Brooklyn Nets: 3 things to watch against slumping Grizzlies
By Phil Watson
1. Hurting Harris could leave Nets offense taking a hit
Joe Harris leads the Brooklyn Nets in total minutes this season with 643 in 22 games, an average of 29.2 per game that is second on the club behind the injured Caris LeVert (29.7).
He’s also their best 3-point shooter, still hitting at 44 percent after a blazing hot start.
Harris became a starter in the third preseason game after DeMarre Carroll went down with an ankle issue that eventually required an arthroscopic procedure.
He’s started all 22 games, averaging 12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting .490/.440/.813.
For a team that coach Kenny Atkinson wants 40 3-point attempts a game from, Harris has been by far their most consistent threat from deep, although reserve Shabazz Napier has hit 44.4 percent from long range.
Spencer Dinwiddie is next at 37.9 percent and D’Angelo Russell is hitting 36.4 percent this season.
If Harris can’t go, Atkinson would likely turn to Carroll, who has struggled to get his shooting touch back since missing the first 11 games of the season after the ankle surgery.
Carroll has averaged 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game over the last 11 games since his return, but has shot .324/.314/.882.
He was questionable for the Utah game Wednesday night with soreness in his right foot, but wound up playing 19 minutes and finishing with two points on 1-of-3 shooting, missing his only 3-point attempt, with three rebounds and two turnovers.
For a Nets offense that put up its worst numbers of the season Wednesday — 91 points, 34.9 percent shooting overall and 11 assists were all season-lows — not having Harris would be a potentially devastating blow, particularly against a strong defensive club in the Memphis Grizzlies.