Brooklyn Nets: Player grades from believable comeback win at Orlando
By Phil Watson
B+. 22 MIN, 8 PTS, 3-for-3, 2-for-2 FT, 9 REB (3 ORB), 1 AST, 4 PF, 1 TO, -3. C. Brooklyn Nets. ED DAVIS
Ed Davis bounced back from a poor outing on Wednesday with a very solid effort against the Orlando Magic.
Davis dominated the boards while he was in the game and was assertive when getting opportunities to score, taking the ball to the rim hard.
In just 18 minutes per game, Davis is averaging a career-high 8.5 rebounds and leads the NBA in offensive rebounding and total rebounding percentage.
Best backup big in the league? Davis can make a pretty solid case for that title.
18 MIN, 12 PTS, 4-for-13 (4-for-11), 4 REB, 4 AST, 2 PF, 1 BLK, -4. PG/SG. Brooklyn Nets. SHABAZZ NAPIER. C+
Shabazz Napier is at his best offensively when he mixes things up, using his superior ball-handling ability to probe inside for shot opportunities and kick-out passes.
On Friday, he settled a bit, launching 11 3-point attempts in 18 minutes. He did dish out four assists and hit double-figures in scoring for the ninth time in his last 10 games since he wedged his way back into the rotation.
Napier provides the Nets with a nice change-of-pace when he runs the offense, a smaller, quicker guard that can score or dish as a counter to the bigger point guards in D’Angelo Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie.