Tyler Johnson got his way back from persona non grata to the Nets defense rotation. And in a team full of All-Star guards like James Harden and Kyrie Irving, that’s not a simple thing.
“Well, he worked a lot,” said coach Steve Nash. “He is very competitive. And I think he got an opportunity. I think it is difficult; there are so many perimeter players. But trying to lose a few minutes for the guys, really [helps].
“He can come in and give us a ride. So, I just love him as a person and a player, his competitive spirit is excellent. He has made some shots too, and is very capable offensively, of course. But I think that this competitive nature is really important for our group. “
After appearing in just five of the Nets’ first 20 games – and seven of the first 24 – Johnson played five straight on Tuesday’s match in Phoenix. After winning six minutes just once in the entire season before this period, he recorded at least 19 in four of the last five, including a 10-point loss in Monday’s victory in Sacramento.
For Johnson, 28, Tuesday’s game marked a rematch with the team that had dismissed him on February 10, 2020. This paved the way for him to finally be picked up by Brooklyn for the rest of the season, playing eight games in the Orlando bubble.
Landry Shamet clearly overcame his malaise early in the season. He entered on Tuesday with an average of 11.0 points in 20.9 minutes, breaking double digits six times and shooting 39.3 percent from behind the hoop.
It is a far cry from his first 16 games, when Shamet averaged just five points with 28.6 percent shooting from depth. He seems to have developed a particular chemistry with James Harden, who helped in 12 of his 22 points out of 3 in this race.
The Nets made it official to sign guard / striker Andre Roberson on Tuesday. It was not listed in the Suns injury report, which implies that it did not need further quarantine and could be available immediately.
Considering that Roberson had not played since his seven playoff games with Oklahoma City – which ended on September 2 – it is unclear how much time he will need to prepare.
Kevin Durant (hamstring) lost his second game in a row, with his status in the air for Thursday’s game against the Lakers at the Staples Center.
The most used lineup of the Big Three of the Nets – Durant, Harden and Kyrie Irving – alongside Joe Harris and Jeff Green posted an Offensive Rating of 125.6, a Defensive Rating of 108.2 and a Net Rating of 17.4. They reach 35 in just 76 minutes. The lineup with DeAndre Jordan replacing Green in the center has an Offensive Rating of 120.2, a Defensive Rating of 101.9 and a Net Rating of 18.3, a plus-24 in 50 minutes.