National Basketball Association

Brooklyn Nets: Who Are the X-Factors?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Apr 6, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks shooting guard Langston Galloway (2) and Charlotte Hornets point guard Jeremy Lin (7) chase a loose ball during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

After an offseason in which the Brooklyn Nets revamped their roster, who are the X-factors for the season?

It goes without saying that there are a variety of veterans, young guns, and new faces on the Brooklyn Nets squad this season. All will have an important role to fulfill, but some have bigger roles than others.

Many speculate that this season will be another forgetful one for the Nets, but the X-factors of the team can absolutely play a part in reversing that idea… or cementing it further.

While the Nets’ success as a whole will depend on their entire team, there are two specific players that I think will make or break the Nets season – my X-factors for the team this season.

Jeremy Lin

The most obvious of X-factors, Jeremy Lin will be taking full control of the Nets’ offense come October.

Coming off one of his best seasons since “Linsanity,” Lin signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the team. He was easily the Nets’ biggest acquisition this summer.

As sixth man for the Hornets last season, Lin averaged 11.7 points, three assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game on 26.3 minutes. The hope is that if Lin’s minutes go up, so will his production.

Lin is obviously new to the offense and it is essential that he gels well with the team in order for the Nets to have a successful season. As point guard, he will be running the offense, and will be one of the veteran leaders of the team, alongside the likes of Brook Lopez and Luis Scola.

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Last season, the Nets were 23rd in point guard efficiency. In turn, the Nets parted ways with all three point guards: Jarrett Jack, Shane Larkin, and Donald Sloan. Brooklyn replaced them with Lin and Greivis Vasquez. Shooting guards Randy Foye and Chris LeVert figure to see some time at the position as well.

Last season, the Hornets were the seventh most efficient team at the point guard position. This had a lot to do with Lin and Kemba Walker, their starter. If the Nets can improve that efficiency, that would be crucial to the success of the team. Again, most of that will bank on Lin’s play.

Overall, the Nets will be relying a lot on not only Lin’s play on the court, but his leadership. There’s a lot of hype surrounding Lin, and there’s surely reason to buy into it. If the Lin era doesn’t work out, however, the Nets could be in trouble.

Bojan Bogdanovic

Mar 19, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) gets past Detroit Pistons forward Stanley Johnson (3) during the fourth quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

After breaking out at the end of last season and continuing this momentum into Rio, Bojan Bogdanovic has the potential to be one of the Nets’ biggest stars- or biggest disappointment.

Bogdanovic is entering his third season with the Nets, and this is primed to be his best one. He ended last season on a scoring tear, averaging 16.5 points per game on 27.8 minutes over the final 15 games. Those 15 games included a 44-point performance, and four other games with 20+ points.

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In Rio, Bogdanovic led all players in points per game, averaging 24.8 points per game (next closest was 20.5). Furthermore, Bogdanovic had three of the top ten scoring games in the Olympics, making him one of two players with more than one (the other had two). His play earned his home country Croatia a fifth-place finish in the Olympics.

Similar to the point guard situation, the Nets were 26th in both small forward and shooting guard efficiency last season. Bogdanovic could have an impact in both positions.

The reason I consider Bogdanovic an X-factor for the Nets is because he has emerged as someone who can clearly compete, but hasn’t performed that way consistently. While Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is another possible X-factor, he hasn’t quite proven he can play like Bogdanovic, and the expectations for Bogdanovic are higher.

Bogdanovic has improved through his first two seasons in the NBA, and is poised for a breakout this year. Along with Lin, though, the hype comes with the ability to disappoint. Regardless, if Bogdanovic and Lin can live up to expectations this year, the Nets could surprise people this year.

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