NBA

Brooks’ double-double eases Nets’ pain

This is why you should never bet the mortgage.

There were two Nets double-doubles last night in the 106-101 loss to the Hawks. One involved points (15) and assists (14). Got ahead, place your wager on Deron Williams. The second double-double involved points (19) and rebounds (10). All those who put a few quid down on 6-foot-9 Kris Humphries, pay up. Try 6-foot-5 MarShon Brooks.

“I thought I’d be able to rebound because of my athleticism and my arms,” Brooks said after his first career double-double which came in his second career start, a 41-minute test of grit on a sprained ankle, a start that came about because DeShawn Stevenson was scratched with a sore knee. “With me, it’s just mentality. Sometimes I go, sometimes I don’t. I made up my mind today to just go.”

And he went repeatedly. When he wasn’t grabbing more boards than the usual rebounding machine Humphries (7), the rookie out of Providence was desperately trying to help the Nets overcome another trademark wretched start. He poured in 11 of his points in the third quarter, hitting 3 of 4 from behind the 3-point arc in the session.

Not bad for a guy who was shifted to the starting lineup, technically at small forward with Joe Johnson as his assignment (good luck), finding out he was replacing Stevenson “right before the game when I found out DeShawn wasn’t playing. Probably 25 minutes before the game.”

He said you have to be ready. And he was. And his performance is just part of the reason his popularity with Nets fans is soaring.

“The rookie did some really nice things for us,” said coach Avery Johnson. “And he gets 10 rebounds.”

Among other things.

“He competes. He tries to defend. He has a knack for scoring. Yeah, I really like him,” said one veteran NBA scout.

And while Brooks was likeable all game, he was downright admirable in that third quarter. He shot 4 of 6 and grabbed three rebounds.

“I just started shooting with confidence. Shooting the three with confidence,” Brooks said after his seventh double-figure scoring game in nine tries, success which he admits has been a bit surprising. “I shoot the mid-range with confidence but sometimes I think twice before I shoot the three, I was just shooting it instead of thinking.”

And that shot gave the customary boost to the offense.

“I’m always thinking that way. But I was trying to win,” Brooks explained. “We were down. Trying to make some shots, get the crowd involved, get behind them for a win but it didn’t work out.”