Since Brook Lopez entered the NBA for the 2008-09 season, the Nets have played 684 games — and lost 431 of them, 63 percent. And to an extent, that concerns Nets coach Kenny Atkinson.
Lopez has known just two winning seasons, two playoff series for a total of 13 games. Yet he remains intent on seeing it through with the Nets, the trade deadline notwithstanding.
“I’m confident that if we continue to work the way we are and if we continue to build the foundation like we are here that we’re going to have something in the future. I realize it’s not about this immediate moment,” Lopez said, referring to the young players who could make a difference.
But Lopez has said this before. How is this different? One word, Lopez said.
“Accountability. There’s accountability here from top to bottom,” he said. “Everyone has bought in. This is somewhere they want to be. Obviously there’s lots of growing pains and everything like that, but we have to realize this is all building to something.”
Lopez is human. A fun- and comic book-loving guy, but human. But, because of Lopez’s makeup, Atkinson doubts things are building toward a nervous breakdown.
“In the back of my mind, I worry about it because he’s had success, he’s been to the playoffs. But from an attitude spirit, he’s been fantastic,” Atkinson said. “But I do worry. As a coach you have to pick him up sometimes: ‘Man, just stick with us.’ He’s smart enough to understand where we are. And that’s a real pleasure to coach because he’s smart and he’s obviously a good player. And the other thing, we communicate with him all the time.”
Atkinson on the strides made by Isaiah Whitehead at point guard:
“He’s getting more used to the pace of the game and finding when to attack and when to get us in the offense. I think he had a stretch there where he was in 100 percent attack mode. And it’s not Lincoln High School, where you can just put your head down and you’re bigger and stronger. Now everybody is bigger and faster. And I think he’s just learning the nuances of the game.”
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson put out a curious tweet:
It wasn’t clear if he was referring to the Nets, his neighbor, his neighbor’s dog …
Atkinson noted Hollis-Jefferson can flourish at power forward because of the way the game has evolved.
“The way the NBA is today, a lot of the backup fours are his size,” Atkinson said.
“He really doesn’t get exposed in the post because teams don’t post up as much so you’re not at a disadvantage but then he has the advantage of being quicker than a lot of fours,” the coach said. “We feel we’re getting an advantage there.
“He’s getting closer to the basket, he’s getting post-ups, he’s getting the ball in the short corner, getting the ball on the break against maybe a slower four,” Atkinson added, explaining the forward’s improved shooting. “He’s driving a lot to the rim. … He’s finishing better. Early, he wasn’t sure whether to shoot it or drive it.”