Brooklyn Nets: Will Mike James stick with this team in the playoffs?
By Mike Luciano
The Brooklyn Nets made yet another intriguing depth addition considering the injuries to James Harden, Spencer Dinwiddie and Chris Choizza, plucking former Phoenix Suns point guard Mike James from the ranks of the European circuit.
Instead of just letting him rot on the bench, Steve Nash is letting James play just shy of 20 minutes per game, making him a valued member of the Brooklyn rotation. James has averaged 7.2 points per game with the Nets, dishing out 4.2 assists per game while connecting on 36% of his shot attempts.
James, in addition to the likes of Alize Johnson, has been on the floor quite frequently for a Nets team that has already clinched a postseason spot, as Nash is trying to see which bench players should be given increased roles in the postseason and which ones are better left in street clothes.
Will James have a role for this team in the playoffs? Unfortunately, due to some reinforcements coming down the road, James’ chances at playoff minutes seem to be fading fast.
MIKE JAMES' first bucket with the @BrooklynNets pic.twitter.com/v6Z2KVle7P
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 24, 2021
Mike James might not play for the Brooklyn Nets in the postseason.
Dinwiddie has been limited to just three games this season due to his ACL injury, but there is still a chance that he could return in time for the postseason. If he is anything like his old self, he is the far superior player when compared to James, and he will likely get minutes over him.
Landry Shamet has bounced back from his early struggles, and Tyler Johnson has shown the versatility to play both guard spots with some degree of skill. That versatility combined with his NBA pedigree will likely give Johnson the edge in what will almost assuredly be a curtailed playoff rotation.
James’ speed and ability to pass the ball has helped the Nets during a time where their guard depth is about as bad as it will ever be, but 36% shooting isn’t going to convince Nash to shoehorn him into the rotation. James looks like a fine tertiary point guard, but that’s the extend of his ceiling with this team.
James has proven that he can play in the NBA, but the Nets will almost assuredly lean on Dinwiddie, should he return, and Johnson as their backcourt duo when the postseason comes around. At the very least, James will have earned himself either a contract with a different team next year or a chance to take home a championship ring as a reserve this year.
