Disaster on Flatbush Ave? Why The Brooklyn Nets Aren't As Bad As They Look

Want to hear a joke? The Brooklyn Nets. Yes, yes, we've heard it all before. From the outside looking in, this roster looks like a dumpster fire rolling down a cliff into a radioactive volcano. I mean, who is even going to start for them? They paid Jeremy Lin 38 million dollars just so they could say they drew a free agent, and couldn't even keep the likes of Allen Crabbe and Tyler Johnson on the roster for more than fifteen minutes. They ended up with a team of NBA misfits, outcasts, rookies, and Brook Lopez. Now, how on earth could they be better than they look? Well, here goes nothing...


Rebounding-

This team ranked 23rd last year in rebounding, so that wasn't a bright spot. And, they lost their best rebounder Thaddeus Young to the new-look Pacers. But, I have hope. They still have Brook Lopez, who can be a dominant center in the NBA when he isn't surrounded by total scrubs, but that's it when it comes to big name rebounders. However, consider this: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the newly signed Trevor Booker both  averaged at least 12 rebounds per 100 possessions (Booker averaged over 14, both more than Brook Lopez), and Hollis-Jefferson will only be in his second season in the league next year (basketball-reference.com). Also, Chris McCullough (the team's youngest player last year) averaged nearly 10 boards per 100 possessions to go along with shooting 38% from long range. With Hollis-Jefferson finally healthy, the possible emergence of the still young Booker in the lineup, and the additions of Luis Scola (whose career rebounding percentage is higher than Marc Gasol's and on par with that of Pau Gasol), Anthony Bennett, and Egidijus Mockevicious (who led the NCAA in rebounding his senior year at Evansville), the Nets' rebounding situation could be sneakily on the rise. Concerning Egidijus, you would be perfectly correct in pointing out how poor his competition was in college. However, try comparing him to first round pick of the Raptors, Pascal Siakam (for the record, I love Siakam as a prospect, just using him as an example). Egidijus averaged 15.7 points and 13.9 rebounds per game in his senior year on a .637 FG%. In Siakam's sophomore year with New Mexico State, he averaged 20.2 points and 11.6 rebounds on a .538 FG%. According to the SOS rating (a strength of schedule stat used by sports-reference.com where 0 is NCAA normal), Egidijus' schedule was a strength of -0.39. In contrast, Siakam's SOS rating his sophomore year was -3.54 (to add a third factor, Skal Labissiere's SOS rating was 8.84). So, the undrafted Mockevicious might just give the Nets some good minutes off the boards. Mix in what they already have, and I think they may have made up for their losses on this front.


Field Goal Percentage-

Little known fact here, the Nets were in the top half of the league in field goal percentage last season. They got rid of three of their top four shot takers from last year (Young, Jarrett Jack, and Joe Johnson), and that made a big ripple in their balance of power on the offensive end. However, when you average the field goal percentage of the three, it comes out to a number under 44%. If they can get newer players to step up and take those shots, like Sean Kilpatrick (46.2%), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (45.7%), or Trevor Booker (49%), they might be in even better shape. If you toss in their change in point guard from Jarrett Jack (39.1%) to Jeremy Lin (41.2%), the numbers get a little better. Honestly, with what this team has already, coupled with what they changed, they could be a top half team in field goal percentage again this season, if not sneaking into the top 12 or 10. From long range, this team might be sneaky good as well. Jeremy Lin has been a way better shooter when he gets big minutes, and guys like Bojan Bogdanovic and Randy Foye being on the roster will only help your jump shot as a team.


Guard Play-

Last year, Brooklyn played three point guards for consistent minutes at one point or another (injuries didn't help). Jarrett Jack, Shane Larkin, and Donald Sloan manned the point for the team's 21 win season, and it wasn't the prettiest thing in the world. However, not one of those three is on the roster this season. Now, they have a new committee to oversee the 1 spot, consisting of rookies Isaiah Whitehead, Caris LeVert, and Yogi Ferrell, along with signees Jeremy Lin and Greivis Vasquez. Those three rookies may be the finest group of rookie point guards in the league, from Whitehead the athletic volume scorer to LeVert the sometimes injured star (reminds me of a kid who came out of Memphis a few years back, what was his name again?), and Ferrell who has more experience than most NBA point guards without ever stepping on the floor. Lin is the projected starter (and historically better at stuffing the stat sheet when he starts as opposed to a bench role), and nobody knows who is going to be on the main roster from that rookie trio (or how many minutes Vasquez sees, if any), but I think it's safe to say that the point guard spot has improved from generally depressing to slightly optimistic.


Coaching-

Brooklyn was coached by Lionel Hollins and Tony Brown last season, and that didn't work out too well. Brown won more games than Hollins, but only finished with a record of 11-34. Now, they have a newly inked head coach named Kenny Atkinson who is not only a Long Island native, but a product of the Mike Budenholzer system. Now, that might just work for this team. Kenny has also worked as a player development director for many years, another big selling point if a good part of your roster hasn't even had their official NBA pictures taken yet. Guys like  Egidijus, LeVert, and Beau Beech (not to mention Anthony Bennett, everybody knows he needs some development BAD), who will need refining early in their careers, might be better off playing for a coach that knows player development like the back of his hand. Especially when that coach will have to be playing guys like that on a consistent basis. A defensive mind doesn't hurt either, as Kenny will be stepping in a role where he has to put guys like Vasquez and Randy Foye on the court to play both ends.


Final Thoughts-

Hey, I did my best. If we're being honest, this team is not good at all. We all know that. But, in all fairness to Brooklyn, they have a decent ceiling. It is my opinion that this team could win 30-35ish games, if they bite the bullet and play their young guns as opposed to playing it ridiculously safe and sending guys like Chase Budinger and Joe Harris out for 20 minutes a game. Regardless, this dumpster fire may have a leg to stand on after all. Look out for some of these younger players Brooklyn has gotten their hands on lately as well, a few of them could be superstars in the making. So, that's what I think. But I want to hear what YOU think!!! Hit me up on my off-the-chain Twitter account @hoover__26, or in the comments button directly below the words you are currently reading!

Thanks for coming!

Hoover's NFL Week One Predictions

Hello #HooverSportsTalk readers! Quickly today, on the day of the NFL opener, I wanted to share my final Week 1 predictions. Here they are, in a handy photo:

Wish me luck! I would love to hear your comments, and your own predictions, in the comment box below or on Twitter @hoover__26. Also, go ahead and ask me whatever questions you want about sports, fantasy football, more predictions (spoiler alert: Tajae Sharpe OROY and Nick Chubb Heisman), or whatever! Thanks!