The Brooklyn Nets made bold moves during this offseason in the hope of finally getting out of the cellar of the Eastern Conference. The Nets added budding star D’Angelo Russell, who will team up with Jeremy Lin to lead the Nets’ backcourt in the 2017-18 NBA season.
And this early, Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is beaming with excitement after the first few days of training camp. The second-year head coach said that he is thrilled with their backcourt and perimeter depth, led by Lin and Russell.
Atkinson said that they now have a much better depth on the perimeter.
Aside from Lin and Russell, the 50-year-old coach is also expecting positive contributions from Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie.
“With Jeremy, D’Angelo and Caris, you’ve got multiple guys,” Atkinson told Newsday. “Spencer can play pick-and-roll. That vision of versatility and different guys handling it is pretty good.”
Will the Russell-Lin combination work for the Nets?
Brooklyn acquired Russell along with Timofey Mozgov in a surprising trade that sent longtime Nets center Brook Lopez to the Los Angeles Lakers. Russell arrival raised questions about the role of Lin next season and how he will co-exist with the former first-round pick.
But according to Bryan Fonseca of Nets Daily, the Lin-Russell duo could be a match made in heaven.
It was pointed out that Lin’s capability to attack and break down defenses is a perfect complement to Russell’s ability to knock down shots inside and out. Both players can also thrive playing off and on the ball for the Nets.
Lin averaged 14.5 points to go along with 5.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds with the Nets last season. On the other hand, the 21-year-old Russell tallied 15.6 points on top of 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds during his sophomore year with the Lakers last season.
Nets to open preseason campaign against the New York Knicks
Brooklyn fans will get their first glimpse of their new-look squad on Tuesday when the Nets open their preseason campaign against the New York Knicks at the Madison Square Garden. They will have a rematch with their New York rival on Sunday. The Nets will also face the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers in the preseason on Oct.
5 and 11, respectively.
The Nets will take on the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 18 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in their first regular-season game. The Nets are looking to bounce back from a dismal 20-62 campaign last season.
