Blake Griffin will continue to see less of the court and possibly more of Steve Nash.
The aging big man and Nets head coach recently talked about Griffin’s reduced playing time, which will continue “for now,” Nash said Friday.
Griffin did not play a minute in the Nets’ blowout win over the Celtics on Wednesday — perhaps their best game of the season — and had logged just nine minutes in Monday’s victory in Cleveland.
The 32-year-old’s shot has not come around, while LaMarcus Aldridge has looked refreshed in Griffin’s place.
“I have spoken to [Griffin],” Nash said. “For now, we’re experimenting, and I’m looking at other things and giving other guys opportunity. He’s been great. I really appreciate it.”
The struggling big man has not complained, and the Nets have reason to give others a chance. While Griffin has adopted a grittier style of play without the leaping ability he once had — his 12 charges drawn are the most in the NBA — he is not an intimidating threat at either end of the floor.
Blake GriffinCorey Sipkin Last year, in 26 games with Brooklyn, Griffin reinvented himself by shooting 38.3 percent from 3 and adding a perimeter game. This year, the mark has tumbled to 16.1 percent in 17 games played.
“It’s not easy for him. He’s had a rough start to the season and also sitting out the last game, he’s come in and worked and been professional,” Nash said before Saturday’s game at Barclays Center against the Suns. “It’s been really, really important to me and our group. So I really admire him for that and am proud of his attitude to back it up.”
Along with Aldridge, veterans James Johnson and Paul Millsap, who had missed four straight games for personal reasons prior to the matchup with Cleveland, will continue to see more time.
The Nets have taken care of business against the mediocre teams and hammered the dregs of the league, but the best of the NBA has brought out the worst in Brooklyn.
The Nets lost to Milwaukee by 23; to Miami by 13; to Chicago by 23; to Golden State by 18.
James Harden said this week Phoenix is only a “measuring-stick [game]” for the media, but not the team. Still, several around the team said beating the Suns would be beneficial for their confidence.
“I think it would help,” Nash said. “I think we’re on a journey to get better throughout the course of the year. So if we win a measuring-stick game or lose a measuring-stick game, I’m more concerned with continuing to trend in the right direction.
“It would be a confidence boost to win against one of the top teams, but at the same time, if we don’t, what can it afford us? That’s just the flip side. You get confidence in a win, but what can you learn and improve on in getting that measuring stick in a loss?”
Joe Harris missed a sixth straight game Wednesday with a left ankle sprain sustained Nov. 14.
The Nets have not provided a timetable for his return, and the shooting guard does not sound especially close.
“I think he’s made small progress,” Nash said. “But I think there’s still a ways to go there, where they’ve got to continue to evaluate different options and how we can help speed up his recovery.”
