Nets’ Fernández Views Traoré as ‘True Point Guard'

The Brooklyn Nets' starting lineup lacked a "true point guard" to run the offense, and coach Jordi Fernández addressed the issue quickly by starting Nolan Traoré.

Fernández's backcourt was Keon Ellis and Egor Dëmin for the first three games. Both are off-ball guards who capitalize on advantages created by their playmaker rather than being the floor general themselves.

Julius Randle handled primary ball-handler duties, and it's generated mixed results. He's averaging 5.2 assists to 4.2 turnovers, not exactly an efficient assist-to-turnover ratio.

Brooklyn's coach made the shift on Tuesday in its double-overtime loss to the Boston Celtics. Fernández said he felt inserting Traoré would help settle the group, improve shot selection and limit turnovers.

Traoré impressed in his first start, finishing with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, three assists and two steals. He struggled a bit Friday against the Detroit Pistons, scoring nine points on 3-for-11 shooting, two blocks, two rebounds and two assists.

His assists in the past two games don't reflect the change Fernández hopes happens, but the box score doesn't tell the full story.

The second-year guard took an offseason leap despite not playing in summer league. He added muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame and it's helped him absorb contact while driving downhill.

His slashing ability is key to Brooklyn's free-flowing offense. Getting two feet in the paint forces the defense to collapse, and if Traoré can spot an open teammate, he'll generate a wide-open shot.

Fernández handed him the ball-handling reps he needed last season to reveal his strengths and weaknesses. He blew past defenders with a blazing first step and struggled to nail mid-range jumpers and floaters.

The Nets needed a starting guard who could operate in the pick-and-roll. Randle is a big body at 6-foot-8 and operates better in isolation than calling for a screen.

Fernández also believes rookie Mikel Brown Jr. is the other true point guard. Changing the starting lineup balances the first and second units.

Traoré will command the first unit alongside veteran Randle, and Brown is the floor general of the bench unit. Staggering talent is key to sustained performance over four quarters, and the habit Brooklyn's coach is building now could pay off later.

The Nets are the lone winless team in the Eastern Conference, and it's encouraging that Fernández is making changes while searching for their first win. Traoré will likely make his third straight start on Sunday against the Indiana Pacers.