NEW ORLEANS – Brook Lopez hasn’t figured out entirely how to play with Yi Jianlian, but the Nets’ center has mastered the art of diplomacy.
Lopez said his recent struggles and obvious frustration have more to do with him than Yi becoming more of a focal point of the offense and chuckled when that was mentioned.
“It’s been tough just because of what I’ve come to expect of myself and the way I’ve been playing the past few games,” Lopez said before Friday’s game against the Hornets.Lopez’s production has dipped mightily in the seven games since Yi returned from knee and mouth injuries. Lopez’s overall demeanor in-game and postgame have been different, too.
He left the locker room twice without commenting in the prior seven games and chose not to comment when the Nets lost by 30 in Atlanta on Wednesday, saying he had nothing good to say.
“I was just frustrated with myself,” Lopez said.
He said he’s trying not to let the frustration affect his play, but hasn’t been entirely successful.
“I’d say it has,” he said.
There is plenty of frustration to go around as players continue to talk about things changing. There’s little doubt that the Nets are trying to utilize the 7-foot Yi more and it’s an adjustment for everyone.
Yi has been more aggressive than at any point in his NBA career - which is good for him and the Nets. But often times the ball sticks when it goes to him. Also, coach/general manager Kiki Vandeweghe has to find a way for him to coexist with Lopez and the other three starters, Devin Harris, Courtney Lee and Chris Douglas-Roberts.
Lopez admits he and Yi still are working out the kinks. Although Yi is known more for his jump shooting ability, the Nets are trying to post him more and there’s been some confusion.
“There’s still time,” Lopez said. “In Atlanta, I remember we ended up posting up on the same block at least two or three times. It’s going to take some time to do away with that.”
Everyone’s shots were expected to go down once Yi replaced Josh Boone as a starter. Boone only takes about 4.7 per game. But the drop is striking and most noticeable with Lopez.
The Nets’ franchise center averaged 19.5 points on 14.6 shots over the first 28 games. The past seven he’s scoring 14.3 points on just 10.6 shots per. Yi has averaged 20.3 points on 14.7 shots in those seven games.
“It’s tough to spread that ball around,” Lopez said. “When you got a lot of talented players on the floor — Yi, Lee, [Douglas-Roberts], Devin, myself — we’re all great offensive players. Having five of us on the floor at the same time it’s going to be more balanced.
“Regardless of how often I get the ball I think I can still crash the boards — I think that’s slipped a bit — and play good team defense and be a factor on the floor without scoring the ball.”
Vandeweghe, who traded for Yi and has emphasized his development, said they’re trying to work on an effective “high-low” game to utilize both players’ talents.
“Brook has lots of touches,” Vandeweghe said. “What we talked about was getting us in a better position. So do I think that everybody is a little frustrated? Yeah, you could go right down the list with everybody. Everybody’s production is down a little bit. And I think that’s more a matter of we’re not executing than anything else.”
Despite his struggles, Lopez is happy about one thing.
“Even though the ball is being spread out more, I’m glad that I’m trying to share it instead of jack it up every time I get it,” he said. “I’m still trying to focus on being a team player.”
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