With the Nets season officially in the books, it’s time to look back at the year that was. We’ll look back at a different player each weekday, before wrapping up with the coaching staff and front office. Next up: Mason Plumlee
Regular season stats: Averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.8 blocks per game. Shot 65.9 percent from the field, 0 percent from 3-point range, 62.6 percent from the foul line in 18.2 minutes per game over 70 games (22 starts).
Playoff stats: Averaged 2.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.7 blocks per game. Shot 43.8 percent from the field, 0 percent from 3-point range and 44.4 percent from foul line in 11.4 minutes per game over 10 games (no starts).
Contractual status: Signed for 2014-15 at $1,357,080; Nets have additional team options for 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
Season recap
On a draft night dominated by talk of the Nets acquiring Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from Boston, the selection of Mason Plumlee with the 22nd pick in the draft flew under the radar. The Duke product, who was at Barclays Center for the draft last June, sat through a press conference while everyone’s focus was on an agreed-upon trade that couldn’t be discussed until the following month.
And that was the way Plumlee’s season was supposed to go – as an afterthought on a team full of veteran talent that was ready to win now. But Plumlee began to grow into a bigger and bigger role for the Nets, steadily establishing himself in the regular rotation by following a simple formula: Every time he caught the ball, he would try to dunk it. He would flush it, miss or be fouled in the process.
Combined with using his athleticism to cause havoc defensively, that allowed Plumlee to gain the trust of Nets coach Jason Kidd, surpassing veterans such as Reggie Evans. When Brook Lopez was lost for the season with a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot and the Nets downsized to a smallball lineup with only one traditional big man, Plumlee’s minutes initially plummeted. He was the third center in the rotation behind Garnett and Andray Blatche.
When Garnett sat out for more than a month with back spasms, Plumlee stepped into the starting lineup and excelled, then remained in front of Blatche when Garnett returned and supplanted him in the starting lineup.
Plumlee’s greatest moment came in the Nets’ 88-87 win over the two-time defending champion Heat on April 8, when he blocked LeBron James at the rim in the game’s final seconds to secure the win.
Plumlee became a fan favorite. He finished the season as Nets’ only active homegrown player (Lopez was the other) and excited with his rim-rocking style of play, being pretty much the only player on the roster who could finish off an alley-oop.
After carving out a large role late in the regular season, Plumlee became a bit player during the postseason. He struggled under the spotlight and was surpassed by Blatche in the rotation.
Outlook for next season
Plumlee’s performance this season was a surprise. It’s not that Plumlee wasn’t considered to have any potential. But on a team with so many veterans at his position – the Nets began the year with Lopez, Garnett, Blatche, Evans and Mirza Teletovic ahead of him – it seemed as if Plumlee’s biggest contribution would be to the Springfield Armor rather than the Nets.
But Plumlee impressed whenever he got on the floor early in the season, slowly but surely working his way into the rotation and into a consistent starter down the stretch.
Heading into his second season, Plumlee will be expected to develop a jump shot – he took only seven shots outside the restricted area, missing all of them – and get stronger so he can be more of a consistent force defensively. But he’s a perfect fit for the defensive scheme the Nets adopted in the latter half of the season, and looks like one of the steals of an underwhelming 2013 draft class.
Tomorrow: Marquis Teague