Welcome return
Floundering Nets get more mature Russell back on court
Ten weeks after injuring his knee — and nine after undergoing arthroscopic surgery — Nets guard D’Angelo Russell finally is expected to return to the court on Friday.
The Nets officially listed Russell as probable for their game against the Heat at Barclays Center. If he does play, it will be his first action since suffering a left knee contusion on Nov. 11 in a game at Utah.
The 21-year-old had arthroscopic surgery six days later to remove loose bodies from the same knee (which cost him 11 games last season with the Lakers), and has not played since.
“I’m intrigued about getting D’Angelo back in the lineup, seeing how it unfolds with all these other young guys here,” general manager Sean Marks said this week.
“Any team who misses a guy of his talent is going to have an adjustment period,” said Spencer Dinwiddie, who has stabilized the point-guard spot during Russell’s absence. “If they choose to play us together, I’m happy with it. If they don’t, they don’t. Every day I could step on the floor and be healthy, it’s a blessing, and I look forward to him coming back regardless of what that does to my role.”
Dinwiddie is right. The Nets clearly have missed Russell, who leads the team in scoring (20.9) and Player Impact Estimate (13.3). He also was second in assists (5.7) and steals (1.0).
In short, Russell is a talent, and the Nets (16-29) need all the talent they can get.
Marks said this week on WFAN that he felt Russell and Jahlil Okafor had matured since arriving in Brooklyn. Coach Kenny Atkinson concurred, even crediting the grueling rehab as part of the reason for Russell’s maturation.
“With D’Angelo, he’s been on a regimented rehab program that you’re talking four or five hours a day, correctives, rehab, medicals,” Atkinson said. “They’re doing more than our guys are doing, quite honestly. I know they’re not playing games, but in terms of preparing themselves to get ready.
“So I do think that helps them grow up. … I told D’Angelo in the long run this will be a positive for you, just having to dig in like you’re digging in.”
Russell practiced twice with GLeague Long Island, and participated in a pair of morning shootarounds, but still hasn’t practiced fully with the Nets. That means he hasn’t had a lot of court time with Dinwiddie, though they could end up sharing the backcourt for long stretches.
“It’s a good problem to have. You’ve got three guys who can re- ally handle the ball, play pick-androll,” said Atkinson, who was including Caris LeVert in that mix. “We can play them together, we can stagger them. We’re adding another really good player. It’s like signing a really good player almost, that could really help our team. We’ll have to figure out the minutes, the rotations, the chemistry and all that.
“Hopefully we get to the point where we’ll have a stable rotation, a stable roster. That’s part of the reason you find your consistency.”
The Nets have been wildly inconsistent, losing their past five games at home. Can Russell help change that, despite whatever minute restrictions he may face?
“D’Angelo is progressing really well. He’s worked hard and he’s been diligent with his rehab. I’d like to think it’s sooner rather than later,” Marks said on WFAN. “He’s anxious about getting out there and I know his teammates want to get him out there as well.”