First-year Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins is in the process of implementing schemes and finding out which players fit them in training camp. He recently told reporters in East Rutherford, N.J. that the fifth Nets starter will be a guard.
Hollins takes over a team vastly different than it was a season ago. Shaun Livingston and Paul Pierce, who were key contributors on both ends of the floor, are gone. Kevin Garnett will be the teams’ opening day starter, barring any injuries. Speaking of injuries, arguably Brooklyn’s two best players, Deron Williams and Brook Lopez, are returning from injuries that could flare up at any time. With spots one, three, four and five accounted for, there are a few candidates battling it out to be Hollins’ starting shooting guard.
With Joe Johnson moving over to the small forward spot, only one guard not named Deron Williams remains vying for a starting job. Alan Anderson started 26 games last season, playing in 78, and re-signed with Brooklyn for a two-year deal, worth a little less than $3 million this offseason.
Anderson can play a few positions on the floor, from point guard to small forward. Last season, according to basketball reference, the 31-year-old spent 56 percent of his on-court time at the three spot. Anderson is a physical defender, admirably using his 6’4″ frame to defend foes stronger and taller than him. Offensively, he’s limited. Anderson is a decent three-point shooter and attempts three per game. His points in the paint percentage also rose towards the end of last season.
You can be sure that Hollins will appreciate Anderson’s body of work. Back in his Memphis days, Hollins had groomed defensive specialist Tony Allen into a starter his last year there. Allen’s frame is similar to that of Anderson’s. One thing that Hollins will ask of Anderson is for him to cut to the basket more. If Anderson has a strong preseason showing then he might receive Hollins’ blessing.
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The next candidate up is offseason trade acquisition Jarrett Jack. Jack last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, suffering a down year but has been a versatile player on both ends of the floor in the past. In 2012-13, one of his best overall seasons to date, Jack finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting and freed up Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to roam the perimeter. The 30-year-old Jack can play both guard spots and take the pressure off of Williams.
With Hollins signaling that he wants to go smaller, and possibly institute a more up-tempo offense, Jack fits the bill. Jack has played 60 percent of his career and the point and 40 percent at the number two spot, per basketball reference. At the least, Jack guards the opponents point guard on a nightly basis allowing Williams to remain fresh on the offensive end. Jack, like Williams, is a bigger point guard and can defend two-guards as well.
Overall, Jack has little experience as a starter but he presents Hollins with the most versatile option on both ends of the floor. Still, Hollins may elect to use Jack in the role he is most used too, off the bench.
Pelican Debrief
Last but not least, there is Bojan Bogdanovic. Bogdanovic is a veteran of Euroleague. Before signing with Brooklyn in July of this year, Bogdanovic played seven seasons for clubs in Spain, Croatia and Turkey. In his final season for Turkish club Fenerbahce Ulker, he led the team to championships in the Turkish Basketball League and Turkish Supercup. Bogdanovic averaged 12 points on 46 percent shooting in 2013-14.
According to Hollins, Bogdanovic will play guard. Bogdanovic is listed at 6’8″, 216 pounds, making him a big shooting guard. The 25-year-old is versatile and, according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, is “a very interesting blend of size and shooting ability at 6-foot-7, being capable of putting the ball in the net both with his feet set or off the dribble.”
His Nets teammates have seen growth in the Croatian so far in training camp.
"“I think Coach Hollins has a pretty good system for him,” forward Mirza Teletovic told NetsDaily. “He’s a complete player. he gets to come off screens. He gets to cut to the basket. He gets to post up. So, he gets to use both sides of his offense.”"
The Croatian could be a nightmare match up at the NBA level but his game is incomplete. As described by Givony, the highly-touted Bogdanovic sported a poor defensive stance in Europe which could give him trouble guarding the quicker backcourts in the NBA. Hollins will demand that Bogdanovic focus on both ends of the floor in his preparation. At this point it’s hard to tell if Bogdanovic would be considered at the front of the line to start but he could increase his chances with a strong showing in preseason.
Hollins has a few options to choose from at shooting guard. The bulk of the offense isn’t going to come out of this spot but, not to say the eventual starter won’t contribute, but the first-year head coach will need to take a careful look at his bench before making any declaration.