#Nets vowing they are not looking ahead to offseason

With the decimated Nets facing an elimination Game 4 on Sunday against Toronto, finding a way to extend their postseason may hinge on not already having their minds on the offseason.

“Yeah that’s the most important part: What’s your mindset entering into the game,” interim coach Jacque Vaughn said. “So, a great challenge for us, because the most comfortable and easiest thing to do is to think beyond [Sunday]. But to have extreme courage to face the challenge that’s at hand is what’s needed.”

Easier said than done, facing a 3-0 hole no NBA team has ever overcome. They’ll need to get center Jarrett Allen going against Marc Gasol after he was held without a shot Friday. And get Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Garrett Temple to improve on their combined 5-of-30 from Game 3.

Most of all, they must keep a cobbled-together bunch of replacement players focused on Sunday knowing they could be headed their separate ways Monday.

“[Vaughn’s message was] to have the courage to go out and do something that’s uncomfortable. Fight when the odds are against us, have the courage to focus on this one game and focus on winning this one game,” Temple said. “Not worried about anything else, about what may or may not happen but focusing on this one game, even if it’s not the natural human reaction, but that’s what we need to do.”

Rest assured, Vaughn — and GM Sean Marks — will take note of the players who resist that natural human reaction.

“It takes courage to fight against a good team, especially when we’re [down] 3-0,” Luwawu-Cabarrot said of Vaughn’s message. “But he’s going to see who are the guys who’re willing to go out there and fight, compete and give their 100 percent like this was the first game.”

But rest assured, this team is undergoing an overhaul. Vaughn himself is an interim, and will have to endure a coaching search.

“He’s been tremendous. I can’t talk enough about what he’s done, in-game adjustments but also the vibe he’s presented to the team and been able to put into his players and give us confidence when we get on the court,” Temple said. “We’ve shown how to share the ball, how to defend just how to do things differently with seven new guys on the team.”

Many that take the court Sunday in Game 4 won’t be back next season.

The Nets hold a $5 million team option on Temple, Bird Rights on Joe Harris (away with a family emergency) and non-Bird rights on Tyler Johnson. Even Luwawu-Cabarrot’s $1.8 million deal for next year is non-guaranteed. Then there were COVID replacement players like Donta Hall and Jamal Crawford.

“We have a lot of time together. What are you doing with that time? How are you spending it with the performance team? With the players? With your coaching staff?” Vaughn said. “You’re able to reveal the person that you are. There’s numerous opportunities to be consistent and authentic and your approach. Those are the things you look forward to judge a guy by.”

Getting outmatched against Toronto doesn’t obscure the fact next year’s roster will be crowded. Though Marks has called re-signing Harris a priority, Vaughn praised the way Luwawu-Cabarrot and Johnson has acquitted themselves in the Orlando bubble.

The Nets got a career playoff high 23 points from Johnson on Friday, and will need an encore in Game 4.

“It’s interesting how things can change quickly in this league,” Vaughn said. “Look at TLC, where he was to where he is now. Look at a guy like Tyler, the situation he was in … now he gets an opportunity he’s fully taken advantage of. In this league things change quickly.”

Luwawu-Cabarrot has taken this as an opportunity to prove himself.

“I’ve learned throughout this year and throughout all this, that every single opportunity to show yourself is a good opportunity,” Luwawu-Cabarrot said. “It could be a game or practice. It’s always a good opportunity to go out and compete and give your 100 percent every single time because there’s a lot of people watching.”