OKC Thunder: 3 keys to beating Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets

OKC Thunder key No. 2) Nets depth versus Thunder depth:

Following up on the above point a true advantage for the Nets is their depth. That said the loss of Spencer Dinwiddie only served to highlight how vulnerable a team can be with the loss of a single player.

With Dinwiddie, the Nets got out to a 2-1 start and looked invincible. Since his injury, they are 3-4. The interesting part of this note is those losses came against the Grizzlies (twice), Hawks, and Wizards who own a cumulative record of 9-19. Moreover, Ja Morant only played 12:36 prior to getting injured and didn’t play in the second meeting.

It could also be growing pains but with Durant and Irving in the lineup, the Nets are mega deep even without Dinwiddie.

Case in point, Caris LeVert put up 43 points as a starter in the Nets’ recent loss to the Grizzlies, and would start for 90 percent of the association.

Other reserve players are Jarrett Allen although he’s undeniably the better player but DeAndre Jordan is starting based on his friendship with KD and Irving.

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Landry Shamet Tyler Johnson, Jeff Green, and Taurean Prince are also support staff most teams would be keen to add.

Punctuating how much depth plays a factor- – in the loss to Memphis, the Grizzlies bench outscored the Nets 44 to 28. And, they didn’t have Morant or Jaren Jackson.

For the Thunder to have a shot of beating the Nets they’ll want to summon the same bench effort they delivered versus the Knicks as they won that battle 48 to 24 points.