Stats and Observations: a look at the Nets through four games

They’ve only played four games so it isn’t worth over-analyzing, but the Brooklyn Nets look decent (at least on offense) and they’re fun to watch. So, we decided to break down the numbers despite the small sample size.

They’re good indicators of how the Nets are playing. A lot more pick-and-rolls, but less ball movement around the perimeter. The defense has been very bad and they have not been getting many assists, due to that lack of ball movement, odd in a motion offense.

There’s also some adjustment to a new point guard, for the Nets, in a new system for D’Angelo Russell. They are the 10th youngest team in the NBA at 25-years-old, and with Jeremy Lin out for the year, they’re effectively younger. The players listed are mostly 19-25 years-old, excluding Trevor Booker and DeMarre Carroll.

As Sean Marks also pointed out on YES, all of these guys are under contract next year. It’s important they stay consistent in areas they’re good at and improve where they’re struggling (i.e. defense).

The Numbers:

Brooklyn Nets are (2-2) and 2nd in pace.

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D’Angelo Russell: the guy just knows how to score. Needs to reduce turnovers, but this was expected coming from a young point guard in a new offensive system. He is a star in the making and is becoming the face of Brooklyn basketball ... and NYC hoops.

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Caris LeVert: looks great handling the rock in the open court. He’s making good decisions, but can’t seem to knock down his jumpers. His impact on the defensive end isn’t seen through the numbers, but his lanky arms pose a problem for smaller guards.

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Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: very active inside. He’s less flustered down low and continues to hit his interior shots, including his mid-range game. He’s bulked up which makes him more poised inside the paint. He is, in short, under control.

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DeMarre Carroll: the Nets got a spry, healthy Carroll who looks similar to the 3-and-D Carroll from Atlanta that destroyed Brooklyn in the 2015 playoffs. He’s also the leader of this young team and it isn’t hard to tell.

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Trevor Booker: Booker looks stronger and continues to run the floor with guards in transition. He leads the team in rebounds and has been living off second-chance opportunities.

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Allen Crabbe: the guy can heat up in a second and looks like a younger Kyle Korver the way he works off the ball and knocks down his 3-pointers. He saved the Nets in game no. 3 but hurt them in game no.4. He needs to find his rhythm and be more consistent. Inconsistency is an occupational hazard for most three point shooters.

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Jarrett Allen: boy has he been fun to watch! He isn’t logging major minutes, but he’s played crucial minutes down the stretch. The kid may be young, but he has the ability to change the entire dynamic of Brooklyn’s defense and the pick-and-roll game... at 19-years-old. He doesn’t turn 20 until after the end of regular season.

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Keep in mind: all of these guys are playing less than 30 minutes. They’re still thriving as they would in a 30+ minute system. It’s a fast-paced offense that squeezes the utmost production out of them without destroying their bodies. It’s Spurs-esque.

Again, it’s a very small sample size. But we’re seeing who’s stepping up early. This is team-oriented basketball. Numbers aren’t going to tell the full story, but they’re good indicators of who’s leading and how the system works in Atkinson’s offense.

Defense... we’ll talk about another day.