Brooklyn Nets: Week One Coach Analysis
Rotation
Atkinson has not strayed much from a nine-man rotation. It is interesting to note that Brook Lopez has played under 25 minutes a game so far. Atkinson noted that the team does plan to limit Lopez’s minutes this season and the team even sat him on the second night of a back-to-back. Aside from Hollis-Jefferson, the other young pieces on the roster have not seen much playing time. Caris LeVert is still recovering from his injury and Chris McCullough and Isaiah Whitehead has played a combined 18 minutes.
- Starters: Jeremy Lin (32 MPG), Bojan Bogdanovic (28 MPG), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24 MPG), Trevor Booker (28 MPG) & Brook Lopez (24 MPG)
- Bench: Justin Hamilton (28 MPG – 1 start), Sean Kilpatrick (24 MPG), Joe Harris (20 MPG), Luis Scola (18 MPG), Greivis Vasquez (13 MPG)
- Outliers: Anthony Bennett one game 18 MPG, Chris McCullough one game 4 MPG, Isaiah Whitehead two games 6 MPG
Lineups:
These numbers will certainly change as the year continues, but the lineup that has shared the floor the most is also the combination that allows the Nets to truly resemble a Budenholzer or D’Antoni style team. Atkinson will likely lean heavily on this fivesome throughout the year. In terms of plus/minus, that number is a little skewed currently based off the Nets late-game comeback against the Celtics. There’s a tie for second with the combinations of (Lin, Kilpatrick, Bogdanovic, Booker, Scola and Lin, Harris, Bogdanovic, Booker, Scola) that are both +7.
- Most Used Lineup: Lin, Bogdanovic, Hollis-Jefferson, Booker, Hamilton (10.1 MPG)
- Most Efficient Lineup: Whitehead, Harris, Bogdanovic, Booker, McCullough (+14)
Next: Nets vs. Pistons Pre-Game Report
Sideline Antics
While Atkinson does get animated at times on the sidelines, there was no one true reaction that stood out above the rest. This week, get the tissues ready as you instead get to hear the (short) interview of Kenny Atkinson’s mom during the Nets’ home opener against the Pacers. It starts at the 2:01 mark and ends at 2:08.