Brooklyn Nets: Breaking down the guard situation

Brooklyn Nets, D'Angelo Russell — BROOKLYN, NY – MARCH 13: D’Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors on March 13, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets are coming off a 28-win season, but they have a plethora of solid guards. Here is a breakdown of last season with a look ahead to 2018-19.

The Brooklyn Nets have a problem and it’s not necessarily a bad one. The team has a plethora of talent at the guard spots.

But not everyone can play and the roster can only hold so many guys.

Here is a breakdown of the team’s guard situation, including highlighting their play from last season and a look ahead to the roles for next season.

D’Angelo Russell

The Nets may finally have a rising star to build around in D’Angelo Russell. D-Loading came to the Nets last season via the trade with the Lakers for Brook Lopez and a first-round pick which turned into Jarrett Allen.

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Although he missed 34 games last season, D’Angelo showed a glimmer of what Nets fans hope to expect from him for years to come. Russell averaged 15.5 points, 5.2 assists along with 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting about 32 percent from three-point range and 41 percent from the field.

That’s not to mention he recorded his first career triple-double against the Toronto Raptors. And who can forget the March 13 game, also against the Raptors, where he dropped 24 points — including seven 3s — in the first quarter.

Russell’s role with the team next season will more than likely be the starting point guard. Of the 48 games he played last season, he started 35 and that was mainly due to him slowly getting acclimated back into the rotation.

His scoring ability is something that is a given. He’s streaky from 3-point range, but has a fairly consistent mid-range jumper as well as the ability to drive the lane and attack the basket.

What’s exciting is that his assists per game have gone up every year since he came into the league. You figure with even more time in the offseason with teammates and head coach Kenny Atkinson, Russell is sure to improve his playmaking.