Potential Starting Lineup: Spencer Dinwiddie - Mikal Bridges - Dorian Finney-Smith - Cameron Johnson - Nic Claxton
The Problem: A significant lack of rebounding on the floor.
Post-trade deadline, this was the starting lineup the Brooklyn Nets used most often. Cameron Johnson missed the preseason with a hamstring injury, but fully healthy, there's no reason to think this wouldn't be the starting unit in 2023-24.
Last year, the Nets were 29th in rebounding, though they improved slightly after the trade deadline to 25th. In the playoffs, Brooklyn averaged just 35 boards a night—the worst team by 2.2 rebounds.
Nic Claxton is the only true center on the roster, and he takes himself out of rebounding position every time he rotates over to block shots.
Ben Simmons is the next-best rebounder on the roster, but inserting him into the starting lineup poses a few problems. Simmons has arguably been the league's least reliable player over the past few seasons because of availability. Also, his hesitancy to shoot puts two non-shooters on the floor.
The Fix: Once Johnson recovers from his injury, the Nets should consider keeping Simmons in the starting lineup instead of Dorian Finney-Smith. Finney-Smith is a good defender and an improved shooter, but the Nets have a lot of three-and-D players. That starting lineup has a lot of duplication, and the other wings cannot do what Simmons can with the ball, especially in the open court.
Teams often are too focused on spacing, missing all the other intangibles they give up.
Adding rebounding and playmaking would make this starting lineup more dynamic and explosive.
Of course, this is all assumes Simmons returns to form, which is a big IF.
