Brooklyn Nets: 5 takeaways from a big W at the Q
By Phil Watson
4. Shabazz Napier will play some valuable minutes
Free-agent acquisition Shabazz Napier made his delayed debut with the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday night and scored eight points in 15 minutes.
His touch was not quite all the way there, as Napier was 2-for-6 on the night, hitting 2-of-5 from long range. One of those was an absolute bomb launched from somewhere near Toledo that capped the Nets’ 38-point third quarter with 1.9 seconds remaining in the period.
Napier added two steals and an assist, while turning it over twice, and looked comfortable either on or off the ball in his short stint.
He also showed some grit, getting into the chest of Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. after tumbling into the Cleveland bench while chasing a loose ball.
Napier thought Nance had pushed him and let the big man know about it.
No punches were thrown and the incident was rectified quickly, but it’s always a good sign when a slightly built 6-foot-1 guard is willing to mix it up with a much bigger player when he feels a cheap shot was taken.
He’ll be the fourth guard in the rotation behind starters D’Angelo Russell and Caris LeVert and top sub Spencer Dinwiddie, but Napier’s comfort level with playing either the 1 or 2 at the offensive end gives the Nets four guards who can bounce between either role.
Napier appears to be another quality addition on a vastly upgraded second unit for the Nets.