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Bleacher Report lists Brooklyn Nets’ backcourt as 19th best

By Andrew Hughes

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 10: Jeremy Lin #7 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a lay up against the Boston Celtics on April 10, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 10: Jeremy Lin #7 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a lay up against the Boston Celtics on April 10, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 10: Jeremy Lin #7 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a lay up against the Boston Celtics on April 10, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 10: Jeremy Lin #7 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a lay up against the Boston Celtics on April 10, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Brooklyn Nets apparently have the 19th best backcourt in the NBA. In an article published Thursday on Bleacher Report, all 30 NBA teams were ranked. Are the Nets being underrated or is there ranking justified?

The Brooklyn Nets possess one of the more intriguing backcourt duos in the NBA. Jeremy Lin and D’Angelo Russell are two very different players with two different trajectories.

Russell is the franchise cornerstone. The Nets not only gave up their franchise center in Brook Lopez to acquire him but they also gave up a first round draft pick. Russell figures to be a Net for the next two to five years.

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Lin’s future is a bit unclear. After this season, Lin has a player option with his deal. It isn’t a certainty he will opt in or if he is even in the long-term plans for this franchise.

With all of this in mind, the duo figures to be a handful for defenses this upcoming season. With the lines being blurred between shooting guard and point guard, and the league shifting towards  more position-less offensive strategies, Lin and Russell could be compatible on the court.

Lin’s ability to attack the defense and kick out to the open man is underrated. Russell’s 3-point efficiency and overall offensive awareness should only improve with more time logged as a pro and a coach and front office that believe in him.

In the grand scheme of NBA backcourts, Bleacher Report’s ranking of #19 for the Nets backcourt is fair. The tandem is unproven but certainly is brimming with potential.

Lin and Russell outranked the Lakers duo of Lonzo Ball and Kentavius Caldwell-Pope and the established Spurs backcourt of Tony Parker and Danny Green.

Nets fans should take that as a small victory. It will be up to Lin and Russell to produce the big ones.