Brooklyn Nets: Jarrett Jack Must Step Up in 2014-15

By Evan Massey | Oct 15, 2014

Mar 23, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jarrett Jack (1) looks on during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The Cavaliers won 106-100. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

The Brooklyn Nets are heading into a very strange season in 2014-15, but they still believe that they can compete in the Eastern Conference despite all of the improvement. Jarrett Jack is one of the new players that was brought on board this past offseason, and he will be asked to shoulder a fairly heavy load with the second unit. He has shown throughout his career that he is more than capable of scoring at a high level, but he can also make plays for his teammates.

Can Jack end up leading the Nets’ bench and stepping up as much as they need him to?

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At 30 years of age, he doesn’t have too terribly much left in the tank before he has to call it a career. He has at least four or five good seasons left in him, but he knows that he won’t be playing at the level that he currently is forever. Expect to see him go out there and leave everything on the court for the Nets this season.

Last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jack ended up playing in 80 regular-season games and starting in 31 of those appearances. He averaged 9.5 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game, while also shooting 41.0 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from behind the 3-point arc. Those numbers aren’t too terribly impressive, but they should improve in his situation with the Nets.

Jack has been the definition of a professional throughout his career, and has been a very effective player for the majority of his career. He hasn’t had the most success recently, but he still has the ability to turn things back around and be the type of player that he has been in the past.

Brooklyn acquired him because they think he can be an excellent backup point guard, as well as make spot starts if Deron Williams is down with injuries.

Needless to say, the Nets don’t have too much depth coming off of their bench this season. Jack is going to have to make plays with his passing and also shoulder a large portion of the bench scoring. He had that same type of duty back with the Golden State Warriors, and flourished in that role, especially during the playoffs.

Brooklyn is hoping to receive the Jack that led the Warriors in the playoffs, and that would fit exactly what they need from him. The Nets want a reliable point guard off of the bench that won’t miss time due to injuries and will be able to play consistently. Jack won’t have too much to work with around him, but he will fight through that and figure out a way to succeed.

All of that being said, the Nets desperately need him to come through and be the player that he has been in the past. If Jack ends up being the player that he was last season, he won’t be anything close to what Brooklyn needs. They need a leading scorer off of the bench that can make his teammates better around him and lead vocally and by example.

Expect to see Jack take on his new role and run with it, and be one of the major pieces for the Nets as they look to make a push for a playoff appearance in a much improved Eastern Conference.

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