The Brooklyn Nets have had a few pleasant surprises so far this season. You're probably already familiar with the former San Antonio Spurs duo of Patty Mills and LaMarcus Aldridge. Both have impressed through the season's early portion. But there is another offseason addition who hasn't been on the mainstream radar quite as often: DeAndre' Bembry.
DeAndre' Bembry has been a nice addition for the Nets 🙌@BrooklynNets pic.twitter.com/D5P7kKdmTq
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) November 7, 2021
Mills is now averaging 9.8 points per game on a blistering hot 45.2 percent from three-point range. Aldridge is scoring 13 points per game and grabbing 5.5 rebounds. According to NBA.com, LMA has connected on 36-of-57 from 10-24 feet, good for 63 percent. He is a sensational 83 percent from 15-19 feet in his midrange office.
Oh and in case you forgot, Kevin Durant is leading the NBA in scoring with 29.5 points per game on better than 58 percent shooting and over 40 percent from downtown. There must be something in the air with the Nets that they've shot the ball so well. KD did say he doesn't mind the new Wilson ball. Maybe the others don't either.
But we did not expect Bembry to get in on the shooting act. The North Carolina native has only taken 10 three-pointers so far this year but he's shooting them at a very solid clip at 70 percent. After their road win against the Orlando Magic, Bembry, who finished with 11 points and a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, deflected attention by talking up his teammates.
“I think our veteran leadership just carried us through in this one,” said Bembry. “Obviously Kevin and James (Harden) are gonna score how they score but everyone else, we’re playing off each other and trying to make the right plays so just getting into the paint and having the defense collapse is making it a lot easier for us.”
The Nets shot over 43 percent on 37 triples against the Magic. But Bembry, who only made 14 total 3s in 51 games last season, is already up to seven made deep bombs. Nobody expected that.
Following the game, the sixth-year wing out of St. Joseph's was asked if he worked on his shot recently or made changes to his mechanics. The jumper looks a bit cleaner than it has in the past.
“Yeah I definitely kind of switched up my shot a little bit,” said Bembry. “Worked on it a lot more. More so mechanics. Did a little bit of switch up how I shoot the ball. It’s been working so far. Shooting with confidence as well. Also having that much space helps out too.”
Mills gets the same mismatch and forces Wagner to stick with him this time. And if Bembry is going to hit those corner threes at even an average rate… he just became even more valuable. pic.twitter.com/WZrRFsDX43
— Alec Sturm (@Alec_Sturm) November 11, 2021
Nets coach Steve Nash has spoken at times about how the team does not profile as one with many elite defenders. But Bembry is one of his hardest-working defensive players, up to 2.5 steals per 36 minutes.
THIS is why Bembry gets minutes. He’s always fighting and making things tough for the opposing offense, as he re-establishes good position and forces the steal. pic.twitter.com/WX8NANoojB
— Jac Manuell (@JacManuell) November 8, 2021
It sounds like he has bought in.
“Every individual on this team has the utmost confidence,” said Bembry.
He was also asked how confident Aldridge has been recently.
“Once he sees one go in, he thinks everyone is gonna drop. The last few games he’s been showing that he still looks like the LA that we know. He’s super talented he’s super confident I mean I dunno if I’ve seen someone shoot the ball as well as he’s doing,” said Bembry.
There is a lot of hot shooting lately in Brooklyn. But Bembry was brought in to be a menace defensively on the wing. It wasn't expected that he'd space the floor. His ranginess and athleticism are certainly something the team needs. He has formed a nice stalwart combination playing alongside Bruce Brown when many expected the two tweeners to compete for minutes. If Brown can also knock down wide-open three-pointers, it would be a huge lift for the team's rotation.
If the Nets make a deep postseason run, one would imagine they'll need as many tough defenders as possible. If Bembry can keep knocking down open shots, he'll force Nash to start to play him even more minutes. With so much of their salary cap tied up into Durant, Harden, and Kyrie Irving, general manager Sean Marks needed to find some diamonds in the rough. He may have found one in DeAndre' Bembry.
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