The Brooklyn Nets were considered the beat to beat this season looking at their roster full of All-Star players. However, in their encounter with a depleted Los Angeles Lakers, they dealt with a shock defeat. The reigning champions did not have the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis and also they lacked the services of players like Wesley Matthews, Marc Gasol and Kyle Kuzma and yet they got the better of Steve Nash’s men.
The result caught the attention of all the people as the Nets were expected to dominate play against a depleted Lakers side. But it completely went south for them. NBA analyst and former champion, Kendrick Perkins highlighted the reason the Nets lost despite having a superior lineup.
They have added players like James Harden, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge and hence the people considered them the strongest lineup. However, Perkins feels that unless they play DeAndre Jordan they do not have a chance of clinching the title.
“I get it, Steve Nash is catering to LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin. But the Brooklyn Nets are not going to win the championship without playing DeAndre Jordan,” Perkins asserted. “They have to play him. He is the center that is going to anchor their defense. He’s the best live threat that they have, going to the basket. So, where’s DeAndre Jordan right now? He damn sure shouldn’t be getting DNP’s.”
The Nets added a few big names like Griffin and Aldridge and to accommodate them Nash has often ignored Jordan. He has now been DNP-CD for four games and once he was a starter for them. He has not had minutes in the fourth quarter as well in the last twelve matches.
It looks like Jordan is their fall back option considering that he will be with the Nets for at least two more years. Also, both Aldridge and Griffin are pretty injury prone and therefore they both struggle against dominant teams. Jordan has to be their best option during the playoffs but not giving him minutes and straight dropping him in the playoffs will be tough for the player as well.
While Jordan has not been the same center as he was before but he is still their best option and it will be interesting to see if the Nets pay heed to what Perkins mentioned.
