Brooklyn Nets: Top 10 moments from 2017-18 NBA season
By Alec Liebsch
4. DLo messes around
The Raptors must hate Brooklyn. From Sauce’s debut to Russell catching fire, the Eastern Conference leaders seemed to have trouble with the Nets all season.
Russell’s triple-double against them on March 23 was no different, except for its cruciality to DLo. His season had been uninspiring up to that point, and he had been labeled by many as an inefficient chucker, a la Dion Waiters. Performing up to the task against an elite team was fantastic and necessary at the same time.
Russell’s passing acumen, scoring touch and desire to push the pace were all evident on this night, and provided a glimmer to just how great he can be. Fans were quick to put the “bust” label on him after being traded by the Los Angeles Lakers, but showings like this could make such critics about-face and question the analysis that L.A. made.
Russell will have to make more consistent efforts like this to be the star that the No. 2 overall pick was originally tabbed as. His off-the-dribble scoring prowess will be necessary to open up the rest of his game, especially in an offense with multiple attack points.
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As the kids say these days, don’t sleep on him. He has the potential to turn those dreams into nightmares for opposing defenses.