Will the Brooklyn Nets have the highest scoring bench in the NBA next season?

The Brooklyn Nets finished second in the NBA in bench scoring a season ago; despite drastic alterations to their roster this offseason, can they finish the 2019/20 season in a similar fashion?

The Brooklyn Nets’ bench mob not only brought thrill and excitement with their theatrics on the sideline—but they were also a very productive group on the floor. In fact, only the Los Angeles Clippers got more points from their second unit in the NBA a season ago.

However, there has been a roster overhaul this summer and many members of that “bench mob” are no longer; so, can they have similar success next season?

Well, let’s start with the man that has orchestrated the Nets’ turnaround. Here’s something you’re all pretty much aware of, Sean Marks is really good at his job. Not only did he completely alter the trajectory of this organization is just three years, but he’s done so with less than flattering assets that he’s turned into gold along the way.

With the assistance of Trajan Langdon (who needs acknowledgment with his scouting acumen), this front office has been no strangers to finding diamonds in the rough. That ability to fill a roster with key contributors has been crucial to their success thus far; though they went out and got two megastars in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving—they also did a great job of filling out the rotation.

Last season, the Nets’ second-unit was led by Spencer Dinwiddie, who finished 4th in the NBA in Sixth Man of the Year Voting (probably would’ve been a finalist if not for missed time). His ability to not only act as a flamethrower off the bench but create for others with his playmaking aptitude has been crucial for this team.

With Dinwiddie’s shrewdness either going to the rim or finding the open man in dribble-drive penetrations, DeAndre Jordan‘s skill as the roll man in pick and roll sets and the likes of Kurucs, Chandler, Nwaba, or Temple—whom can all knock down perimeter looks—the Nets’ bench dynamic (barring different looks in the starting five) is very appealing.

There is no shortage of NBA experience in the latter half of the depth chart; plenty of newcomers have had long-term stints in the league as starters, buying into what Atkinson is preaching and sacrificing for the betterment of the team’s ultimate goal can turn this second unit into a terrifying lineup.

We don’t know what Atkinson’s rotation is going to look like, all we can do speculate at the moment, after all, it is August. There could be welcoming surprises like Dzanan Musa, Nicolas Claxton, or Theo Pinson, who could all provide beneficial minutes for the coaching staff.

Marks understands the importance of filling out the roster, which in turn alleviates pressure from the starting five; this isn’t a front-heavy team. When it’s time for the starters to get a breather, the reinforcements will keep things moving.

Now, in terms of bench scoring in the NBA hierarchy, they should rank amongst the better teams in the NBA. Last year, the Clippers bench torched the NBA, accounting for 53.4 points per game. And despite bringing in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, their bench didn’t really didn’t take a significant blow.

The Clips has two finalists for Sixth Man of the Year in 2018/19, with Lou Williams securing the victory and Montrezz Harrell finishing third. Not only is a Net (Spencer Dinwiddie) going to be in contention on taking that crown, the Nets as a whole will look to surpass the Clippers as the top-scoring bench in the NBA.