The Brook(lyn) Bridge to Relevancy
As Originally Published on BestofNJ.com
When you win 21 out of 82 games, there’s the obvious temptation to tear it down and start from scratch. With a new general manager and head coach now in place, the Brooklyn Nets figure to be a different organization moving forward. With all of the changes in store, one begs to ask the question: should Brook Lopez be a part of their rebuilding plans? Here’s the case for the Nets to move ahead with their center.
Much of the blame for the Nets’ woes over the years has been directed at their seven-footer, as some see him as the common denominator. Yes, they have had only one winning season (2012–13) with him in a prominent role during his eight-year tenure with the team, however, there have been other factors that have contributed to the Nets’ lack of success such as: roster mismanagement, misfortune with health, and discontinuity in leadership. How many other NBA players have averaged one head coach per season during their career…with the same team?! That’s right, Kenny Atkinson will mark Lopez’s ninth coach.
The NBA has been trending towards smaller lineups with an emphasis on three-point shooting, however, there’s still a place for a player of Lopez’s caliber. Despite the lack of a supporting cast, he still managed to average 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks on a nightly basis this past year. What’s most impressive is that he was able to continue his post 2015 All-Star Game dominance (19.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG) into the ’15–16 year with a significant downgrade in the talent around him, especially at the point guard position. When you think of the efficient, consistent production he was able to generate, it’s justifiable that he earned an All-NBA 3rd team vote and was considered an All-Star snub.
Lopez may seem as if he’s been around forever, however he just turned 28 and has shown room for growth in recent years. His rebounding, aggressiveness, and rim protection used to be a big concern, but doesn’t seem to be as much anymore. This past year saw an uptick in Lopez’s assists as well. He may not seem like the most obvious candidate to improve under Atkinson’s tutelage, but perhaps there’s untapped potential in terms of passing and pick-and-roll defense. It’s not even farfetched to think Lopez’s jumper can’t extend beyond the arc as well. If you’ve seen him play, then you’ve seen his impressive range.
As talented as he is, Lopez will probably never be the featured player on a playoff contender, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t still be a cornerstone piece. He always seemed better suited as the second option, so the key for Sean Marks is to find another star player to pair him up with, similar to what former general manager Billy King attempted to do with Deron Williams. With two years remaining on his contract and his foot issues hopefully behind him, Lopez is the key in expediting Brooklyn’s rebuild and return to relevancy.
