With the Nets struggling, Jacque Vaughn is clearly tinkering with his backcourt rotations and minutes.
Slumping Spencer Dinwiddie lost playing time Monday night, with Dennis Smith Jr. logging 32 minutes off the bench and Cam Thomas 31.
Dinwiddie finished with three points on 1-for-6 shooting and was minus-13 in 20 minutes of action.
“I’ve always talked about this being performance-based,” Vaughn said. “I thought Dennis had a good attack for us defensively. We’re just in a position right now where you have to perform, and that’s across the board. So that’s a challenge to the entire group from the beginning of the game to the end to be locked-in and to give everything you have on both ends of the floor.
“We have a pretty open offense where the ball handler can attack and be aggressive on a nightly basis, which is unselfish and is for the benefit of the group. So there’s no blockade from allowing that to happen by individuals on the team. Just ask you to make the right play. But it’ll always be performance-based, and even more so now.”
Dinwiddie is averaging 7.3 points on 34.2 percent shooting in his past six.
“I thought defensively Dennis was really good. We needed him to match up against [Tyler] Herro and also match up against [Jimmy] Butler,” Vaughn said. “It allowed us to be in the game. That’s just where we are as a team is we’re gonna put guys out there who are gonna perform. And it’s gonna make tough decisions on me to finish the game and that’s just a part of it. Hopefully that encourages our guys to be ready to go at the beginning of the game and play four quarters.”
Thomas had 23 points and was a plus-9 but is still coming off the bench.
Thomas against the Heat on Monday. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Asked if he was comfortable with his role as a reserve and the rotations off the bench, Thomas replied, “No.”
He added, “It could change. I don’t know. But I’m just doing my job. So I don’t know. I get out there and produce. I don’t really have comfortability coming off the bench or starting. Whatever he wants me to do that’s what I’m going to do.”
Thomas clarified he meant there was no complacency.
Vaughn was among those happy to be working on MLK Day.
“I love the fact that we play on this day,” Vaughn said. “It’s significant for me because of the sacrifices made. I wouldn’t be in this position to see Wayne Embry, to see Bill Russell, people who have paved the way for me to be at this podium.
“I appreciate it, of being able to share and show talents on this day. I’m just a huge believer in the sacrifice of the people before me to put me in this position. So I think it’s a tribute. It’s [appreciated] to play on this day.”
Brooklyn was without Day’Ron Sharpe (knee) and Ben Simmons (back).
“The latest we talked about it that Ben would be traveling to the West Coast with us,” Vaughn said.
