One of the common themes for the Brooklyn Nets through their first seven games is Kevin Garnett’s struggles, on both ends of the floor. He’s neither hitting his shots nor making a discernible defensive impact.
Garnett is the team’s vocal leader and domineering presence, an evident fact both in practices and games. His job is to communicate, and no one within earshot can deny that. But it hasn’t translated to production, either in his individual numbers or for the 2-5 Nets.
Andrew Keh of the New York Times takes a closer look at Garnett through his toils:
Garnett, who turned 37 in May and is in his 19th professional season, was never supposed to produce big numbers with the Nets. The fanfare that accompanied his off-season arrival had more to do with how he might change the lukewarm culture that was believed to surround the team.
His teammates have praised his attitude and motivational skills, but it is still unclear if they will follow his hypercompetitive lead.
What has been clearly observed — on a preliminary basis — is some early individual struggling.
Coach Jason Kidd made clear his intention to preserve Garnett’s legs as much as possible, so it is unsurprising that he has played just 22 minutes per game during the Nets’ 2-5 start.
But Garnett has not made the best use of his time so far.
Read More: New York Times — As Nets Stumble, Garnett’s Actions Are Quieter Than Words
