TORONTO — D’Angelo Russell is again for a Brooklyn encore.
With Russell on the ground, the Nets can have a unique pace.
A unique type.
Possibly even completely different starters.
They’ll be simply plain completely different.
Brooklyn will miss Dorian Finney-Smith’s toughness and protection.
However they’ve lacked playmaking, a pick-and-roll risk, and finish of recreation execution.
Russell — acquired Sunday together with Max Lewis, and becoming a member of the group in Toronto earlier than Wednesday’s tilt — can present a few of these issues.
How a lot that advantages the Nets in the long term is a separate argument.
“Yeah, [Russell’s] seen so much in this league. He’s been in so many different types of environments, winning environments,” Cam Johnson stated. “He’s a very succesful participant, succesful scorer, succesful chief in these methods. So it’s going to be massive for us.
“He’s somebody that can kind of control the game and is able to pass, is able to score. And I think he’ll be a good voice for us. So I’m looking forward to starting to figure this thing out with him.”
The Nets have quite a bit to determine.
Since buying and selling Dennis Schroder, the Nets have lacked a pick-and-roll risk and a participant who can break defenders down off the dribble.
They’ve been over-reliant on the quick break behind Ben Simmons, who was Russell’s teammate for 2 years at Montverde Academy, the place they went 45-2 and received consecutive nationwide titles.
Now they’ll carry disparate ability units that ought to make the offense extra full.
“Yeah, we could definitely use him for sure,” Ziaire Williams stated. “He’s a fantastic on-ball man, can shoot, play-make. That’s what we want.
“We need a guy who could put pressure on the rim, get a 2-on-1 and play 3-on-4 on the back side. And he’s real good at that when he has the ball in his hands and has confidence. So, definitely looking forward to meeting him, and winning some games for sure. We definitely could use him.”
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However how does coach Jordi Fernandez plan to make use of him?
Simmons had largely been the backup behind Schroder, solely moving into the beginning job as soon as the German obtained dealt.
Does Russell’s arrival ship Simmons again to the bench?
Each are motivated, on expiring offers and needing to carry out heading into unrestricted free company this summer season.
“Relationships are important,” Fernandez stated. “It’s good that these two guys know each other. They played together. I’m pretty sure that’s going to be some good memories that they can share. And we’ll go from there.”
There are 96 backcourt minutes nightly even with out three-guard lineups.
Cam Thomas is the 2 guard and it’s straightforward sufficient for Fernandez to platoon Russell and Simmons, particularly since Simmons can absorb a few of the frontcourt minutes vacated by Finney-Smith’s departure.
Though backup guard Shake Milton was dealt away with Finney-Smith, guard Keon Johnson may nonetheless see his minutes dip.
He has began the previous 11 video games and averaged 26.4 minutes over the previous 15, however shot simply 26.4 % from deep in that span.
After all, it bears repeating that the Nets are tanking, and have struggled mightily post-Schroder each time Simmons is off the ground.
Russell, 28, will assist in these moments — assist the pro-tank crowd may discover counterproductive.
“Very excited to coach [Russell and Lewis],” Fernandez stated. “I’ve heard nice issues and attempting to get them in control with some movie … simplifying the playbook and the principles and the whole lot to allow them to study earlier than we see them.
“So, we’ll see if they play or not, but at least they start learning our system and we’ll just go from there.”
Russell spent 2017-19 in Brooklyn, incomes his solely All-Star berth.
This season he’s averaging 12.4 factors and 4.7 assists regardless of coming off the bench in 19 of his previous 21 appearances.
“We know the type of player he is: A primary ball handler, very good shooter, a player that’s going to be important for us. Good pick-and-roll player, good playmaker out of pick-and-roll,” Fernandez stated. “So, very excited to get to coach him. And he’s going to help this team because it gives us a different dimension with his ability to handle and organize players.”
