Brooklyn Nets: The importance of Jarrett Allen after Jordan’s injury

DeAndre Jordan suffered a dislocated finger Wednesday night against the 76ers. Jarrett Allen will ultimately play a critical role for the foreseeable future

In a Wednesday night matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, DeAndre Jordan exited the court after a short 10-minute stint with a finger injury, and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. On the season, Jordan is currently averaging 8.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, on 65 percent shooting, while being the vocal leader in the locker room and mentor for Jarrett Allen.

The Brooklyn Nets ultimately fell 117-106; having lost 9 of their last 11.

Fortunately, however, it remains uncertain that this injury could hold Jordan out for a lengthy period of time. But, for the time being, head coach Kenny Atkinson is confident with his roster if the dislocated right middle finger becomes a major issue.

As it stands, Jarrett Allen will be immersed into a larger, more critical role with the Brooklyn Nets. In extended minutes against Philly, Allen was able to record a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes—marking his third double-double in four games.

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The 21-year-old center is already an elite rim protecting athletic big who has provided us with numerous jaw dropping rejections at the rim with his 7-foot-6 wingspan and defensive instincts, primarily, serving as a deterrent for opposing centers in the paint. His game has transitioned quite seamlessly in his third year in the league from Texas.

However, a larger role could prove to be a tough task for the big, as he’ll have to absorb more responsibility on a team with playoff expectations.

In an interview following the defeat to Philly Kyrie Irving already expressed his frustrations on how the Nets are one to two pieces away from evolving into a full unit; putting even more pressure on the third-year pro to succeed in his newly enlarged role.

Jarrett Allen is posting averages of 11.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. Those are some pretty respectable numbers considering the fact that he plays 26.5 minutes per game. Those minutes will undoubtedly increase in Jordan’s absence, which puts more emphasis on his ability to stay conditioned and remain out of foul trouble.

If the Nets want to sustain or improve their playoff position, if Jordan is to miss an extended amount of time, then Allen will have to burden a heavy load on his shoulders; making him one of, if not, the most important piece on the Nets for the foreseeable future.

The 22nd overall pick in the 2017 draft will have to become more fierce and aggressive on the offensive end. He currently attempts 6.8 field goals per game and hits them at a 65 percent clip. Which is good, but it’s imperative that he gets more involved. Moreover, the fro has a usage rating of 15.2 percent.

These next few weeks will put his offensive abilities to the test, as I predict a spike in both those categories, with his expectations of increased offensive involvement.

The Nets wont be able to endure another abysmal performance of his where he recorded eight points and two rebounds with a plus/minus of -13 against the Utah Jazz Tuesday night. Understandably, this lackluster showcasing came against the two-time DPOY Rudy Gobert, but that should be his only pass in my opinion.

In other news, Kenny Atkinson noted that he has supreme confidence in using rookie Nic Claxton as the backup to Allen. Claxton has been on G League assignment throughout this season.

Nonetheless, Jarrett Allen will have a tremendous role in Brooklyn if DeAndre Jordan is to miss time. We’ll find out soon enough if he’ll be able to overcome this challenge.