When David Lee was pitted against Brooks on a switch, he took advantage of the situation by sizing up Lee off the dribble. When the Bobcats assigned the smaller Kemba Walker as Brooks’ defender, he went to the low block repeatedly to exploit his height advantage in the post. Brooks has an accurate jumper, but the diversity of his skills and the strength of his intermediate game – particularly the impressive consistency of his floater – allow him to attack opponents in creative ways. There’s an interestingly systematic element to Brooks’ shot-happy style, and that wrinkle in his approach has been crucial to his impressive scoring efficiency.
Additionally, it’s encouraging that Brooks has already taken note of the internal pecking order of N.B.A. lineups, even on a team as offensively disorganized as the Nets. Williams is Brooks’ unquestioned superior, and one of the truly elite players in the league. As such, according to data from NBA StatsCube, Brooks takes fewer shots and spots up more often with Williams on the court, deferring to the all-star point guard’s capacity to manage the team’s offense. Then, when Williams sits, Brooks’ scoring, field goal attempts, and free throw attempts all increase, as he attempts to keep New Jersey’s offense afloat in the absence of its best player.
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