Lionel Hollins says Kevin Garnett will start at power forward
At Deron Williams' Dodgeball event Monday, coach Lionel Hollins told reporters that Kevin Garnett, who never officially confirmed he's returning to the team and not retiring, is the starting power forward of the Nets from day one.
"He's earned the right to have that opportunity to be the starter from day one," Hollins said about Garnett. "If somebody else would knock him out, it's got to be like a heavyweight fight."
via The Brooklyn Game - Brooklyn Nets News, Analysis and Community.
Garnett averaged just 6.5 points and 6.6 rebounds last season for Brooklyn, and hasn't looked like the KG of old in two years. His ability to make impact players has greatly diminished. He still has moments, though, where he's able to make a play that changes the dynamic of a game.
But more than that it's a move by Hollins to respect the hierarchy of the locker room, and to show his understanding of how that dynamic functions. That's important for getting a veteran team to trust a new coach. Now, how long that holds is another matter. For one thing, the Nets could go big with a Mason Plumlee-Brook Lopez combo. For another, Mirza Teletovic was one of the best Nets last season. (Have I mentioned their season didn't go well, overall?)
Garnett's clearly decided to finish out this season, his last on his contract. But if this is the last run for the legend, at least he's going out, to begin the season anyway, as a starter.
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