Brooklyn Nets: Making sense of Caris LeVert’s hot start

Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert has opened eyes around the NBA in his first few games. How to make sense of this start, however, is what we must consider.

It’s no secret what Caris LeVert has done in the Brooklyn Nets’ first three games. He has taken over the offense with aplomb and really become the alpha that many (myself included) hoped D’Angelo Russell would turn into.

This isn’t to say LeVert is now a mainstay on a competitive basketball team. For all we know, this could simply be a hot start. He could be feasting off the leftovers Russell’s left on the table in the opening week. Such outlooks are very difficult to envision at this point in a young player’s career.

Although this is only LeVert’s third year in the NBA, he exhibited flashes of quality play last season. From his white-hot performance against the Miami Heat to his 27-point outburst against the Los Angeles Clippers, it was evident that he had the instincts of a quality scoring option. The only thing holding him back was health.

Luckily for him, that was also the case for Russell last season. DLo seemed to win over coach Kenny Atkinson for the starting point guard job this season, but Atkinson made it evident in game one that players earned their minutes. LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie closed the game over Russell, showing Atkinson’s trust in the hot hand.

No one has taken control of the Nets’ offense yet, so why can’t it be LeVert? This is the question he created simply by balling out in the team’s opening slate of games. Let’s take a look at just how impressive his first three games have been, and how he can keep the lion’s share of touches going forward.