NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore has ample opportunity ahead of him to show how much he has improved his game from his rookie season as one of the point guards in the rotation. While Traore did not put his best foot forward in Brooklyn’s debut on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets, he is not concerned with his ability to bounce back from a rough game.
“I think I didn’t play my best. That wasn’t the best game I did, for sure. I think I have to bring more pace to the game. That’s my strength so I got to use it more. But, it’ll be all right,” Traore said to the media after Friday’s practice. Traore played 16 minutes off the bench for the Nets in Wednesday’s 110-103 loss to the Hornets, but he finished the game with just three points and two rebounds while being a -13 in plus/minus.
“I think we have to be focused on the details. We didn’t show our best last time,” Traore said when asked for his takeaways from the season debut. “I think Cleveland’s going to be a good game because they’re really physical, and we have to be way more physical. So, I’m just excited for the next game.”
Traore was one of 10 players that head coach Jordi Fernandez used on Wednesday and was one of nine guys to see more than 16 minutes against Brandon Miller and company. Traore looked out of sorts for the majority of his time on the floor, as he also admits, but based off how he played towards the end of last season, his best has yet to come and it could be impactful for a Brooklyn team still looking for their first win of the year.
“Nolan’s one of the fastest players in the league so we’re able to run up and down. A big emphasis is getting shots up in the first six seconds. So, if we can run the ball, find guys on the wings, shoot threes, get downhill, I think that’ll make us a tough team to guard,” forward Michael Porter Jr. said of Traore during training camp. Traore didn’t make a good first impression in his second season, but he’s determined to turn that around as soon as possible.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets’ Nolan Traore isn’t worried after rough season debut vs. Hornets