Nothin' But Nets
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Brooklyn Nets: 3 reasons why Ed Davis signing sets up Nets for success

By Phil Watson

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 17: Ed Davis #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers battles for position against Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 17: Ed Davis #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers battles for position against Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Brooklyn Nets
MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 10: Alexey Shved #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a layup against Ed Davis #32 and Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies on February 10, 2013 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 2013 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Ed Davis brings the lessons learned in a long career

Ed Davis is an eight-year veteran, coming into a situation with the Brooklyn Nets where he will back up second-year big man Jarrett Allen.

Davis brings with him the experience of more than 11,000 minutes of NBA action and eight years of working with — and against — NBA big men of every possible skill set.

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For parts of two seasons, Davis backed up the Memphis Grizzlies’ grit-and-grind combination of Marc Gasol (Defensive Player of the Year playing in front of Davis in 2013-14) and Zach Randolph (owner of every low-post move known to mankind, at the very least).

In Portland, Davis battled in practice against athletic big Mason Plumlee for a season-plus and then behemoth Jusuf Nurkic the last season-plus.

Contrasting styles, contrasting lessons to be learned.

And now Davis can impart that wisdom to Allen, who really lacked an effective veteran big man mentor last season.

They have differing styles of play — Allen is long and lanky, quick and athletic.

Davis is more of a traditional big man, but there are commonalities to playing interior defense in the NBA when it comes to footwork, recognizing when to attack a ballhandler on the pick-and-roll and when to hedge and what to look for to know when to step up as a help defender when a dribbler breaks down his man.

Those lessons can be taught in the film room, in conversations and the hard way, by showing the kid the ropes on the practice floor.