Brooklyn Nets: Brook Lopez Struggling to Fit Into New System

The Brooklyn Nets struggled this preseason, finishing with a 1-5 record. It wasn’t any different for Brook Lopez.

The Brooklyn Nets saw many changes this offseason. They ushered in a plethora of new players, as well as a new head coach. Consequently, players need to adapt to a new system run under head coach Kenny Atkinson, and they have to adapt to playing with each other as well. Nets center Brook Lopez has not found his rhythm yet under Atkinson’s system.

Still, Nets general manager Sean Marks isn’t too deterred by the 7-footer’s lack of progress. Marks can tell that the eight-year player is still trying to find his place in the Nets offense.

"“Look, we know where his bread’s buttered, and so forth. To have a guy that you have the option of just saying ‘Hey, Brook, go create something, because you’re a big guy and you’re formidable down there,’” Marks said, via the New York Post. Those are options for us, and Brook will get that. He’s enjoying it. If you watch his body language during practice, he’s getting a kick out of the ball really flying around and moving, and bodies moving, too.”"

Lopez himself knows that he struggled during the preseason, but his poor performance isn’t the end of the world. Need I remind you, it’s only the preseason?

"“It’s definitely something I’m not used to,’’ Lopez said. “This preseason has been a great advantage and tool, and we’ve been scrimmaging in practice as well, so it’s something I’ve been seeing every day now. I’m definitely getting more and more comfortable with it."

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Numerous Nets players took threes this preseason, and Lopez was one of them. In his entire career, Lopez only hoisted 31 three-pointers, and it took seven seasons to actually make a trey.

During the preseason, he attempted 10 shots from long distance, only knocking down three of them. Needless to say, Lopez has not fully developed his hot hand yet.

Fortunately, Brooklyn doesn’t need to depend on Lopez to score by tossing up shots from behind the arc. Where he excels is still the old-school pick-and-roll, and the Nets bringing in Jeremy Lin should help him continue scoring points through that system. Though we haven’t seen much of the Brook-Lin pick-and-roll this preseason, it’ll be something to watch out for once the regular season begins.

"“It’s just getting used to the personnel difference and finding that balance like I have been mentioning a lot,” Lopez said. “Just knowing obviously Jeremy [Lin] is very strong in the pick-and-roll and a lot of guys fit best in a motion dribble-drive, kick-out system, and finding a balance in those three things with those two in the post ups.”"

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The wait is almost over, with just two days left until the Nets open up the season against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Soon enough, we’ll get to see Lopez back in action, hopefully looking in better shape than he did in the preseason.