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If you consider the Brooklyn Nets, you most likely first consider their trio of superstars in Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, however as we have realized in years previous, it takes greater than only a Massive 3 to realize the final word prize of an NBA title.
That, after all, is the place the supporting solid is available in.
MORE: Nets’ season preview | Nets’ depth chart
Within the 2021 NBA Playoffs, Brooklyn’s supporting solid was put to the check, given the near-impossible process of stepping as much as exchange the manufacturing of Harden and Irving, who every missed time throughout an Japanese Convention Semifinals sequence that the Nets nonetheless got here inside inches of profitable. A lot of Brooklyn’s success in that sequence could be attributed to Durant going supernova, however gamers like Blake Griffin and Jeff Inexperienced starred of their respective roles to offer the mandatory assist to maintain the Nets alive.
Whereas Inexperienced has since moved on in free company, the Nets enter the 2021-22 season with a supporting solid that is arguably even higher than final 12 months’s, that includes a mix of established veterans and younger gamers seeking to make a reputation for themselves early on of their careers.
From the veterans to the rookies, discover the methods during which Brooklyn’s revamped supporting solid may also help propel this group to hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy in June.
The veterans
Returning to Brooklyn from final 12 months’s playoff roster are Griffin, Joe Harris, Bruce Brown Jr. and Nicolas Claxton, every of whom appeared in all 12 of the group’s postseason contests.
It begins with Harris, who enters the second season of a four-year, $75 million deal signed with the Nets in 2020. The sharpshooter led the league in 3-point accuracy final season, connecting on 3.1 triples per recreation at a 47.5 p.c clip, including a terrifying dynamic to an offence that options three elite scorers in Durant, Harden and Irving.
The opposite characteristic member of the returning veterans is Griffin, who has rejuvenated himself in Brooklyn, making his presence felt as a small-ball 5 together with his defence, scoring and playmaking capability. Final postseason, Griffin was regarded upon to protect Giannis Antetokounmpo at occasions, a task he’ll doubtless reprise if a rematch between the Nets and Milwaukee Bucks is really inevitable in 2022.
Brown and Claxton may see their roles decreased this season, however the two are on the youthful facet of issues and convey loads of vitality – Brown together with his rebounding and perimeter defence, Claxton together with his dimension, rebounding capability and exercise.
With that blend of veterans in place, the Nets have additionally added a brand new crop by free company in LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre’ Bembry, James Johnson, Patty Mills and Paul Millsap, and so they additionally added fourth-year guard Jevon Carter by way of commerce.
Whereas Aldridge returns to the roster after a five-game stint (and temporary retirement) with Brooklyn final season, he’ll present an offensive punch alongside Mills, as the 2 are reunited after enjoying collectively in San Antonio and Portland.
Earlier within the offseason, NBA.com’s Scott Rafferty outlined the ways in which Mills will help this team’s second unit, which turns into even scarier attributable to his capability to attain in bunches. Given the provision points that each Harden and Irving have handled prior to now, the Nets now have a starting-calibre guard in Mills, who can step in as an off-ball guard or a lead guard within the backcourt to spell both one of many superstars, or play alongside them in a three-guard lineup.
Millsap, a savvy veteran, will primarily step in to fill a few of the void left by Inexperienced, whereas Bembry and Johnson every have a chance to enhance Brooklyn’s defence with the grit and energy they every play with on that finish of the ground. It is unknown how giant of a task Carter stands to play, however he’s the definition of a defensive-minded guard that may assist form this group’s defensive id.
After Harris and Griffin, who’re solidified starters, that is a gaggle of seven authentic reserves that this Nets group can name upon relying on circumstance.
The youth
It is barely unusual to see groups with a win-now mentality look to construct by the draft, however Brooklyn did simply that, utilizing its personal first-round choose to pick the prolific scoring Cameron Thomas from LSU and buying the twenty ninth choose within the draft, which was used to pick Day’Ron Sharpe from North Carolina.
Along with the 2 first-rounders, the Nets have signed second-round choose Kessler Edwards to a two-way deal and purchased third-year ahead Sekou Doumboya from the Detroit Pistons. Doumbouya will get looped in with the rookies as he will not flip 21 till Dec. 23, making him youthful than three of Brooklyn’s draft picks in Edwards, Marcus Zegarowski (forty ninth general) and RaiQuan Grey (59th general).
It isn’t straightforward for younger gamers to carve roles on title contenders, however of the above group, Thomas has an elite scoring capability that he brings with him to the following stage from the soar. Throughout his lone season at LSU, Thomas led all freshmen within the NCAA with 23.0 factors per recreation, delivering 10 video games with 25 or extra factors for the Tigers.
This scoring capability translated to the Las Vegas Summer time League, the place he earned co-MVP honours by posting averages of 27.0 factors on .423/.360/.846 taking pictures splits over 4 video games.
Quickly to be 20, Thomas has an opportunity to offer one other scoring punch from the Nets’ second unit. One might argue that there will not be as a lot alternative for the rookie given the variety of scorers on this roster, which is a take that holds some validity. Nonetheless, it is fairly scary to suppose {that a} naturally gifted scorer has a chance to study from the day by day examples set by Durant, Harden, Irving and Mills.
Sharpe is intriguing in that he was one of many nation’s finest highschool merchandise in 2020, that means his potential expertise is thru the roof, and Doumbouya is extraordinarily attention-grabbing in that he’s two years faraway from being the fifteenth choose within the draft, primarily making him lottery-level expertise.
These younger gamers won’t have the most important position on a nightly foundation, however they’re expert sufficient to play alongside a few of the extra established veterans on nights the place others won’t be accessible. Ought to they keep a stable stage of growth all through the 2021-22 season, do not be shocked if there is a playoff recreation during which you see one in every of them trusted in a key state of affairs. Thomas because the fourth or fifth scoring choice on the ground is kind of terrifying.
Possessing a mix of veterans and youth, the Nets are able to compete now and are making a pathway to construct for the long run, as every of the aforementioned younger gamers can develop into the supplementary items to the Massive 3.
With Durant committing to the franchise by the 2025-26 season, this concentrate on growing younger expertise can lengthen the group’s championship window even additional than it already is.
Prepare.
The views on this web page don’t essentially replicate the views of the NBA or its golf equipment.
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