How the Nets Continue Making Progress When Kyrie Returns

Caris LeVert is the difference maker on the Nets. He plays both ends of the floor at a high level and now the Nets top priority should be: How can we make a lineup of Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert in the starting 5 work

Since Caris LeVert has been put back in the starting lineup the difference on how the team plays is night and day. For most of the season the starting lineup has consisted of players who pack a punch offensively but leave much to be desired on the opposite end of the floor. Since Caris has been back, the team looks better defensively and the Nets are playing better basketball in return. What makes this extra special, is that the team has been able to do this with Dinwiddie as the starting point guard. This means that the transition when Kyrie gets back should be much easier. In theory, Kyrie takes Dinwiddie’s spot on the lineup and Dinwiddie goes back to being the lethal 6th man that he has been prior, (and considering Garrett Temple is coming off the bench the make-up of the second unit is near identical).

The only person that can make this transition difficult, is Kyrie. Ball movement, and disruptive hands in the passing lanes is when Brooklyn is at their best. This means that Kyrie every game has to trust in his teammates and resist hero ball. Kyrie’s greatness doesn’t come from his ability to drop 50 points at any given night, but rather that at any given moment he can choose anywhere on the floor to score and do it at the highest level. Prior to his minor injury we we are seeing him do this, he was a willing passer and when the team stagnated he went to work to control the tempo of the game. It is at these moments where Caris and Kyrie can thrive. When Kyrie commands attention, Caris has more opportunities for isolation where he is most comfortable.

The Nets with this lineup can reach their peak sans-Durant. Non-tanking teams usually after the all-star break tighten up their rotations and make a final push for play off seeding for the remainder of the season. We as fans may be able to see signs of greatness with the Nets in the coming months.