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Brooklyn Nets: Player grades from demolition of Kings

By Phil Watson

Brooklyn Nets D'Angelo Russell. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Brooklyn Nets D'Angelo Russell. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Brooklyn Nets Shabazz Napier. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

RONDAE HOLLIS-JEFFERSON. C. 13 MIN, 5 PTS, 2-for-7 (0-for-2), 1-for-1 FT, 2 REB (1 ORB0, 1 AST, 3 PF, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 0. PF. Brooklyn Nets

If there has been one major disappointment in this breakout season for the Brooklyn Nets, it has been the disintegration of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

He injured an adductor in his left hip in August. He injured the right adductor in late December. In between all of that, he’s been a shell of the player he was last season.

You can see it with RHJ — his mind knows what he wants to do, but his body just isn’t able to complete the moves because of the injuries.

He’s not right and hasn’t been for much of the season. His acrobatic finishes from last season have become wild, out-of-control heaves at the rim.

Hollis-Jefferson can still make an impact defensively, but his offensive game has regressed to a point where he’s not even as dependable as he was as a rookie.

SHABAZZ NAPIER. A. 12 MIN, 10 PTS, 3-for-4, 4-for-4 FT, 1 REB (1 ORB), 2 AST, 1 PF, 3 STL, 1 TO, 0. PG/SG. Brooklyn Nets

It is entirely possible someone — a teammate, a member of the coaching staff — talked to Shabazz Napier after the young veteran fired up 11 3-point attempts against the Orlando Magic on Friday.

Napier used his small frame as a weapon as a penetrator on Monday against the Sacramento Kings, scoring 10 points on just four shots — all from the interior as he drove and cut and found the tiniest spaces to work his inside magic.

Defensively, he had three steals in only 12 minutes, aggressively reading passing lanes and keeping his hands active.

Games like Monday show why he was able to reclaim his spot in the rotation after not getting regular minutes for much of December.

Inactives

  • Allen Crabbe (sore right knee, 19th straight game missed, 20th overall)
  • Caris LeVert (subtalar dislocation, right foot; 34th straight game missed)
  • Dzanan Musa (left shoulder subluxation, 17th straight game missed, 31st overall)
  • Theo Pinson (two-way, Long Island Nets, 32nd game missed)
  • Alan Williams (two-way, Long Island Nets, 39th game missed)

Next. 25 greatest individual games in Nets history. dark

Did not dress

  • Jared Dudley (left hamstring strain, 5th straight game missed)