Brook Lopez and the Brooklyn Nets find themselves in a very strange position as we cross over into 2015. The Nets have been well off the pace in putting together an incredibly average first couple of months to the season (as I detailed a couple of days ago), but still they find themselves in the seventh seed in the East and only two-and-a-half games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
As such, they’re in a position where they can afford to take risks. At the moment they may not be gunning for a title, but neither can they afford to bottom out to secure a lottery pick, as the Atlanta Hawks have the option to swap picks with Brooklyn this summer. This sets up the opportunity to experiment, as for once middle of the road isn’t bad, and there isn’t a whole lot to be gained by moving further in one direction or another.
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This may have played a significant role in the Nets’ reported willingness to consider trade proposals for any of their big three of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez, but it also seems likely that it’s affecting some more immediate decisions too. None are more important than Lionel Hollins‘ team selections either.
Through a combination of injuries, a lack of sharpness and energy, and just general poor play, the Nets’ starting lineup has been incredibly unsettled by NBA standards over the past few weeks. A prime example of that is the fact that 11 different players have started games for Brooklyn this season, in contrast to some of the East’s top teams like Atlanta and Washington who have only had eight and nine different starters respectively.
Of the Brooklyn players, it’s Brook Lopez who has felt the brunt of this rotation, or arguably indecision, on his coach’s part recently, leaving him unsure whether he’s in or out of the lineup from one night to the next.
Having come off the bench for four straight games, and not having started since Dec. 5 due to a combination of injuries and coaches decisions, Lopez returned to the Brooklyn starting five on Tuesday. He showed no signs of rust either.
The Nets were facing the Chicago Bulls, who had been red hot with a run of seven straight wins entering the matchup. Lopez soon put a stop to that though with a season high of 29 points on the way to a 14-point Brooklyn victory. In other words, the star center was back to full health, and he helped his team to a victory over one of the league’s best teams. Happily ever after, right?
Well, not quite.
Nets going with starters Garnett, Plumlee, Karasev, Jack, Joe -- Brook and Deron off the bench.
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) January 1, 2015
Lionel Hollins has decided to revert to the lineup he had been rolling with prior to that Bulls victory, meaning that Lopez, and Deron Williams, will have to make do with coming off the bench against the Orlando Magic tomorrow night.
Mike Mazzeo of ESPN reports that Lionel Hollins’ reasoning for the move was as follows:
"“You have a lot of guys that come off the bench and play because you have to balance your team. It’s not just about status. It’s not just about money. It’s not about All-Star appearances and all that. It’s about how best can a coach fit the team to be successful.”"
Hollins continued:
"“That’s why I’ve been trying to harp on more on, it’s about the team, it’s about the Brooklyn Nets because people keep bringing up Brook, keep bringing up Deron. I love both of those guys and they’ve done well and I expect them to continue to do well. And help us win.”"
In other words, as coach, he has decided to try something out, and maybe even get a closer look at some of the pieces he’s going to have a bit more long term. Will Lopez coming off the bench help Brooklyn to be a better team? With no disrespect, if it’s with a frontcourt pairing of the promising yet unpredictable Mason Plumlee, and a 38-year-old Kevin Garnett ahead of him, it’s hard to see how it could improve the team.
Lopez’s health has long been his biggest issue, but when healthy, there seems little logic for having him come off the bench. Particularly coming off the back of a season high 29 points, having come under fire from the coach for a lack of effort earlier in the season. If anything, Brooklyn should be trying to get Brook Lopez in a flow, but it seems with little left to lose, Lionel Hollins has decided to play things his way.