Four Positives For the Brooklyn Nets at the All-Star Break
By Max Prinz
Isaiah Whitehead, Offering Free Rides on the Cyclone
Coney Island’s own Isaiah Whitehead has taken advantage of injuries to Jeremy Lin to get a head start on the development of his game. The young point guard is still obviously raw, but has shown flashes of talent.
The spin has started to become one of his patented moves, and they are always well worth rewatching.
Whitehead’s play has been the small silver lining in Lin’s injury. That bum hamstring has created opportunities for Whitehead, someone the Nets almost desperately need to develop. Marketing boosts surrounding “hometown hero” narratives aside, the Nets have so few future assets that hitting on a second-rounder like Whitehead would be a coup.
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There’s been some encouraging progress on that front. Whitehead’s ceiling may be severely limited until he can consistently make outside shots (he’s shooting just 38 percent on the year), but his ability to read the defense has been impressive. Whitehead’s navigated a few of his passes with the savviness of a veteran.
He has been very good at keeping the defender on his hip in the pick-and-roll and creating an extra beat for Lopez or Trevor Booker to roll to the rim. Like most rookie point guards, he has a way to go defensively. NBA defense is really difficult, so it’s important to give Whitehead time, but the toughness and physical tools are there.
This is the first of a four-year contract for Whitehead. He’s keeping pace well.