsGC’s 3-2 win over Warriors Gaming Squad:
Game 1: Warriors Gaming Squad win 21-17
Game 2: NetsGC win 23-11
Game 3: Warriors Gaming Squad win 23-20
Game 4: NetsGC win 22-7
Game 5: NetsGC win 21-14
1 – The Jyden Effect
The entire NBA 2K League broadcast team would not stop gushing about Jyden, but the rookie gave them no choice. In his stage debut for NetsGC, he averaged 12.0 points and 2.4 assists while shooting 82 percent from the field. Jyden was electric and stepped up when his team needed him the most. After Brooklyn dropped the first game of the night, Jyden responded with an 18-point outburst to even the series. He ultimately would miss a total of only five shots throughout the five-game series.
Two aspects to Jyden’s game that needed improvement after group play was his playmaking and ball security. When Warriors Gaming Squad went up 2-1 to put NetsGC on the brink of elimination, Jyden played the remainder of the series without registering a turnover. The young rookie played and looked the part of a star last night, and it is only a matter of time before the rest of the league catches up to the hype.
2 – Some Dude from Chicago
During the post-game interview, Streetz took a quick moment to address the teams that passed on him. Selected with the 41st pick in the 2022 NBA 2K League draft, Streetz was the last lockdown chosen. Since then, Streetz has proven on numerous possessions that he is one of the best defenders in the league. Throughout the evening, Streetz hounded Warriors Gaming Squad’s star point guard CB13, consistently bumping him in a three-quarter press. His persistence finally paid off when he forced an early bump steal in each of the final three games.
The night did not start well for Streetz as CB13 finished game one with 14 points on 71 percent shooting. In that contest, CB13 got to the left wing to shoot his signature fadeaway on several occasions. CB13 was 4-of-4 from deep from the left wing and missed his only three-point shot from the top of the arc. Afterwards, Streetz made the necessary adjustments and held CB13 to two points in game two and zero points in game four, both results being tournament lows for the point guard.
3 – The 49th Overall Pick
On draft night, Steez was four picks away from going undrafted and being out of the NBA 2K League for the first time since its inception. Against the Warriors Gaming Squad, he put together another piece of compelling evidence proving that he is still one of the best power forwards in the league.
Like in 5v5, a power forward’s contribution to 3v3 is not often found on the stat sheet, but in key moments on film. Steez played an instrumental role in containing Golden State’s multi-faceted offense. As the free safety on the back end of the pick and roll, Steez made it difficult for the Warriors Gaming Squad, particularly as the series went on. His timely steals and blocks either ripped momentum away from the Warriors Gaming Squad or kept it on the side of NetsGC. As the lone veteran in the 3v3 lineup, his in-game communication also provided invaluable leadership for his two rookies in Jyden and Streetz.