NBA

Bojan Bogdanovic’s theory for Nets’ improved bench play

TORONTO — The Nets’ Bojan Bogdanovic has improved his shooting numbers across the board in his last 17 games.

One other noticeable difference in the last 17 games is that the Nets have a different coach. Lionel Hollins was fired Jan. 10 with the team 10-27 and Tony Brown was named interim coach. Bogdanovic went from starter to sub and his shooting spiked for the better.

“I didn’t even know honestly,” said Bogdanovic, the Nets’ lone representative at All-Star Weekend. “Maybe we’ve started to play with a little more pace, are getting more shots on offense. We have more opportunities and are sharing the ball better and I think maybe that is the case why I have better numbers.”

Not the coach? Not maybe being a little more relaxed?

“Lionel was good for me,” said Bogdanovic, who had six points in the defense-free 157-154 Team USA win over Team World on Friday in the Rising Stars Challenge. “He brought me from overseas, he [gave] me an opportunity in the starting lineup. I have nothing against him. He was great for me. With Tony Brown, we are getting better. We are playing better at home, we are shooting ball better at home.”

Bogdanovic, under Brown, is shooting .440, up from .423, while his 3-point numbers show a marked jump — from .326 to .448. Overall, his scoring has dipped from 9.5 to 9.2, but per 36 minutes he has improved from 12.3 to 14.7.

“The guys from the bench, we are more competitive,” Bogdanovic said. “Markel [Brown] is playing great. Before he didn’t play even a minute.”

The 26-year-old Croatian can see an improved Nets future with the likes of rookies Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Chris McCullough. But the future only will achieve clarity when the front office/coaching situation is resolved.

Bogdanovic said he hopes it’s soon.

“You don’t know who is in charge,” he said.

“Honestly we have to wait for the summer to get a GM,” Bogdanovic said. “Are they going to hire a new one or new coach or will Tony stay? Then they’ll make new moves. But until summer, there’s nothing clear.

“We have many young, good players but no one knows who will stay or be traded.”