After Marks’ Flurry Of Moves, A Premature Template For How Nash Should Eventually Manage Nets Playoff Minutes
On this Labor Day weekend, let’s celebrate the work of one man, Nets General Manager Sean Marks, who has assembled an NBA roster for the ages.
In a flurry of moves last week, the Nets announced the signing of center LaMarcus Aldridge after trading degenerating big man DeAndre Jordan to Detroit in a salary dump that cost four second-round picks but also returned 20-year old forward Sekou Doumbouya, who is currently slated to compete with wing DeAndre’ Bembry for Brooklyn’s 15th roster slot in training camp, and center Jahlil Okafor, a former Net who most believe will be waived. In addition, the Nets will soon announce that they won the auction with a low, veteran minimum bid for free agent power forward Paul Millsap. Alize Johnson, a hard-working wing who just didn’t shoot it well enough to entice Brooklyn to guarantee his contract, was cut to make room on this star-studded cast.
When the smoke clears, the Nets will roster six former All Stars (Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Blake Griffin, Aldridge, and Millsap) totaling 44 appearances, the NBA’s reigning three-point king (Joe Harris), the captain of Australia’s bronze medal-winning Olympic team (Patty Mills), a slew of capable role players (Bruce Brown, James Johnson. Nicolas Claxton, Jevon Carter, and Bembry/Doumbouya), and two first-round draft picks who will mostly be receiving a world-class education in basketball (Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe).
It's an embarrassment of riches. Head Coach Steve Nash’s head must be swimming with possibilities every waking moment. On one hand, he has 82 games to figure out what works best, with injuries and load management offering opportunities for those who would otherwise start to feel rust in their games.
By the playoffs, however, Nash will likely face difficult choices. So let’s help him get a head start. Assume for this purpose that the Nets will be taking on the Bucks in Game 1 of a rematch of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals. Both teams are at full strength and as currently constructed.
In this scenario, Brooklyn’s Big 3 need not play 48 minutes as they sometimes did last postseason, though their individual competitive fires will likely minimize their down times. Meanwhile, Milwaukee, like the Nets, can adapt to any style and play big or small. I don’t believe Semi Ojeleye will make up for the loss of P.J. Tucker to Miami in free agency, but you never know. They’ll have wing Donte DiVincenzo back, though, after he was sidelined during their title run with a foot injury. He’s still a starter in my book, alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, and Brook Lopez. Off the bench, Milwaukee will figure out how to rotate in George Hill, Pat Connaughton, Bobby Portis, and maybe either Grayson Allen or Ojeleye.
Here's how Nash should match up:
Starters:
Durant (44 minutes)
Harden (44)
Irving (42)
Brown (26)
Aldridge (22)
You may be wondering why I have Brown listed here as opposed to Harris. Unfortunately for Joey Buckets, what’s needed in this lineup aren’t buckets, but defense. Brown did an acceptable job in that area last postseason, whether he was assigned to Holiday or Middleton. It would simultaneously allow KD to conserve some energy while guarding Lopez . If rebounding is again an issue this year, Nash can always adjust by going bigger by inserting Millsap. I’m asking a lot of Aldridge to come back from his medical issue and take on the Greek Freak, but I figure the chore can be split between him, Griffin, and maybe even Claxton, if his summer of workouts indeed boosted his strength.
Reserves:
Griffin (18)
Harris (20)
Millsap (14)
Mills (10)
Due to Milwaukee’s size, I felt the need to include both Griffin and Millsap in this model, though my gut tells me that Nash will eliminate one of them to get down to an eight-man rotation, with the extra minutes getting allocated to non-Big 3 members. If it’s Millsap who’s cut (I hope not, but it’s possible), give Brown, Aldridge, and Griffin four more minutes each and Harris the other two., As I noted in a prior column, I’m not too keen on having Mills and Irving share the court for long stretches, as Milwaukee would certainly target them ruthlessly on their offensive possessions. As such, it would probably be better if Mills was limited to being Harden’s sidekick in the early second/fourth quarter bench mob runs in the role formerly occupied by Landry Shamet, with Harris playing slightly more, but Nash often can’t resist the lure of small-ball. Of course, Harris won’t be able to afford those dreadful shooting outings he had in the previous Bucks series this postseason, as there’s too much on the line. Guys like Claxton, Johnson, and Carter will be itching to get out there to prove themselves under the bright lights and, if the other four on the floor have to be guarded on the three-point line, the Nets can absolutely get away with it.
The bottom line is that Nash’s hook has to be quick and unmerciful in the 2022 NBA Playoffs to validate the splendid work done by Marks in setting him and the Nets up for this glorious opportunity.
Have a great Labor Day weekend, everyone!