Brooklyn Nets: 5 takeaways from a big W at the Q

5. This is the D’Angelo Russell we need to see

Forget that D’Angelo Russell didn’t shoot well against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Shots sometimes fall and sometimes don’t.

But what the Brooklyn Nets got from Russell against the Cavaliers is exactly what they need from him. He played a terrific floor game, moving the ball well, playing under control and getting the orange to open shooters.

Russell led the Nets with 18 points, but was only 5-for-14 from the floor and 2-for-7 from deep. But he got to the line and hit all six of his attempts and he was rock solid with the ball.

The fourth-year guard finished with eight assists and only one turnover and consistently made the right decisions on whether to look for his own shot or find an open teammate with a better look.

It was a nice bounce-back effort after a shaky performance against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night, a game in which he played out of control at times and didn’t make the best decisions with the rock.

The D’Angelo Russell we saw in Cleveland is the one we need to see more of. Consistency will be the key moving forward and it would be a great sign if he can have another solid outing Friday night in New Orleans.