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

By Zach Cronin

Nov 29, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) reacts with teammates during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) reacts with teammates during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) dunks the ball as Los Angeles Lakers players watch Julius Randle (30) and Nick Young (0) and Brandon Ingram (14) react during a NBA basketball game at Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Nets 125-118. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) dunks the ball as Los Angeles Lakers players watch Julius Randle (30) and Nick Young (0) and Brandon Ingram (14) react during a NBA basketball game at Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Nets 125-118. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Bojan Bogdanovic

Even if Rondae Hollis-Jefferson were healthy, I’d still go with Bogdanovic. RHJ looks horrible offensively this year, and he’s also had a defensive dropoff. Down the line, since the NBA is a marathon and not a sprint, Hollis-Jefferson could beat out Bogie, but not at the time of this writing.

The offense doesn’t come to a halt when Bogdanovic is out there, and he’s someone who can work off the ball to get open looks. Hollis-Jefferson can’t do that, and the Nets would be playing five-on-four offensively. Shockingly, the disparity in defense isn’t as bad as you’d think, but it would still take the offspring of Kawhi Leonard and Hassan Whiteside to fix the Nets’ problems.

Here are a few on/off court numbers courtesy of NBA.com:

  • Rondae Hollis-Jefferson On-Court: opponents shoot 48.4 percent from the field, and his plus/minus is -6.9.
  • Bogdanovic On-Court: opponents shoot 47.7 percent, and his plus/minus is -2.5.

Since both guys aren’t stellar defenders this year, Brooklyn would be better off taking the guy who’s much more refined offensively.

Bojan is the perfect complement to Lin because he can lurk in the corner — or on the wing — for open shots once Lin gets into the paint. Bogdanovic is not shooting well this year from three-point land (32.5 percent), but he’s someone who can get hot, and he can also put the ball on the floor and get into the lane if the defender closes out too hard on him.