Which Five-Man Unit Is The Brooklyn Nets’ Best?

Isaiah Whitehead (or Jeremy Lin when he’s healthy)

This is an easy choice, but the caveat is in the headline. Lin doesn’t have a timetable to return, so Isaiah Whitehead is the next choice to get a majority of minutes at the point. He’s started the last five games, and the point guard jumble is over. Whitehead has looked much more confident and comfortable since being thrown out with starters, and his numbers back it up.

When Whitehead starts, he’s not a focal point of the offense. Brook Lopez, Sean Kilpatrick, and Bojan Bogdanovic are all ahead of him when looking for shots, and it alleviates the pressure to create regularly. The offense flows more, and Whitehead averages 7.1 points and four assists while having a plus/minus of +2.6.

As a reserve, the numbers are as follows: 3.7 points, 2.0 assists, and -4.7.

Although these five guys aren’t a “starting lineup” per say, it’s constructed by incorporating the Nets’ best weapons.

Once Lin comes back, he’ll replace Whitehead at the point guard spot, but both are very similar in how they play. They’re big, aggressive guards who put pressure on the defense when they attack.

Since Whitehead isn’t perimeter-oriented, Lin’s return won’t bamboozle the offense because it won’t change. It’ll make it better, obviously, because Lin is a more polished ball player, and defenses fear him more than Whitehead.

Between Lin and Whitehead on the defensive end, there’s a significant gap in ability that stems from tenure. Since Lin has more time in the league, he understands more. Both fare fine based on physical tools, but the understanding of the X’s-and-O’s are what set the two apart.

An unclear judgment of the scheme leads to lapses, and lapses result in easy buckets.