MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Slowly but surely, the Nets are seeing gradual improvement from Kevin Garnett.
The future Hall of Famer might not have gotten off to the kind of start he would have liked as a Net, but he continued his recent string of solid performances with eight points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot in 28 minutes in the Nets’ 97-88 win over the Grizzlies Saturday night.
“I’m trying to figure out my role here and understand it and play it to the best of my abilities,” Garnett said. “Like I’m saying, I’m just trying to make it easier for the other guys here, and vice-versa.
“A couple guys told me to keep my head up and gave me words of encouragement, and we’re coming. Slowly, but surely, it’s coming.”
Garnett looked pretty lost on the court through his first three weeks of the season, averaging 6.9 points on 32.6 percent shooting in his first nine games as a Net. But over his last seven, Garnett is averaging 8.0 points per game while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor. He also appears to have more confidence in his trademark one-dribble pull-up jumper, the weapon that has helped him score more than 25,000 points in his NBA career.
“He seems like he’s got his legs under him, and he’s starting to get his rhythm back,” Andray Blatche said. “He’s still being a vocal as ever. He’s getting his confidence back in his one-dribble pull-up, and that’s what we need.”
Always known for his defense, Garnett also has shown signs on that end in recent games. He did a terrific job on Pau Gasol, particularly in the low post, in Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers. Saturday night, he came up with a key block of Grizzles center Kosta Koufos during what turned into the game-deciding 21-5 run for the Nets in the fourth quarter.
“I’m just trying to give this team something, man,” Garnett said. “I know I’m not shooting the ball the way I want to, but my primary is defense right now, so I’m trying to just focus on my game.”
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In an effort to get the Nets going early in games after two straight dreadful first quarters, coach Jason Kidd switched up his starting lineup, inserting Tyshawn Taylor at point guard in favor of Shaun Livingston.
“I’m pretty excited for myself,” Taylor said before finishing with six points in 21 minutes in his first ever NBA start. “Hopefully I can go out there and do what I’ve been doing off the bench at the beginning of the game.… Change the pace of the game, speed it up a little bit, but also play under control.”
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The Nets continued to deal with injuries, with Paul Pierce becoming the latest player to sit out for a game with a bruised right (shooting) hand. Alan Anderson started in Pierce’s place, going scoreless but grabbing seven rebounds in 28 minutes.
The Nets were once again missing Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko (back spasms) and Jason Terry (sore left knee).
“He’s been playing with some injuries,” Kidd said. “His hand is a little swollen, so they’ll look at it and see how he feels [Sunday].
“We felt it was the best for him to get some rest, and see how he feels tomorrow.”