Brooklyn Nets: 5 major takeaways from the preseason
1. This Team is Incredibly Deep
There’s a reason the Nets didn’t trade for James Harden.
After the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakes signed Dennis Shroder, Marc Gasol and Harrell this offseason, the NBA community raved about their depth behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis without interruption. But with Brooklyn’s pieces meant to support Irving and Durant having already been acquired over the last few years, the Nets’ depth remains under the radar despite how impressive it is.
We already know what Dinwiddie and LeVert bring to the table, and carrying two centers with starting capabilities is incredibly advantageous. But additional players like Harris, Luwawu-Cabarrot, Taurean Prince, Landry Shamet, Jeff Green, Chris Chiozza, Rodions Kurucs, and Tyler Johnson take this team from a talented group to a squad with championship aspirations.
Man.. @BrooklynNets looking real out here.
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) December 19, 2020
Almost no other team possesses the talent and potential in the back end of its rotation, with forwards Green and Prince showing off their adept three-point shooting skills during each preseason game. At the guard spot, Chiozza demonstrated his abilities as an offensive facilitator against the Wizards, penetrating with ease before flipping it out to his teammates cutting to the basket.
Shamet and Kurucs stand as two interesting prospects to keep tabs on as well, with Shamet already having made a name for himself as a dead-eye shooter from deep. After growing into a serious transition threat for Brooklyn over the last two years, Kurucs too possesses the size and speed to glide through to rim and convert, while also having hit enough shoots to solidify himself as yet another catch-and-shoot threat. Tyler Johnson did not play much during the preseason, but still managed to show off his ability to create his own shot, likely to work as an always appreciated “spark plug”-type player off the bench.
Even with Durant and Irving grabbing some bench, the Nets seem certain to continue making things difficult for opposing teams. That presents Brooklyn as an incredibly threatening force, ready to prove it for real when they take on the Golden State Warriors to open the regular season on Tuesday.
