Brooklyn Nets: Isaiah Whitehead Making Slow Progress
Brooklyn Nets rookie Isaiah Whitehead has already seen some preseason action. Unfortunately, he has not been displaying significant progress.
This summer, the Brooklyn Nets were eager to trade up in the NBA Draft for Isaiah Whitehead, who had been selected by the Utah Jazz. After all, Whitehead is a Brooklyn native, and is versatile as a combo guard. The rookie has already shown during the preseason a glimpse of what he offers, but it has been far from impressive.
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In Tuesday’s loss to the Miami Heat, Whitehead saw more action than in the previous game against the New York Knicks. He scored just three points in 13 minutes off the bench and only converted on one field goal. In both contests, Whitehead struggled against an experienced guard. Against the Knicks, it was Brandon Jennings. As for the Heat, it was Goran Dragic.
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In one instance during last night’s game, Whitehead’s inexperience showed. With just two seconds left on the shot clock, the Nets inbounded the ball to Whitehead, who was trapped far on the outside, behind the arc. The 21-year-old guard proceeded to dribble, unaware of how to handle the situation, which resulted in a failed possession for the Nets. Evidently, he still has a lot to learn before he can earn some serious minutes in Brooklyn.
Still, Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is not deterred by Whitehead’s slow progress. “It’s great, because we’re really going to have a lot of stuff to show [Whitehead]. It’s a baptism of fire in the NBA,’’ Atkinson said, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “I just told our coaches after the game we’ll have some really good teaching tape to show him. Normal stuff a rookie goes through. Just got to keep him up. … It’s not the end of the world. It’s preseason.”
Whitehead is expected to serve as a backup for the Nets at both the one and two. Brooklyn’s starting point guard, Jeremy Lin, has already taken Whitehead under his wing, and Lin’s leadership should help the rook fully adjust to the NBA. Whitehead may not have been remarkable thus far, but it’ll take time and the right leader for him to learn, both of which he has.
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