Brooklyn Nets forward Reggie Evans has had his share of issues on the offensive end, hitting career lows and just downright struggling after being inserted into the starting lineup. He soon made a change putting up a crazy 22 points and 26 rebounds in the Nets win over the Sacramento Kings and 15 points and 16 rebounds in their loss to the Denver Nuggets. So what helped turned his game around? Read more after the jump.
“Just in the past, when people play off me, a lot of times I’d still be looking to be less aggressive on the offensive end,” Evans said after Wednesday’s win in Portland. “I still was trying to pass it.”
But then, something happened that caused Evans to change his mindset at the offensive end of the floor, where it had often seemed the Nets were playing 4-on-5 when he was in the game because of his reluctance to shoot the ball.
“One day, I got kind of frustrated when one of my teammates told the coach to take me out,” Evans said. “I really wanted to say something to him so bad, but I bit my tongue, and I said, ‘Let me just be a little aggressive and make them play us honestly, 5-on-5, instead of not playing me.’”
It was exactly what the Nets needed as they’ve overcome yet another bad stretch. They’ve clinched a playoff spot in the East and are still battling with the New York Knicks for the Atlantic Division title. If the seeding remains the same into the playoffs they will face the Chicago Bulls for a brutal 4-5 matchup.
Sidenote: I wonder which teammate made the suggestion, maybe Deron Williams? We all know how influential he is…
