National Basketball Association

Analyzing the Brooklyn Nets' Crowded Backcourt

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:57 p.m. ET

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Sep 26, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) during media day at HSS Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports

Teams without good guard play don’t succeed in the new-school NBA. With such a reliance on spread pick-and-roll and floor spacing, point and shooting guards need to be able to assert themselves, while putting others in spots to shine. The Brooklyn Nets must take advantage of all their guard options this season.

The Brooklyn Nets have a great problem with such a crowded backcourt. Coach Kenny Atkinson has a myriad of players he can slide into the guard spots, but not all guards were created equal. It goes without saying that the best players consume most of the playing time, and that’s what will be discussed going forward.

As the NBA continues to evolve, point guards are more involved and creative than ever and aren’t made to make plays for their teammates exclusively. The shooting guard position has changed, too. Two guards in the NBA nowadays are just taller point guards more times than not, and are just as adept at playmaking as their backcourt counterpart.

Sep 26, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) poses for a portrait during media day at HSS Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports

Starting Point Guard: Jeremy Lin

I don’t want to say it’s a lock, but I’d be lying if I said otherwise. Unless Randy Foye turns into the second coming of Jason Kidd, Jeremy Lin will be the Nets’ starting point guard all season. He’s already the best guard on the team, and his new situation will give him a chance to be the team’s best player.

Lin doesn’t embody the typical new-school point guard, but he’s getting there. With the Charlotte Hornets last season, a majority of his time was spent at the shooting guard spot, and he didn’t need to focus on creating for others. When asked, however, Lin can lead a team rather efficiently, and the Knicks, Rockets, and Lakers have all trusted him with their point guard duties.

Starting Shooting Guard: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Bojan Bogdanovic

The only thing that differentiates these two at the shooting guard position is who the opponent’s shooting guard is. When the Nets take on someone like Toronto, Houston, or Washington, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is going to start at the two; when facing opponents like Cleveland, Indiana, or Detroit, RHJ will start at the three.

Basketball is a game of matchups, and RHJ will match up with the better wing player. As far as two guards go, RHJ is far from typical, and Bojan Bogdanovic fits that mold better. Bogdanovic is the better scorer than Hollis-Jefferson, but it’s not his job to go out and score. RHJ cracked the rotation because of his intense defense and stellar rebounding, but his offensive game will slowly come.

Sep 26, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Isaiah Whitehead (15) poses for a portrait during media day at HSS Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports

Rotational Point Guards: Randy Foye, Greivis Vasquez, Isaiah Whitehead

The drop off from starting point guard to backup is noticeable, but that doesn’t mean any of these guys aren’t going to produce. Most likely, Greivis Vasquez will outplay Foye for a majority of the minutes once he’s fully healthy.

Isaiah Whitehead is an intriguing prospect, and Coach Atkinson wants to experiment with him as a floor general. It’s going to be tricky. Whitehead is a player who doesn’t make sound decisions and commits a lot of turnovers–not the guy you want running the point.

However, action at the one during the preseason will give him a chance to adapt to playing the position and learning the nuances that come with being a facilitator. He’s also new to the point guard position and it’s by far the most demanding spot on a team.

Rotational Shooting Guards: Caris LeVert*, Sean Kilpatrick, Isaiah Whitehead

I put an asterisk next to Caris LeVert because we don’t know when he’ll be entirely recovered from foot surgery and able to play. Until that time though, Sean Kilpatrick will be spending time as both the backup small forward and shooting guard, but I believe his skill set fits better in a backcourt position.

Not only that, 6-foot-4 small forwards aren’t too common.

Kilpatrick is a scorer by nature, and I enjoyed watching his versatility last season with the Nets. He shot a modest percentage (46.2 overall), and is a remarkable finisher around the basket (68.2 percent). Moreover, his jump shot is slowly coming along, and he’s more comfortable stepping away from the basket.

Brooklyn is lucky to have many combo guards on their roster, and if necessary, because of LeVert’s injury, Whitehead can slide from the one and play the two.

Much like Kilpatrick, Whitehead can score in bunches, but the efficiency is atrocious. In his two years at Seton Hall, Whitehead finished with an overall clip of 37.5 percent.

Mar 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Yogi Ferrell (11) passes against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Nate Britt (0) during the first half in a semifinal game in the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Limited Time Point Guards: Jorge Gutierrez, Yogi Ferrell

Both Jorge Gutierrez and Yogi Ferrell inked deals so the Nets coaching staff get a chance to watch them perform during the preseason. It’s unlikely to see them both on the roster, and Ferrell spending time down in the D-League is more plausible than anything.

Ferrell put together a solid career with the Hoosiers, and he’ll have a chance to play in the NBA sometime this season. He can make a difference as a facilitator and as a three-point shooter.

For Gutierrez, someone who has spent a majority of his professional career in the D-League, the probability of him making the roster is low. He hasn’t dominated the D-League like most NBA guys do, and the games he played in the league haven’t been impressive either.

However, anything is possible, and Gutierrez might turn heads during the preseason.

Limited Time Shooting Guard: Joe Harris

The former Cleveland Cavalier has a chance to crack the rotation if he can find his shooting stroke again. During his time at Virginia, Joe Harris was a lights-out three-point shooter, and that was his biggest upside while he was turning pro.

Since his days in the NCAA, his shooting ability digressed tremendously, and it was a huge reason why he wasn’t able to crack the Cavs’ rotation. Improving defensively wouldn’t hurt him, either; Harris has nice size on the perimeter with a 6-foot-6 frame and mild athleticism.

The good news is that the 25-year-old guard demonstrated his shooting stroke at the Nets’ open practice on Saturday. However, until he’s fully able to get back in rhythm, he’ll be riding the Brooklyn Nets’ bench for as long as he needs to.