The Nets have started three different power forwards this season, and rotated twice as many, trying to squeeze some production out of the position. Now coach Kenny Atkinson may have to make another switch there whether he wants to or not.<\/p>\n
After starting his last 20 appearances, Treveon Graham is doubtful for Monday\u2019s game against Dallas with back soreness. He\u2019s also struggling from the field, shooting just 33.6 percent and 26.8 percent from 3-point range.<\/p>\n
Atkinson has showed Job-like patience to keep Graham in the lineup for multiple reasons. One, he knows Graham can shoot (43.8 percent from deep entering this season). Two, Graham is a physical and disciplined defender. And three, his options are limited. But now he might have to dig into those options.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see. We have to look at it,\u201d Atkinson said when asked about lineup changes in an effort to snap a three-game skid against the Mavericks. \u201cMy job as a head coach is to help these guys out of these struggles. If that means a lineup change, we\u2019ll do it. If that means sticking with the same guys, we\u2019ll do it. It\u2019s something we have to talk about, and put everything under consideration.\u201d<\/p>\n Even if Graham is available Monday \u2014 or makes a quick recovery for Wednesday against Cleveland \u2014 trying another power forward, such as Rodions Kurucs, is a consideration.<\/p>\n \u201c[Graham brings] toughness, discipline. You give him a task, he does it. He\u2019s a middle linebacker for us. You trust him. There\u2019s no breakdowns,\u201d Atkinson said. \u201cI know it\u2019s not flashy and sexy and all that stuff, but I think it wins. He\u2019s helped us win.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he makes shots, it really helps us. I\u2019ve been saying this. We\u2019re going to keep letting him shoot it. We\u2019ve seen him make it in preseason. Before he got hurt, he really showed he could shoot the ball. He\u2019s got to get back to shooting it.\u201d<\/p>\n Therein lies the rub: Graham is a shooter who hasn\u2019t shot it. He\u2019s just 3-of-13 from deep in his last three games, with a negative plus-minus in all of them. He bottomed out Saturday in Miami where he was a minus-11 and allowed Kelly Olynyk to pour in a game-high 25 points.<\/p>\n The Nets had started Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jared Dudley at power forward earlier in the season. Hollis-Jefferson brings transition offense. Dudley, who has three DNPs and just 27 minutes logged since returning from a hamstring pull after the All-Star break, has a high basketball IQ and spaces the floor. But neither will help the recent rebounding woes.<\/p>\n Brooklyn has options, with Kurucs and DeMarre Carroll having played stretch-four in small-ball lineups for limited stretches. This could be a longer stretch.<\/p>\n Kurucs had clearly hit the rookie wall, not shocking considering how little he\u2019d played at Barcelona. But after posting horrid shooting splits of just .270\/.231\/714 in his last eight games before the All-Star break, he\u2019s looked refreshed coming out of the layoff, slashing .500\/.250\/.917. The 6-foot-9 Latvian has a positive plus-minus in four of his five games since the break, and can help on the boards.<\/p>\n \u201cHis energy is back. He had that tip-dunk [Friday]. I like what I see. He was in a little bit of a rut there for a while, but he\u2019s come back to life. I need to do a better job finding minutes for him at the four and at the three,\u201d Atkinson said. \u201cThe good thing about him is you can throw him at either position. Finding him minutes is a little harder now, but we\u2019ve got to do it. He\u2019s going to still be in the rotation.\u201d<\/p>\n Allen Crabbe had a fingernail ripped off Saturday, but it was taped back down and he\u2019ll be fine for Monday.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Treveon](\"https:\/\/thenypost.files.wordpress.com\/2019\/03\/sab_7230.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&strip=all\")
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