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Why Dennis Smith Jr.'s continued absence is hurting the Nets

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Nets
By Marin Gabric | Last updated 12/16/23

The Nets need good point guard play for them to compete at the highest level. They were superb early in the 2023/24 season when they had Ben Simmons starting with Dennis Smith Jr. as his backup. While Ben was a big loss for the Nets, they had DSJ as a backup plan, but that has crumbled due to the 25-year-old's back injury.

Brooklyn is desperately missing depth in the point guard position, as Spencer Dinwiddie is the only active ball-handler. He has done well in the injury-related absences, but there are some deficiencies that DSJ could solve.

"It's just been too many days that he's been off the court for him to ramp back up to join us on the West Coast," Coach Jacque Vaughn said in his press conference after losing to the Denver Nuggets. "It wouldn't make sense. So he will not join us for the rest of this West Coast trip."

DSJ is the primary defender for ball handlers

With Dinwiddie holding down the starting point guard position, the Nets showcase an incredible offensive talent. However, on the defensive end, he falls short, managing against most point guards but susceptible to being outpaced or overpowered.

Enter DSJ, a player renowned as one of the league's top guard defenders, addressing this defensive gap seamlessly.

Smith's athleticism and strength enable him to handle faster players and take on significant matchups, like stopping Trae Young or facing Luka Doncic. However, Coach Jacque Vaughn seeks more consistent performances in these situations.

DSJ gives more opportunities to run

As the primary ball-handler, Smith brings speed to lead the team—an aspect Coach Vaughn has desired since training camp. Unfortunately, without DSJ or Simmons, they've been unable to achieve this.

The Nets look much better when they're off and running with layups, dunks, and transition three-pointers. When the Nets get DSJ and Simmons back, hopefully relatively soon, the team will look much better on both sides of the floor. In the meantime, Spencer will have to do some extra work to help the team reach the highest level.