The Brooklyn Nets hired Lionel Hollins to be their new head coach on Jul. 2, just one day after Jason Kidd‘s rights were traded to Milwaukee for two second-round draft picks.
Hollins replaces Kidd, after the latter had a quarrel with management over control of the front office. The 60-year-old Hollins last coached in the NBA in 2012-2013 when he led the Memphis Grizzlies to the Western Conference Finals.
Known for his defensive mind, Hollins’ services can be used to improve upon the team’s defensive ranking of 11th last season. Now, Brooklyn doesn’t necessarily possess the personnel that he was provided in Memphis, but Hollins is intent on establishing a blueprint for a defense-first culture.
"“It’s definitely going to be stressed,” Hollins told YES Network’s Meredith Marakovits. “I’m not looking for them to be No. 1 or No. 2 defensive team but I definitely want to be a good defensive team and parlay what they do offensively.”"
In his last two seasons as head coach in Memphis, Hollins’ crew were ranked No. 5 and No. 1, out of the entire NBA, in OPP PPG, respectively. The Nets have a few players on their roster like Alan Anderson, Andrei Kirilenko, Joe Johnson and Jarrett Jack, who are capable of hounding an opponent on a night basis. Hollins, however, is used to having a defensive anchor, that of a Marc Gasol.
Gasol was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. During that season, Gasol gave up fewer than one point per possession. The seven-footer was a defensive stud that the team could count on for at least two block per night and many more altered shots.
Brooklyn doesn’t have a rim protector. Although Lopez has averaged near two blocks per game for his career, he is far from the defender Gasol is. Lopez’s best defensive year came in 2012-2013 when his defensive rating was 105.
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However, when it came to offense, Hollins ran the team through his two big men, Zach Randolph and Gasol. In his last season coaching Memphis, Gasol and Randolph were the team’s top two leading scorers, aside from Rudy Gay who was traded.
In Brooklyn, Hollins has weapons who can create their own shot, facilitate the offense, find guys in the right spots and Lopez, who can go to work down low. The first-year head coach has big plans for his all-star center.
"“I want Brook to be a more versatile player,” Hollins told the New York Daily News’ Stephen Lorenzo. “I want him to be a playmaker as well as a scorer, but I want him to rebound, I want him to get offensive rebounds [and] I want him to guard the basket.”"
Hollins appears to be pleased with the progress that Lopez is making while returning from foot surgery.
"“He’s been in the gym working on his conditioning, working on his game and I’m happy with where he is,” Hollins told Lewis. “He’s doing everything now, so I assume he’s going to be ready for the start of the season.”"
Hollins also has big plans for his star point guard, Deron Williams. Williams is coming off of a season in which he missed 18 games and had several injections, like cortisone, blood platelet and anti-inflammatory, into his troublesome ankles. Williams also faces competition for playing time in the backcourt with the likes of Jarrett Jack and Markel Brown joining the team.
"“He’s a point guard,’’ Hollins told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “He’s our point guard. Will we play Jarrett Jack and Deron together? I’m sure we will. But that doesn’t mean Deron has to be off the ball. When you have two guys who can handle the ball, it doesn’t matter who handles it.”"
As a player, Hollins earned a reputation as a fiesty guard. The Nets coach earned All-Defensive team honors twice in his 10-year playing career. Hollins was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth pick in the 1975 draft. He played for the Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets.
As a coach, Hollins has been an assistant at his alma mater, Arizona State, an assistant with the Phoenix Suns and then stints with the Grizzlies. Despite their losses, Brooklyn acquired a top-notch coach who should establish a winning culture in the locker room.