Mike Mazzeo posted more excerpts from his interview with Lionel Hollins Sunday. In them he talked about how he picked his staff, individual players like Brook Lopez, Mason Plumlee, Bojan Bogdanovic and Kevin Garnett ... who he said he's yet to talk with.
When asked about his starting lineup, how it will be balanced between veterans and young players, Hollins made it seem like some of it is up for grabs...
"It’ll be a little bit of both. There’s guys that have earned it in this league and somebody has to unseat them to take their job. But there’s also guys that are doing good things and have to be on the court. But my starting lineup is not my most pressing concern. It’s just trying to get our group playing the way we want them to play. Who starts will develop from practice, preseason and then the coaching staff’s decision on how we best fit."
Is that a hint that perhaps KG's starting position could be vulnerable? The 20-year-veteran has started every NBA game he's playing in since his rookie year, more than 1,300 straight. His protege, Plumlee, has said he'd like to play alongside Lopez at power forward.
Here's what he told Mazzeo about two of the three Nets players in the World Cup...
On Plumlee: "I think Mason’s had a wonderful camp, and I’m excited for him and I’m happy for him that he’s made Team USA, and it’s a good experience for him and hopefully he’ll be able to catapult that into an opportunity this season."
On Bogdanovic: "I think he’s got great size, he’s also got great speed and quickness. He can shoot the ball, but also put the ball on the floor. He can post up. I’m looking for players. Players that have multiple skills and are not just one-dimensional."
- Lionel Hollins looked for staff with best 'fit' - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York