It’s not a changing of the guard. More like a changing of the center.
The Nets’ inevitable youth movement in the paint began in earnest Tuesday, when they benched veteran Tyler Zeller. They handed 19-year-old rookie Jarrett Allen his first career start, gave 22-year-old Jahlil Okafor more minutes and pared down what had been a three- (or four-) man rotation to a two-man duo.
“[Allen’s] been playing well. This is the next step for him. I thought it was going to happen later, probably All-Star break,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “He’s clamoring for more minutes. Jahlil, too. Had a good game in Minnesota, wanted to see him get some minutes. That was the thinking there.”
With power forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson out for the next several games, the Nets started Quincy Acy in his place and Allen at center. And while they took a 111-95 beating from the Knicks at the Garden — getting swept by their rivals for the first time since 2010-11 — this move was coming sooner or later.
It came Tuesday in the name of progress. The Nets benched Zeller, who — other than missing a single game in Washington — had started 33 straight since moving into the lineup.
“Tyler’s been really good for us, solid. I’ve been doing it, but it’s not easy playing three centers,” Atkinson said. “At some point — and not saying Tyler’s out of the rotation — but just finding that when we play two guys they get decent minutes, and also gets [Acy] at the five a little bit, which is some of our best lineups, honestly.”
“It’s been difficult playing three guys. I don’t think anybody’s happy with their minutes when you’re just getting little chunks.”
For his part, Allen performed admirably, with 12 points. It was his career-high fourth straight game in double-figures, and underscored progress that was faster than even the Nets had expected.
“I think I’m making good progress, honestly. A lot of people heard before the season started that I was going to be in the G-League. But I was able to prove them wrong and be in the position I’m in now. And I can improve a lot more before the season’s over,” said Allen, who admitted he still needs to work on “strength and probably just being more consistent.”
Allen grabbed four rebounds, finished a team-high plus-2, and was 6-for-6 from the floor.
“I told coach I was going to show them how to compete,” Allen said, who saw All-Star Kristaps Porzingis go at him early and often before he settled in. “It was a good experience for me honestly. Normally my mentality is block every shot at the rim. But Porzingis is a versatile player, so he can play anywhere. So I have to be ready to go out to the 3-point line.”“ I was just trying to go out there and try my hardest.”
Meanwhile, Okafor grabbed 13 rebounds in 24:48 — time that Atkinson said Okafor has earned, not been given as a pre-free agency evaluation.
“I’m trying to help the team win and be productive. The coaches have shown me what they expect of me and I’m trying to implement that,” Okafor said. “It’s very encouraging. I’m doing the right thing every day and doing what’s asked of me. Hopefully I can stay on the same trajectory.”