ORLANDO, Fla. — Mason Plumlee’s block on LeBron James’ dunk attempt — which sealed the Nets’ 88-87 win over the two-time defending champion Heat Tuesday night — didn’t begin when Plumlee saw James catch the ball with an open lane to the rim and leapt to get into his way.
Instead, it began six weeks ago, when Kevin Garnett’s bout with back spasms gave Plumlee an opportunity to step into the starting lineup and play significant minutes, which have paid dividends in the way his confidence and game have grown since.
“Oh, he definitely wouldn’t have made that play six weeks ago, because he probably would have been on the end of the bench,” Paul Pierce said with a laugh before the Nets’ 115-111 loss to the Magic Wednesday night. “But, you know, he’s been playing, getting the experience, having better awareness to the ball, and that’s what I’ve been trying to tell him.
“It’s not about who your man is, you know, you’ve got to be the help. It may not be your man going to the hole, but you see another man and you’re the big man, you’ve got to clog up the paint, and he’s been doing a fantastic job of that.”
Garnett was back in the starting lineup again Wednesday, playing for the second time in three games as he continued his maintenance plan to get back to full health after missing 19 straight games.
But after the Nets had struggled mightily all season whenever Garnett had been out of the lineup, things suddenly clicked over the last month and a half in his absence, mostly because of Plumlee, who has stepped up for both Garnett and Brook Lopez..
“I think when Brook went down, it sort of opened up an opportunity for him, [and] he’s responded,” Deron Williams said of Plumlee, who finished with 16 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes before fouling out in the fourth quarter against Orlando. “He’s learning every day. He’s listening to [Garnett]. He kind of took him under his wing.
“He’s a huge part of the team now. We need him. We’re going to need him in the playoffs. He adds another dimension. He’s athletic. He’s young. He gives us another dimension to our bigs.”
Plumlee repeatedly has credited Garnett for showing him the ropes throughout his rookie year, watching film with him on opponents and doing whatever he can to help Plumlee succeed.
But when asked about Plumlee’s play Wednesday, Garnett deferred, instead giving the credit to the rookie’s work ethic, and the time he has spent working out with assistant coach Roy Rogers.
“I think his confidence has come from his play,” Garnett said. “He watches film and he’s real with himself. The fact [is] he can evaluate his mistakes and learn from them, and we’re trusting him.”
“He’s finishing plays and being effective, and everything’s a credit to him. He busts his ass, he works very, very hard. Him and [assistant coach Roy] Rogers are at it every day and I told him, ‘If you want to get better, that’s what you have to do.’ ”
Tuesday’s game wasn’t the first time Nets coach Jason Kidd has entrusted his rookie center — who, in addition to blocking James’ dunk attempt in the final seconds Tuesday also made what turned out to be the game-winning basket by finishing a layup despite contact with 41 seconds left.
The week before, Kidd opted to play Plumlee in three straight overtime games on the road — at Dallas, New Orleans and Charlotte — as well as late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s win in Philadelphia.
Plumlee credited those experiences with helping to prepare him for moments like those he had late against the Heat, and ones he’ll likely find himself facing in the weeks ahead.
“When coach has you in during crunch time … that shows the ultimate confidence,” Plumlee said. “So playing in late-game situations, the more you’re in them, the more comfortable you get.”
He certainly has grown comfortable for the Nets this season, positioning himself to potentially be an NBA All-Rookie first team candidate after being selected 22nd in the draft last June. Some people around the team had expected him to spend as much time in the D-League as in Brooklyn this season.
“Well, he’s maturing and the good thing about him [is] he listens,” Pierce said. “He has an open ear to all the veterans on this team, and it shows. He’s coachable, he gets his work in and he’s improving every night and that’s what we need from him.”