Injuries have forced Nets to juggle starting lineups

If necessity leads to invention, the Nets have done more than enough tinkering being shorthanded this season.

Going into Monday’s game with the Bucks, the Nets have five players who have missed at least one game, more than all but three teams. Four starters have missed time, including Cam Johnson (strained calf) and Nic Claxton (sprained ankle) being out since getting hurt in the opener.

As a result, the Nets have used four different starting lineups through six games.

It could’ve been a problem for a team needing chemistry after last season’s trades but instead it’s been an early positive.

“Sometimes with certain teams, you lose a guy or two, that’s a very big problem,” Lonnie Walker IV said. “With this team, it’s like, we want you to come back but be back healthy. We got other players and we got to trust our system and teammates that we got other players that can fill in that role and play to the best of their capability.”

Cam Thomas added he’s used to playing with a wide range of lineups since the Nets have done it most of his three seasons. This season, they’ve found unlikely combinations that worked, especially on the last road trip.

Against the Bulls Friday, it was Walker, Royce O’Neale, Spencer Dinwiddie, Day’Ron Sharpe and Dennis Smith Jr. who opened the fourth quarter and kept things close. That came two days after the unlikely group of Walker, O’Neale, Ben Simmons, Trendon Watford and Armoni Brooks went on a 19-7 opening run in the fourth quarter at Miami.

So why have things worked with multiple starters out? Part of it is versatile roster construction. The Nets have shooting depth that’s benefited from Simmons being a willing passer and drawing attention at the rim with Claxton out.

Dorian Finney-Smith is shooting 48.9% on 7.5 three-pointers per game, Dinwiddie 44.8% on 5.8 attempts and Walker 43.5% off the bench on 4.6 attempts.

Walker is also one of several players adept at getting to the rim with Thomas and Smith. It’s freed up Mikal Bridges to carry the scoring load and opened up the floor for the Nets’ shooters.

“When you’re putting pressure onto the rim, pressure into the paint, that’s liable for a lot of catch-and-shoots, open threes,” said Walker, who’s averaging 14.8 points. “Even Day’Ron Sharpe’s been getting [alley] oops and put-back dunks and whatnot. So it’s been creating a lot of confusion . . . we just have great players who can attack the rim.”

The Nets have also taken up Jacque Vaughn’s emphasis on rebounding as a collective — they’ve outrebounded opponents in all but one game. Simmons has been the glue with his 10.0 rebounds per game and he’s sparked the Nets’ transition game.

He’s had help on the glass as Sharpe has had at least seven rebounds the last four games. O’Neale has 5.8 rebounds, mostly as a reserve, and Thomas has three games with at least five rebounds after having four all of last season.

“I’ve always been able to rebound really well. I just got out of it because I didn’t have a chance to do it,” Thomas said. “But now, I have to rebound for us to get the ball. You know, we’re playing small, and that just comes with the pros and cons of it.”

The key will be maintaining the spacing once Claxton returns and Johnson is healthy, which will add a shooter. But for now, the Nets are thriving with different lineups and it could pay off as players get familiar with what they can do on the court.

“As long as everyone knows the scheme and their job in the scheme and trusts that someone’s gonna have your back, regardless of who’s out there, then everything will work out,” Thomas said.

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.