Tough tests ahead for Nets rookie
As a teenager, Rondae HollisJefferson played in basketball camps which bore the names of Kevin Durant and LeBron James. This week, the Brooklyn rookie — already the Nets’ best defensive player — will have the unenviable task of trying to guard two of the NBA’s best offensive players.
“I went to their camp. I played both of them, so I think that’s out the window now,’’ said HollisJefferson, who recalls being 16 or 17 at the time. “A lot of kids did [play in their camps]. But it’s just basketball, competition. Go out there, compete, play hard, you know?”
That’s been HollisJefferson’s signature since the Nets drafted him, and what got him into the starting lineup so quickly. His 1.6 stealspergame lead both the Nets and all rookies, and his 102 defensive rating (estimating the number of points allowed per 100 possessions) is also the best on the team.
But guarding ordinary players is one thing; Durant and James are extraordinary. The Nets face Durant’s Thunder on Wednesday in Oklahoma City and James’ Cavaliers on Saturday in Cleveland. Though Joe Johnson is likely to start at small forward, he eventually will cede the chore of guarding each to HollisJefferson.
“He’ll get his shot, but I’m at the 3 so I’ve got to start on them. I’ll try to soften them up for him,’’ Johnson quipped.
And exactly how does he plan to do that? “I don’t know. But those guys are great basketball players; and as defenders, you’ve just got to make them take tough shots. You can’t let them be comfortable out there.’’
Of course, if it was easy, everybody would do it. Durant — a fourtime scoring champ already at the age of 27 — missed six games with a hamstring injury, but returned Monday with 27 points on 10 of 13 shooting.
“Yeah, his timing’s perfect to come back,’’ Brook Lopez said dryly.
Asked how much stress having Durant back to pair with Russell Westbrook puts on a defense, Nets coach Lionel Hollins deadpanned, “What’s the maximum stress that you can have?”
The Nets will have to defend Durant as a team, but much of that stress will be on HollisJefferson. How does he stay focused despite knowing both Durant and James are going to get their points?
“[By] knowing that they’re going to get their points,’’ HollisJefferson said, laughing. “In your mind you know that’s one of the greatest players in the game scoringwise, playingwise. They’re going to get a basket, they’re going to help their team be better. You’ve just got to keep [saying] next play, next play. You get one stop, all right, let’s get another one. Keep trying to move forward and progress.
“When I’m guarding somebody, try to limit a certain number, knowing ‘All right, they average this much a quarter so I’m going to try to limit players to the best of my ability.’ But it’s hard. They’re great players. I just try my best.’’
Wayne Ellington, who missed Sunday’s game with a migraine, practiced Tuesday and is fine. … Lopez, when asked about the trade that nearly sent him to play with Durant and Westbrook last year, said, “It would have been interesting. … You can ask them about it [Wednesday] and report back to me.’’