For the entire season, the Nets bench has brought points and energy — as well as water and oxygen.
“Remember the Nets’ axiom: The only thing they have to fear is not fear itself, but a lousy bench, especially with all the aged and injured starters.
“We feel like we’re just as important as the first unit,” said reserve Marcus Thornton, who has scored double figures in 8 of 16 games while averaging 11.8 points since being acquired from Sacramento. “The first unit goes out and does their thing, and we feel we have to go out and match their energy or be better and boost the lead up.
“Every night we huddle up and we talk about it, the second unit,” Thornton said. “We huddle up before we go in the game and we tell ourselves how big we have to be and every night we play the same way.”
And it has been a winning, productive way. The Nets, who go for their 13th straight home victory Sunday against Minnesota, have outscored opponents 38.1-34.5 in bench points all season, by a 39.7-33.5 margin since the season turnaround began Jan. 1.
Of course, with the age factor added in for the likes of Paul Pierce (36), a when-healthy Kevin Garnett (37) and Joe Johnson (32), reserves are virtually required to chip in more time. This season, the Nets have played more bench minutes per game (20.1 out of 48.0) than any team except the San Antonio Spurs (21.2), who have their own collection of graybeards.
“We’ve relied on the bench all season. When our bench is going well, we’re a tough team to beat,” said Johnson, a starter. “It’s been great for us because our starters don’t have to log a lot of minutes and in the playoffs and in the postseason you’re going to need your bench.”
And guys on the bench are not shy about crediting a very important factor in their success: head coach Jason Kidd. Mirza Teletovic, for one, remembers the frustration of sometimes in, mostly out minutes of last season.
“I can’t compare it. I can’t believe it. I’m a big part of this team,” said Teletovic (18.9 minutes per, compared to 9.4 in 2012-13). “Jason has respect for me, the same way I have respect for him. He gives me time and has patience and teaches me about the way it’s supposed to be.”
Kidd has made Teletovic better — made all his young players better. Teletovic has hit at least three 3-pointers 17 times this season. Only Dallas’ Vince Carter has done it more (22). Kidd knows what will be needed in the playoffs.
“Our depth has been huge. When you look at the injuries we’ve gone through. We have guys stepping on any given night,” said Kidd, who has Jorge Gutierrez, Alan Anderson, Andray Blatche, Andrei Kirilenko and Jason Collins, along with Teletovic and Thornton in reserve. “There’s always someone different stepping up for us. … You can rely on your starters but it’s such a marathon, you are going to need other guys to step up.”
Kidd said the Nets will have a medical update before the game Sunday on Kevin Garnett (back spasms) and Andrei Kirilenko (sprained ankle). Neither will play against the Timberwolves. Garnett last played on Feb. 27. Kirilenko has played in 37 games all season. He missed the last three.