Brooklyn Nets: Player grades from a tough night for the D in Dallas

Jared Dudley has started all 19 games for the Brooklyn Nets this season, but we’re starting to approach the area of diminishing returns.

Dudley played less than half the game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, finishing with no points and 1 rebound, and Wednesday night was one of his shortest stints of the season.

His team-worst minus-17 comes a night after he was the only starter in negative numbers in Miami and we may be at the point where his veteran savvy is being outweighed by his shortcomings on the court.

Shabazz Napier definitely gave the Nets a spark Wednesday night, knocking down both of his 3-pointers and providing some energy to the offense.

The problem for Napier will continue to be at the defensive end, where they keep growing the guards bigger.

When the Mavericks paired 6-foot-3 Devin Harris with 6-foot-8 Dorian Finney-Smith for a stretch while Napier was in the game, he just finds himself at such a size disadvantage that it’s hard for the other defenders to compensate.

Napier plays with a lot of energy defensively and can sneak into the passing lanes well, but in iso situations or fighting around screens, his lack of size can be exploited.