Spencer Dinwiddie has done well filling in for Kyrie Irving since the superstar was first sidelined. Other Nets need to do more, as well.
The Brooklyn Nets are only one game away from having a .500 record for the first time in 2019-20 since they started 1-1. But if the Nets are to reach the mark soon, they’ll have to do so without Kyrie Irving, who is expected to miss at least the next three games.
Luckily for the Nets, they’re only facing one of the top teams in the NBA during the next stretch of games Irving will miss.
Still, the New York Knicks have put forth some good efforts against some of the NBA’s better teams. As much as the Cleveland Cavaliers are toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, they’re coming off a close win against the Portland Trail Blazers — who has a tough record but still has Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.
Point is, Brooklyn can’t take these next two games without Irving lightly — of course, same goes for Wednesday’s matchup in Boston.
Without Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie has been the team’s most reliable scorer. Some nights he’s been more efficient than others, but he always managed to battle through the lulls in his performances. One player isn’t enough though, which was made evident in the Nets’ loss to the Indiana Pacers, who were without their two best players, yet still managed to pull off a win in Brooklyn.
Similar to Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen has been a constant throughout the recent stretch of games. He has the potential to finish with a double-double on any given night. DeAndre Jordan is still an important role player — he scored 14 against the Charlotte Hornets and grabbed 10 rebounds against the Sacramento Kings — but Allen is Brooklyn’s force in the paint.
With Dinwiddie and Allen being Brooklyn’s two most consistent players, Joe Harris becomes the next man up. Garrett Temple shot well against the Kings and Taurean Prince had a good game against the Hornets, but Harris has been the greater offensive threat throughout the season. He’s had some off nights from the perimeter (1-for-5 vs. Indiana, 2-for-6 vs. Charlotte) but Harris is the most consistent shooter from the three. He needs to take charge during this time.
Theo Pinson and Dzanan Musa have received more time off the bench as a result of both Irving and Caris Levert’s absence. They’ve each had a double-digit scoring night during the stretch. More importantly, they don’t sit back and wait on offense. They help maintain an uptempo attack and carry a similar effort on defense.
Now, Iman Shumpert is a more important defensive piece off the bench than Pinson and Musa, and neither is likely to go off for 20 on any night. But they can help keep the game close while starters rest, and when they’re on the floor with starters, both Pinson and Musa help the nets maintain their pace.
Lastly, Shumpert has been an instant boost on defense since Brooklyn signed him. He doesn’t bring a whole lot to the table as a scorer, but with Irving out, defense has played a far greater role in the Nets’ success.
