It says a lot about the Nets that Caris LeVert has backslid defensively, and he’s still the best defender in their rotation.
What do you do when one of the few stoppers on a team full of sieves springs a leak? That’s the question the Nets have to figure out over the remainder of this season — and going into next.
Much has been made about the Nets dealing for D’Angelo Russell and developing Spencer Dinwiddie, but LeVert, 23, may be as vital to their rebuild as either one.
The book on LeVert has always been he needs to hone his jumper. In 12 games since returning from a sprained knee he’s not only gotten to the rim and looked explosive, but hit 45.2 percent from 3-point range. He’s averaged 15.9 points on 50 percent shooting from deep in his past nine game, scoring double-figures in every one.
But his workload on offense has weakened his defense.
“Yeah, get the jumper going. And we want better defense from him,” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “He’s slipped a little from last year, quite honestly.”
LeVert leads the Nets in deflections (132) and steals (1.1), thanks to a 6-foot-7 frame, 7-foot wingspan and high workrate. And in last year’s rookie campaign his Defensive Rating — which measures a player’s efficiency at preventing the other team from scoring — improved from a sorry 118.5 in February to a solid 105.5 in March and a stellar 103.6 in April. But now he’s trending in the wrong direction.
After posting a 105.4 in January, LeVert got worse at 108.9 last month and a 111.7 so far in March. Much of the issue is LeVert is shouldering a bigger burden.
When LeVert joined the lineup late last season, he was playing alongside Brook Lopez and Jeremy Lin, and wasn’t asked to do much offensively. His Usage Rate (16.8) was just 11th on the team, tasked only with defending and picking up offensive scraps when needed.
Now, not only is LeVert having to learn the point guard position, but be the second unit’s floor leader and top scorer. It’s impacted his defense.
“I think so,” LeVert said. “Definitely, if you’re just going into the game focused on one thing, then you’ll definitely be better at that one thing. We had a lot more guys offensively, and I wasn’t asked to do a lot on that end of the floor. So on defense you have more energy.
“You know that’s pretty much your role as the rookie: Defend and rebound. Those are the two main things. But that’s definitely not an excuse. I feel like this year I’ve just got to be more consistent with it.”
As do the Nets, who blew a 23-point lead Wednesday against the Hornets and were outscored 18-2 to close the game. The lesson learned going into Toronto on Friday?
“Taking every possession and making it like it’s your last,” LeVert said.“Don’t take any possession for granted. We were up 23 in the second half and let it slip. We got complacent and we can’t do that. We’re not a good enough team for that. We’re too young to do things like that.”
LeVert’s youth makes him vital. Lin turns 30 before next season, the last on his deal at $12 million. The Nets rejected the Cavaliers offer of a first-round pick for Dinwiddie, but he’s since been benched after they struggled with he and Russell starting together, and he’s due a big raise after next season.
Meanwhile, LeVert is not only still on his rookie deal next season, but the Nets have already picked up his 2019-20 option at a mere $2.6 million, and can give him a qualifying offer in 2020-21. He could be with the team for a while, and the Nets will want him back to being their perimeter glove while he’s here.
