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Brooklyn Nets: Week 3 Coach Analysis

By Brandon Jefferson

Feb 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; World Team head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Atlanta Hawks (left) instructs World Team guard Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves (22) during the second half against the U.S. Team at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; World Team head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Atlanta Hawks (left) instructs World Team guard Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves (22) during the second half against the U.S. Team at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 31, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Isaiah Whitehead (15) brings the ball up the court and is defended by Chicago Bulls guard Isaiah Canaan (0) during the game at Barclays Center. The Bulls won 118-88 Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Isaiah Whitehead (15) brings the ball up the court and is defended by Chicago Bulls guard Isaiah Canaan (0) during the game at Barclays Center. The Bulls won 118-88 Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports /

Offensive Breakdown: Isaiah Whitehead

For Isaiah Whitehead, the transition was from college basketball to the NBA. The rookie out of Seton Hall found himself back in the familiar comforts of the tri-state area after being selected with the 42nd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

While it was likely that Whitehead would’ve gotten an extended look to show the coaching staff what he’s capable of at some point during the year, it was not expected to come so early in the season. Whitehead has played in seven total NBA games in his career and he’s been a starter in over a quarter of them so far.

Whereas the promotion saw a dip in Kilpatrick’s numbers, the exact opposite happened with Whitehead. His numbers were up across the board. His points per game jumped from 3.6 to 7.0, his rebounds per game went from 1.8 to 4.5, and his assists per game increased from 1.6 to 5.0. His plus/minus as a starter is plus 13.6, and his field goal percentage leaped from 38.1 percent to 42.9 percent.

At six-foot-four and 213 pounds, Whitehead’s size gives him a leg up on most point guards. He has an above average handle and uses it along with his strength and size advantage to get to the lane as he pleases. His concussion put a damper on an intriguing run, but expect Atkinson to find ways to give him more minutes as the season continues.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the key offensive stats with Whitehead serving as the starting point guard:

  • Shooting up 51.3% FG and 46.2 3FG%
  • 4.3 attempts in 7.5 MPG in 3 games
  • ORtg 116 vs TEAM ORtg 102.4
  • Pace up from 101 to 102.5