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Should Nets’ Fernández Change up Struggling Bench Trio?
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- Should Nets’ Fernández Change up Struggling Bench Trio?
(Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
Coach Jordi Fernández is not shy about changing his rotation and may have to shuffle the bench unit after an abysmal offensive stretch.
The Brooklyn Nets have averaged 92.6 points in the last three games. Poor bench efficiency is key to these recent struggles, with Chaney Johnson, Keon Ellis and Noah Clowney at the crux.
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Johnson, Ellis and Clowney are shooting 12-for-41 from the field, 4-for-23 from three, and dished out seven assists and 10 turnovers. Ellis is the fifth-worst in catch-and-shoot efficiency at 28.6%, per Basketball University on X .
Brooklyn signed him to a two-year, $18 million contract largely because of his reputation as a 3-and-D guard. He's a career 40.2% 3-point shooter and averaged 1.2 steals per game over five seasons.
Fernández handed him the starting spot in preseason when rookie Mikal Brown Jr. nursed a left ankle sprain. His role as a point-of-attack defender and off-ball shooter should've alleviated Egor Dëmin defensive responsibilities and complemented Julius Randle's playmaking.
It didn't, and the offense looked clunky in the Nets' 0-3 start. Second-year guard Nolan Traoré replaced him in the starting lineup, as Fernández viewed him as a "true point guard."
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Clowney hasn't impressed in a contract year entering restricted free agency. He's averaged 5.4 points on 28.8% from distance in 21.6 minutes.
The Nets' 2023 first-round pick has had to adjust to a new role coming off the bench. Acquiring Randle via a four-team deal in June closed any chance of Clowny re-entering the starting role he played last season.
He welcomed the change, but the adjustment is taking longer than expected.
Brooklyn's bench is averaging 39.1 points per game, the ninth-most this season, according to Statmuse . The scoring is promising, but shooting sub-30% from three is worrying.
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Inserting Josh Minott into the rotation could be the change Fernández makes to improve offensive efficiency. Minott scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds in last Sunday's 136-109 loss to the Indiana Pacers .
The 6-foot-8 forward is shooting 23.1% from three in a small sample. His performance against the Pacers was the only time he played over 10 minutes.
General manager Sean Marks invested into Minott. He signed him to a two-year, $9 million contract this offseason after an impressive 16-game stretch.
Minott averaged 10.8 points on 39.5% from three and 1.3 steals while nursing a left ankle injury sustained wih the Boston Celtics . Fernández has a lot of young talent, and a crowded rotation makes it hard to give every player a chance.
