The Brooklyn Nets are hoping to gain mileage this coming NBA season with newcomers Kenny Atkinson and Jeremy Lin. The Atkinson-Lin tandem proved to be successful with the New York Knicks and now both have the chance to rekindle that spark a new team.
Jeremy Lin was one of the biggest acquisitions of the Nets in the Summer, someone who will now do the pick-and-roll with resident star Brook Lopez, CBS Sports reported. Brooklyn is not among the teams fancied this coming NBA season but Atkinson hopes to prove detractors wrong.
There is no pressure on the shoulders of the Nets though they will be aiming to improve on previous playoff performances. The fact that they have made the post-season wars indicates that some tweaks could improve their chances.
For this season, the Nets added Trevor Booker, Justin Hamilton, Luis Scola, Greivis Velasquez, Anthony Bennett, Randy Foye and Joe Harris. The incoming rookies are Caris LeVert and Isaiah Whitehead. The roster bands together a mix of upstarts meaning a lot hinges on Lin and Lopez for next season.
Hence, it will be up to Atkinson to get Lin and Lopez to hum. The first year head coach doesn’t hide the fact that he wants Lin to play the way he did in New York but with focus on ball distribution, the NY Post reported.
Rather, it is the leadership angle that Atkinson is looking for which the team lacks. But games are not won solely through the efforts of two players. The bench support needs to do their share.
Scola has proven he can mix it up inside while Bennett gets yet another chance to prove his worth. In short, all the new faces need to do their share to turn out a successful season.
Getting everyone on the same page is the task of Atkinson though he hopes that Lin can be of help. Lopez is a vital cog but it all depends on how he can keep himself healthy this coming season. Barring that fear, Atkinson believes that Lin and Lopez can strike it well as one of the best pick-and-roll partners in the league.
Atkinson explains how his reconnect with Lin can improve the Brooklyn Nets in the video below.