Brooklyn Nets Midseason Grades: Backcourt Edition

Isaiah Whitehead was thrust to the wolves after Greivis Vasquez and Jeremy Lin went down with injuries. Whitehead was not expected to be used as the starting point guard so soon and ideally, would be used as a shooting guard. In fact, before the season began, Kenny Atkinson had expressed his plans to have Whitehead and Chris McCullough develop in the D-League.

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McCullough has been playing “double shifts” for Long Island and Brooklyn, but Whitehead has not. Due to extenuating circumstances with the Nets unable to stay healthy, Whitehead has gotten a larger role much sooner than expected, for better or for worse.

It could be a good thing for the rookie to get his hands wet, but his inexperience has flared in the starting point guard role. Turnovers have been a major issue with the Brooklyn native, as he is averaging 2.2 per game and has committed four or more turnovers in five games.

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With Lin missing more games than he has played this season, Whitehead doesn’t have much to go off of in terms of direction. After all, though a combo guard, he was used as a shooting guard for much of his life, until his final season at Seton Hall. Now, it’s a necessity for him to run the point in Brooklyn.

Of course, Whitehead is still learning and has a whole career ahead of him. Here’s hoping the hometown player can turn into something special for the Nets.