Some Lineup fun

Last week we went over individual players on the Nets. Which resulted in me puking on my laptop because of Wayne Ellington and Bargnani, but today we will look at which lineups work for the Nets and which ones don’t.

The starters

  The Nets starting lineup of Jack-Johnson-RHJ-Young-Lopez is really good, that lineup has a net rating of 14.6!!!! That’s one of the best starting lineups in the league. The Nets record is obviously bad but they are in pretty much every game and the starting lineup is a big reason why.

 Now if you keep the starting lineup together but substitute Bojan for RHJ what happens? Well a negative 28 difference!! Bojan has net rating of -15… it is time for him to benched along with Wayne Ellington and time to unleash Markel Brown and Karasev.

2 man lineups

 Last year Lionel Hollins had an obsession of playing two point guards and two centers at the same time even though the numbers were horrible so how’s that going this year?

Lopez and Bargs

These two have played 69 mins together and have a Net rating of -24.7 which makes sense since they are both below average defenders. If these two are in together teams will just pick and roll the Nets to death.

Jack and Larkin

These two have only played 27 mins but they have a net rating of 5.7. One reason why this combo is working is because of Larkins lights out shooting. If Larkin is the best three point shooter on the Nets (which the numbers say he is) he should spend some time off the ball which would allow some more of this lineup.

The really bad

This is basically the Bargnani show he has so many ugly numbers with guys like Jack, Thad Young and Joe Johnson. It was a bad signing when it happened and the early part of the season has only confirmed it. When Willie Reed is healthy he needs to play and Bargs needs to sit.

The good

   Welcome to the Rondea Hollins-Jefferson Show! Most of this numbers are just RHJ with a member of the starting unit, but there is one combination that isn’t part of the starting lineup. Shane Larkin and Thomas Robinson have played together for 114 mins and have a net rating of 4.1. Robinson was a cheap signing but has been one of the Nets better players. He needs more minutes.

(All stats from NBA.com)

There is nothing that gets me more frustrated while watching the Nets when they play players/lineups that don’t work. If I can look at these numbers while I am in bed and drinking a Dr Pepper the coaching staff and front office should be doing it and enforcing it!

For everything Brooklyn Nets and the NBA follow @threwthenet on Twitter. 

12 games in

          The Nets have played 12 games so far in the 2015 season and they are pretty much where I thought they would be. Maybe not 2-10 but standings wise, it is what I thought. But the team itself has played better lately, they have been in games they had no business being in and they have even lost games they should have won.

      So what’s gone right and wrong? Let’s start with the negatives.

The bad.

Basketball

           The Nets have played better recently but they are still a bad team and the numbers prove it. They are 29^th in offensive rating 97.2, the team is shooting 44% that is 15^h in the league and they are dead last in three point shooting 28.9% YUCK they are also 29^th in attempts 16.4. But if they can’t hit the three should they be taking threes? Probably not. The Nets only have two players shooting over 30% and they are both point guards. Which means the Nets wings are not shooting, Bojan is only at 27% and Joe Johnson is at 25%. The Nets need to figure their outside shot by doing this it opens up the paint for Brook Lopez.

Defensively it’s not much better. The Nets pick and roll defense is still miserable, Brook Lopez isn’t a center who can defend a pick and roll. Last year the Nets defense had a problem with closing out on shooters (Deron Williams) this year the problem has been defending off the ball and keeping their eyes on the ball and their matchup. Too many times are guys left open because of this. Also Nets bigs in the pick and roll turn their backs on the ball handler before the guard has recovered from the pick. It usually results in an open three for the opponent. Brook and Thad each did this in the Hornet game.

Wayne Ellington

                When Wayne Ellington was signed I was a bit confused but he’s a veteran wing and adding those for depth isn’t the end of the world. But the experiment is over! Ellington has played in all 12 games averaging 14.6 minutes a game with a net rating of -21.1!!!!! He has an offensive rating of 79.8, Ellington is also shooting 26.1% from three and he is the worst off ball defender, he always loses his man. It’s time to glue him to the bench. He’s courtblocking Markel Brown a young player who should be playing in this disastrous season.

Andrea Bargnani

                Time for everyone’s Net, Andrea Bargnani. The Nets decided to go with Bargs over a young player Cliff Alexander and of course it hasn’t been well. Bargs has a net rating of -19.1 and that’s all you need to know. At the moment Lionel Hollins has no one else to play instead of Bargs but when Willie Reed comes back from his injury he better be the backup center.

The Good

There is good with this team!!!

RHJ

                Hollis-Jefferson has been a great for the Nets so far. He has a net rating of 6.4 the highest on the Nets, but he only plays 19.7 minutes a game that needs to go way up. But the only problem with RHJ is the he can’t shoot which means he can’t play late in the fourth. But he should be around 30 minutes.

T-rob

 Thomas Robinson sign for the minimum this offseason and it was Billy King’s best move. T-rob has a net rating of 0.0 THAT’S THE SECOND BEST ON THE TEAM!!! He is only playing 11.6 minutes per game that needs to be around 18. He brings great energy off the bench and is always on the boards.

Shane Larkin

                Another good signing by Billy King (November 20, 2015 4:30 PM the first time I have complemented Billy King twice without a negative comment in between) Larkin started out slow but he has started to turn it around. Defense is an issue but he is shooting lights out at the moment he’s the Nets best shooter at 52.9% from three.

Jarrett Jack

                Jack has been pretty good since recovering from his injury and he is important for the Nets this year, If Jack plays good all year he could become a decent trade chip come February. 2^nd round pick!!

The Nets probably won’t be a good team this year but if the team can make some adjustments they could make things interesting for a while.

For everything Nets and NBA follow threwthenet on Twitter.