Brooklyn Nets: 2017-18 player grades for Jarrett Allen

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Strengths

As I previously explained, Allen’s calling card is his frame. His 6’10” height doesn’t jump off the TV screen, but his 7’5″ wingspan and 9’1.5″ standing reach certainly do.

When the regular 3-pointer-heavy offense breaks down, Allen is often ready for lobs, which makes the defense fall into a catch-22. Do they pack the paint and leave an extra shooter open, or do they pray that the lob is off target?

At the expense of Allen, the former was the best option, because the Nets failed to make many 3s. The modern NBA’s mode of operation is to live and die by the 3, and the Nets died. With more consistent shooting around Allen, his production could skyrocket.

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Although Allen has a presence offensively, his most effective attributes are on the defensive end. The same size and length that make him a lob target are also what give him the ability to be an elite rim protector.

This is bolstered by the fact that Allen led all rookies in blocks (88) and blocks per game (1.2). The Nets play at a fast pace, which in turn forces the opposition to keep up. Allen can reach the top of rim-protecting leaderboards for years to come.

Obviously shot-blocking does not tell the whole story of a center’s defense. As the last line of defense, the center must also be able to hold his own without fouling. Several metrics prove that Allen was valuable as a defender in general as well, such as his 1.4 defensive box plus-minus (fifth among rookies) and 1.5 defensive win shares (eighth, but six of the seven rookies ahead of him are on playoff teams, and wins matter for that statistic).

Allen’s strengths are not only valuable now, but can get even better as he learns the rigors of the NBA. It’s easy to see why the front office was so high on him last summer.

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