NBA Playoffs: 6 X-factors for Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets

Tyler Johnson

The Nets finally got their guy, years after offering him a ludicrous extension that caused the Miami Heat financial issues. After floundering in Phoenix earlier this season Tyler Johnson is getting back to the player that he was when Brooklyn initially made that offer and would be essential for any sort of Brooklyn Nets win.

Let’s start with the basic numbers. In only 24.2 minutes per game, Johnson is averaging 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. In this small sample size, he is shooting 38.9 percent from long range on 4.5 attempts per game.

This is what the Nets always wanted from him and after he was unable to fulfill the role in other places he is doing so (yes in only eight games so far) for this team. Brooklyn uses their plethora of guards (even after leaving some at home) to space the floor and allow the offense to flow freely through whoever is running the show.

Johnson is not afraid to take a shot and has shown aggression in the bubble, pulling up oftentimes at the elbows to catch the defense unaware. He is terrible on defense, setting him apart from everyone else on this list. But that is luckily outside of his role in most situations. If he is going against the second unit for the Raptors the plan is for him to be an offensive spark off the bench for a team that needs every bit of it that they can find.