The Brooklyn Nets are eyeing a playoff spot, but Kenny Atkinson needs Spencer Dinwiddie to play better to make their playoff hopes a reality.
The Brooklyn Nets have found their footing after suffering through an eight-game losing streak earlier this season. Head coach Kenny Atkinson’s squad has won 13 of their last 18 and moved into the playoff picture.
But over their last eight games, Spencer Dinwiddie is struggling mightily. Brooklyn’s sixth man is averaging 11.3 points over that span, but he’s only shooting 35 percent from the floor and 30 percent from three-point range.
Atkinson knows the Nets need Dinwiddie to play better to keep their playoff hopes alive.
“Spencer can play better, quite honestly. We need him to play better. I think he’s in a little bit of a slump right now, and he needs to get out of it for us to be a good team,” Atkinson said to Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
Dinwiddie can play better. He’s looked like an All-Star at certain points this season. In fact, in the eight-games that took place before his recent slump, Dinwiddie averaged 25.3 points on 48 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent from deep.
“I guess we’ll figure it out. I’m going to ask coach,” Dinwiddie said. “I just try to go out there and do whatever it takes to help the team win games. Tonight my focus was to guard Kawhi Leonard because that’s what they had me doing.”
Luckily for Brooklyn, D’Angelo Russell is playing well and leading the charge for the Nets. They’re at their best when Russell and Dinwiddie are both playing well.
Dinwiddie will look to rebound on Monday when the Nets welcome the Boston Celtics to Barclays Center.
