5. Reggie Evans: 560 minutes with Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez;
-4.0 per 100 possessions
AP
It's not that Evans is a bad player. He's not. He functioned well with the self-titled "Bench Mob" when facing opposing team's second units. But when the Nets' starters struggle, Evans's near-complete lack of an offensive game makes it near impossible for the Nets to compete with most high-level teams.
Evans is arguably the team's best pick-and-roll defender, which gives him significant value, but he's at his best feasting on the mistakes of lesser players. When faced with a talented post player -- specifically long, athletic ones -- his offensive and defensive limitations get exposed. That doesn't happen so much when he's going up against second units, but when he's with the starters, it's been a night-in, night-out phenomenon.
Evans is a phenomenal rebounder, a great teammate & bench player, and someone who's abilities could prove invaluable to a playoff team. But as a starter playing significant minutes, his detriments become simply too significant to ignore.
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Frances
March 8, 2013
Wow. So how come you can do this Devin and PJ can’t? I’m lost. I always have alot to say but I’m just lost this season
Jon C
March 8, 2013
Nice post. But as you point out the sample sizes here are teeny. Plus/minus has a ton of noise because the players on the other team have just as much impact on it as the Nets players that you are evaluating.
Now I’m a big Reggie fan and I think he compliments our starters very nicely. But I’d be curious to see him with Bogans at SF. That would improve the shooting just a touch over Wallace, which makes up a bit for Reggies offense. You loose some defense and especially rebounding taking out Wallace, but Reggie ensures that rebounding is taken care of. And Lopez is blocking shots so the rim remains somewhat protected.
Of course Wallace would probably freak out if he didn’t start. And after nearly a season where he has basically been the Nets only good defender he probably would be right to do so. Egos are a big part of setting lineups. A coach fears “losing” the team, which is an issue if he does something that the players don’t understand or agree.
Devin Kharpertian
March 8, 2013
The Big 3+Reggie+Bogans is the worst Nets 5-man lineup with more than 40 minutes played by a significant margin. -22.8 per 100 possessions.
Streams Demcee
March 8, 2013
I cant understand PJ’s subs I agree u shouldn’t sit a guy bcuz he was injured and came back in a lil slump (hump) for a guy that JUST REBOUNDS and hurts everything else. J. Johnson was in a slump for the 1st 2MONTHS and he was gettin 40 min!! to work out of it. but a guy thats been here for some yrs now and avg a double double cant have a bad week or 2?? and why does Watson a PG come in for JJ a shooting guard when Marshon is a shooting guard and is better at it than CJ and his D is very much improved as he’s done more on the D end then on the O by being unselfish.. say what u want but Watson nor bogans has shut down anyone this year so whats the problem?
NJBK44
March 8, 2013
awesome post. PJ is a fool.
NJBK44
March 8, 2013
By starting Reggie Evans, you are also limiting our max point guard. He has one less person to pass to when creating shots for others. It doesn’t matter so much on the second unti since CJ Watson is a score-first point guard. If you look at the Nets’ most impressive wins of the season, you will see Humphries getting significant minutes with the first unit. 2 Celtics wins, 2 knick wins, the Thunder, Clippers, and Nuggets all incldued the Hump.
jdunkftw
March 8, 2013
104 of those Bogans minutes have been with Gerald Wallace at PF, and the Nets are +19.7 in those minutes. This is my favorite lineup, and one the PJ does wisely use down the stretch against smaller teams. I just want him to go to it earlier, perhaps even start with it against teams like Miami.
Also of note, Bogans shoots 40.6% from three in wins and 32.5% in losses. Makes sense.
Max Weisberg
March 8, 2013
Don’t have the numbers in front of me, but not only does Reggie Evans hurt the starters, but he excels with the second unit (Blatche, Bogans, Watson, and either Brooks or JJ). So by starting the guy, it’s hurting not only our first unit, but second as well. If Carlesimo really really doesn’t want to start Teletovic (at this point I think it’s personal, but just my opinion), and he will never start Wallace at PF against a bigger lineup, then it has to be Humphries. As much as I don’t like the guy, if it was a choice between who to play with the starters, I’m taking Humphries. I think Evans is a better player, especially with the 2nd unit, but an ISO heavy offense cannot have a guy (Evans) who the defense doesn’t have to guard, allowing for double teams.
FWIW: Bogans and Teletovic are my 2 favorite players outside of the big three.
Scott Beyer
March 8, 2013
Thank you, Devin, for bringing sanity back to this issue. Because every morning I wake up, sit in bed, and wonder how, in the year of our Lord 2013, that REGGIE EVANS is STARTING on a playoff contender. Well, you validated through statistics what I’ve witnessed anecdotally.
So who is the right guy? Bogans should indisputedly be the 3. And the 4? Not Wallace, because of similar offensive ineptitude. There’s no way Hump should be either a starter, or out of the rotation altogether. Mirza is still unproven (a lot of those minutes came against Charlotte). But I’m most intrigued by the Blatche-Lopez combo. Your statistics show it would make up for the rebounds lost by not having Evans. And both are better defensively than they get credit for. Offensively, they would be a dynamic frontcourt, since both are skilled big men who can stretch the floor on pick-and-rolls, catch hard passes inside, and hit wingmen for open threes. Having two 7-footers is bad if your a running team–but that’s not Brooklyn anyway.
Streams Demcee
March 8, 2013
Great look at the facts I saw that without writing anything down but just being a fan of the team. And Frances is right everybody sees it except PJ and formally AJ. I have seen with Marshon on the floor he actually plays very good D in limited minutes with rebounds and assists more so than scoring!! Yet they keep the excuse of his D to keep him on the bench most of the game which is mind boggling. If a guy whom PJ says is a scorer like Melo and Durant plays D then what is the problem with a consistent 15 min a game at least?? He was ur starter all last yr!! and WATSON is SOOOO overrated its not even funny. THats why Interim will not be removed and he’s outta here with that whole staff.