Now that the Nets have a healthy lineup again, it’s up to coach Kenny Atkinson to find the right combinations to break them out of a slump, writes Greg Joyce of The New York Post. Caris LeVert, Allen Crabbe and Jared Dudley recently returned from injuries, leaving Spencer Dinwiddie, who had thumb surgery in late January, as the only player still sidelined. However, Brooklyn has lost six of its last eight games and has fallen back to .500.
“I think part of getting healthy again is just getting that chemistry and getting our lineups right,” Atkinson said. “That’s where we’re a little — confused is the wrong word, but we’re trying to figure it out what the best thing is and who’s getting the minutes and all that. It’s almost like another new season for us with all our returning players.”
LeVert was off to a sizzling start before suffering a dislocated foot in November, and backcourt partner D’Angelo Russell didn’t begin to excel until LeVert got injured. Atkinson has to find a way for them to be effective together, while also working out a logjam at power forward, where Treveon Graham, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Dudley are all battling for playing time.
There’s more today out of Brooklyn:
- Also competing for minutes at forward will be rookie forward Rodions Kurucs, even though he was held out of the lineup Thursday, Joyce adds in a separate story. Atkinson said the 21-year-old, who was part of the Rising Stars Challenge, will remain in the mix for a spot in the rotation.
- LeVert expected to be out for the season when he first suffered his injury, relays Bryan Fonseca of NetsDaily. “I looked down and I was like, ‘Man, this is bad,’” LeVert said in an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “But I think, probably 15-20 minutes after it happened, they kind of told me that it may have only been a dislocation. And that was the best case scenario in that situation.”
- Ed Davis was happy to get a one-year, $4.4MM offer from the Nets last summer, but he wasn’t sure he would be joining a contender, notes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “When I signed here in July, I didn’t think this was a playoff team, honestly,” Davis said. “But when I got here and started to see players and how good guys were — and see coach, his philosophies and his schemes — my mindset changed.”
Russell & Levert both benefit from Dinwiddie, so no, things will not go as well.
Nets went 5-0 & 9-2 before SD got injured. Since, 4-7.
There was also a dropoff after Levert was injured. (They went from 6-8 to 2-10 before a 7gm win streak.) I guess the lesson here for BRK is, change is bad.
Really it comes down to Dinwiddie. I know Sweet Lou Will prob takes home Sixth Man, and deservedly so, but Din needs to get some love there. He positively impacts the game with his driving ability and finishing at the rim. He also passes really well and being 6-6 is good at switching on defense. If he doesn’t return soon that will not bode well for BK. LeBron wanted SD on the Cavs last year but CLE only offered their 1st rounder and got denied. They ended up w Clarkson and Nance Jr. Thank goodness the Nets didn’t accept that.
So that’s the power forward trio going forward? 6-5 Graham, 6-7 Rondae and 6-7 Duds. I know Kurucs is hurting. He barely played in Barcelona for 2 years as they tried to hide him from the NBA but he needs to keep starting. RHJ and Graham can back him up. Duds can Haslem it.
Sorry about the Cavs dig was just trying to make a point. If he did go there I think he could’ve helped LeBron more than some others brought in.
Agree, SD would have adapted better than Clarkson to a situation & season that was already underway. Clarkson just looked for his shot, and was never projected to start. Him & Nance are improving, good pickups, but not what was needed for the Lebron window.
At the time a first for SD looked like an overpay! The info came out after the Laker trade, such a tease. What coulda been. I wonder what it would have taken. I think the trade for Laker prospects could have been made after the season.
Clarkson has looked pretty darn good this year and I’ve always liked Nance but like you said they could’ve made that deal in the off-season. If the Nets took that I think the trio of LBJ, Love and SD would have given the dubs a run for their money. Especially when you think maybe they wouldn’t have traded for George Hill if they got Din. That would have left assets (Crowder or Shump, IT, Frye all expiring) to trade for another piece.
Too many details to remember but the Lakers wanted to dump those salaries– for Lebron!
Would have been nice to get those first two games vs GSW.