First, Jacque Vaughn had to get to know who his New Jersey Nets teammates were. Then he really had to get to know them.
Vaughn had to learn who likes the ball where, who needs to be stroked, who needs a boot to the butt to get going. It’s all part of being a leader at point guard, the job former Kansas University standout Vaughn may lead by inches over Zoran Planinic and Travis Best in the absence of Jason Kidd.
“I call him one of those military guys — always under control, always trying to set the defense up. You can always hear his voice out there. He’s good in the leadership role,” said forward Eric Williams, another new Net. “He’s one of those throwback point guards that people like to play around. He puts his nose in it on defense, and the other way, you know he’ll get us into the offense.”
New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank, with his best poker face, swears he still is undetermined about his choice for his opening-night starting point guard.
Planinic has served in that role for much of the preseason, but turnovers and lack of experience are worries. Vaughn lacks the flash, size and versatility of the 6-7 Planinic but counters with stability, consistency and experience.
“He’s a little more vocal, a little more confident. He’s been an All-American point guard since he was 16,” Richard Jefferson said of Vaughn.
“I’m really beginning to understand the system. That just comes day-to-day and understanding my teammates, getting to know them on and off the court. That’s all part of the process,” said Vaughn, who admits the Nets’ system is more complicated than most but noted one trait that made him feel supremely comfortable: unselfishness.
It’s much like the system he found in his first NBA job in Utah.
“Definitely so. That was the immediate relation that I saw early to Utah,” said Vaughn, 29, a veteran of seven NBA seasons. “It starts from the coaches on down. It’s a system where you plug in plays and let the system take advantage of the abilities that players have individually. It’s a perfect, ideal situation.”
Especially when you know the traits, habits, strengths and weaknesses of teammates.
“That’s me getting to understand and know my guys out there,” said Vaughn, who has been slowed by a strained groin. “I really take it as a personal challenge. As a point guard, you have to know the guys on your team. You have to go the extra mile to know the guys on and off the floor. Some guys, you need to holler at them when they’re not in the right place. Some guys you’ve got to pull to the side. It’s your job as a point guard to know the difference.”
Vaughn has impressed those he needs to impress: his teammates and coaches.
“He’s got very good leadership skills. He’s able to organize and direct. He’s got a high basketball IQ,” said Frank. “He’s able to pressure the ball 94 feet. He’s learning his teammates in terms of where they like the ball. And he gives maximum effort.”
