Jeremy Lin News: Nets Coach Expects NBA Star to Work Well with D'Angelo Russell
Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is quite confident that Jeremy Lin and D'Angelo Russell will both have the ability to work well together in smaller two-point-guard rosters this basketball season.
In a recent interview, the coach said that he sees the two players as a good combination for his strategies in the court.
"They're two good guys that're good players. I really believe we can make it work. They're both going to play. There's 48 minutes out there,'' Atkinson told New York Post.
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Twenty-nine-year-old Lin and 21-year-old Russell are considered to be the team's best players in the lineup, which makes Atkinson's decision about getting one or both of them on the court often quite a sensible one. Both players were also reportedly looking forward to playing together.
Atkinson added: "They've both played [shooting guard], and they both can guard the position, so it fits what we're doing. People say it's a pick-and-roll league, so to have another guy you can rely on to play pick-and-roll and figure out where you can find that advantage with two guys that are excellent at it, it gives us a big advantage."
Despite the optimism, there could be a slight problem with the combination, too. According to Clutch Points, the disadvantage of having both of them is on the defensive aspect because neither Lin or Russell are impressive defenders, especially when compared to Caris LeVert.
The 23-year-old shooting guard's playing time could be greatly affected if Lin and Russell's times on the court are extended.
However, the publication also pointed out that the Nets could always make up for this by getting Lin and Russell on the court as much as possible, which will maximize the team's offensive potential.
In other news, player previews for Lin suggest that he will play a huge part in the success of the team next season. If he continues to suffer injuries, it may lead the Nets to the bottom in the league. So, keeping him in top shape should be a priority if they want a successful season.
