Check The Tape is going to be a new, regularly occurring feature here at Brooklyn Balling in which I’ll break down some Nets film to analyze specific players, specific plays, key games or any other interesting developments about the team. Today’s edition focuses on second-year guard Markel Brown, and how his role has increased since the injury to rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Thanks to their mega trade with the Celtics a few summers ago that brought Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry to Brooklyn, the Nets didn’t have any scheduled picks in the 2014 Draft. Boston had Brooklyn’s N0. 17 overall pick, which was used on James Young, while the Pelicans, through the Celtics, Mavericks and 76ers, used the Nets’ second-rounder (No. 47) on Louisville star Russ Smith.
However, in three separate deals, the Nets picked up three second-rounders from the Timberwolves, Raptors and Spurs, respectively, for cash considerations. The later two of those, No. 59 and No. 60, were used on Xavier Thames and Cory Jefferson, who either haven’t played for the Nets (Thames) or spent a season in Brooklyn before signing with Phoenix. The earliest one of the bunch, No. 44, was used to pick Oklahoma State guard Markel Brown, who played with Boston’s Marcus Smart in Stillwater and is still on the Nets.
Brown, a defense-first guard with insane athletic ability, struggled to find his rooting in the Nets’ rotation during his rookie campaign, but due to late-season injuries to Mirza Teletovic, Alan Anderson and Sergey Karasev, he became a starter for much of February, March and April. He showed flashes of potential during his extended stretch of significant playing time, which didn’t really extend into the postseason, most of which were on defense or on the fastbreak with big dunks.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqUevcen7w8]But, this season, with the additions of Shane Larkin and Wayne Ellington to the Brooklyn rotation, Brown didn’t get much run in the first 20 or so games outside of during garbage time. He has played double-digit minutes in four of the Nets’ last five games, which, perhaps unsurprisingly, has coincided with the ankle injury to Hollis-Jefferson, who is out for the next 8-10 weeks.
Although Brown is a point guard and Hollis-Jefferson is more of a guard/forward hybrid, he has assumed part of his role as defensive stopper so far. However, he has done more than just force turnovers and help the subpar Brooklyn defense as Brown has clearly improved his offensive game, especially with perimeter jumpers, from last season.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65ITa9ovrV0]In this clip, Brown uses a screen from Willie Reed on his defender, the larger Robert Covington, to get an open look at a 20-footer, which he drills. Last season, while Markel did make jumpers here and there, he mostly would have looked to pass off this pick instead of using it himself. Since Nerlens Noel doesn’t immediately decide to switch onto Brown, and Markel releases the ball quickly, it’s wide open. It’s clear he has confidence in his shot, which prompts him to take advantage of the good opportunity.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGonqRbXTGU]Later in the same game, on a similar play, Brown uses a high pick from Brook Lopez to knock down an important three. He could have looked to dish it back to a cutting Lopez but decides to take it himself since Jahlil Okafor doesn’t hedge. Since the Nets don’t have many reliable perimeter shooting options, someone like Markel who can effectively diagnose when he is going to get a clean look from three is vital. Also, his form looks pretty darn good on that shot, so it should fall most of the time for him.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5R9AnzPS0s]Here, in the Nets’ win over the Rockets, Brown gets a three off a broken play that is partly due to good passing by Lopez and Joe Johnson, but is also due to great floor spacing from Brown. When gets the ball at the elbow, Markel is right at the wing for a wide open triple. By anticipating where the pass will be coming from, he’s able to set his feet perfectly and shoot before Corey Brewer can even get up to contest it. The Markel of last year probably would have tried to cut to the hoop, which would present a tougher pass for Joe as Houston defenders were converging on the paint.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=109f193jSds]Against the Warriors, Brown, as Jarrett Jack cut into the key and then to the baseline, realizes he isn’t going to get the ball if he stays on the wing and decides to float down into the corner. This represents an easy passing lane for Jack and is the perfect way to break a man defense from the outside. Had Brown stayed on the wing, Jack probably would have committed a turnover as the Golden State defense converged on him. However, Brooklyn got three points.
But, Markel’s most exciting value to the Nets is not in his outside shooting, which is a useful weapon for him, but in his defense and how the defensive plays he makes lead to offense on the other end.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O7AZewUxlg]Defending Leandro Barbosa off an in-bounds pass, Brown masterfully moves his body to where he thinks Barbosa is going to dribble. By doing this, he both avoids committing a foul and forces Barbosa into essentially putting the ball right into Brown’s body. This knocks it out of his hands as Brown scoops it up and takes it down the floor for an easy fastbreak layup.
This is picture-perfect defense in every way, and shows just how valuable a smaller guard can be against less agile and more straight-up opponents like Barbosa. Brown’s defensive stance allows him to move with Barbosa and force the turnover, which leads to a potential four-point swing (like Markel’s play at the beginning of the second quarter last night against the Magic). This is a play Hollis-Jefferson could make for the Nets when he was healthy, and is the game-changing type of play the team has sorely missed in his absence.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN0qj6eOAU0]Similarly, against the 76ers a few days later, Brown, thanks to him following the play, good defense from Shane Larkin and a little luck, comes up with a steal and then fires a perfect lob down the floor to Larkin for a three-point play. This isn’t as much about Brown’s defense but about his vision and ability to just make plays. Since he picks up his man, Tony Wroten, before halfcourt, Brown is able to be in the right spot for the loose ball, which turns into points for the Nets.
He wastes no time in getting the ball to Larkin, who immediately heads for the other end when Brown gets the ball. If Markel waited a split-second or more to get the pass off, it might have been picked off by a 76er and brought back. But, he made the perfect read at the perfect time for the hoop.
Throughout his college career, Markel Brown played in the shadow of his more famous teammate, Marcus Smart. That’s why he fell to the Nets (via a trade) in the second round. But, his draft position underlies how much he can change the game in a positive way when he’s in. Whether it’s smartly using screens for open jumpers, knowing where to be on the floor and turning good defensive plays into offense, Brown provides a lot of value for the Nets in the backcourt and has all the makings of a productive NBA player as he develops physically. Already, the athleticism and court awareness are there. The jumper is getting there as is the strength.
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