Brooklyn Nets: Player grades from a tough night in Detroit
By Phil Watson
B. 18 MIN, 8 PTS, 4-for-4, 7 REB, 3 AST, 2 PF, 1 STL, 2 TO, +8. C. Brooklyn Nets. ED DAVIS
Ed Davis provided solid relief for Jarrett Allen at the center spot and once he adjusts to the NBA’s point of emphasis on impeding movement when he sets a pick, his turnover count will drop.
Some may argue that Davis could have worked in tandem with Allen to help slow down Blake Griffin in the second half, but coach Kenny Atkinson discounted that idea because of what having both bigs on the floor would do to the offensive spacing.
Still, if you’re getting beaten up inside possession after possession, maybe you sacrifice some spacing so you can have Davis on Andre Drummond and Allen on Griffin instead of Allen on Drummond and “oh, hell, here we go again” on Griffin.
Just a thought.
C. 17 MIN, 0-for-2 (0-for-2), 2 REB, 1 AST, 4 PF, 1 STL, 1 TO, +6. PF/SF. Brooklyn Nets. TREVEON GRAHAM
Treveon Graham got his turn at the grindstone trying to guard Blake Griffin and, at the very least, the team was a net positive when he had the assignment.
Graham was still at a huge size disadvantage and picked up fouls quickly, however.
He was a solid shooter in limited opportunities for the Charlotte Hornets the last two seasons, but he has yet to look comfortable shooting the rock since donning a Nets jersey.
Teams are already beginning to basically ignore Graham when Brooklyn has the ball and that’s not going to help the movement of the offense at all.
11 MIN, 3 PTS, 1-for-2 (1-for-2), 1 REB, 1 AST, 2 PF, 1 TO, +3. PF. Brooklyn Nets. RODIONS KURUCS. C
Rodions Kurucs made his NBA debut Wednesday night and almost immediately splashed a corner 3 upon entering the game.
The struggle came later.
His energy was OK, but he committed one of the biggest gaffes of the night when he inexplicably tried to pressure Blake Griffin with the clock running down in the third quarter. Kurucs was at a bad angle to defend Griffin and then reached in for no apparent reason.
Griffin embraced the contact, threw up a desperation shot/pass and forced the officials to review the play. The refs determined Griffin had been fouled and the Pistons got two free points to extend their lead to seven entering the fourth quarter.
It’s stuff such as that play that reminds us that Kurucs is very inexperienced, thanks in part to FC Barcelona burying him last season over his NBA aspirations.
Next. 10 best Nets from 1st NBA decade (1976-86). dark
There’s a lot to like with Kurucs. But with that potential will come these learning experiences in situations a player with more previous game experience would have already learned.