Nene prepares for a new role as Wizards prepare for a new offense
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Version 0 of 1. At some point in the coming days, before the Washington Wizards kick off their regular season on Oct. 28 in Orlando, Coach Randy Wittman will talk to Nene, as he talks to all of his players, about his role for the upcoming campaign. The conversation with Nene, however, will be different than the others. Barring injury or a sudden strategy revision, Nene, a 13-year NBA veteran who has been a starter his entire career, will regularly come off the bench and play center — an assignment he has not exactly enjoyed in the past — behind Marcin Gortat. The expected change comes as the Wizards switch to a new read-and-react, pace-and-space offense that will utilize lineups with four three-point shooters and one big man more often. “I have no clue,” a blunt Nene, 33, said Saturday. “That’s the coach’s decision.” Nene likely will start occasionally but only against teams that have front lines featuring two traditional big men, a dwindling segment of the NBA. Otherwise, he will be one of the NBA’s best backup centers and serve as an anchor for Washington’s much improved second unit. It isn’t a completely new development; though Nene started all 10 of the Wizards’ playoff games last spring, he and Gortat switched off as the team’s center for most of the contests. He performed the part in each of the Wizards’ first two preseason games, but the Brazilian got the start at center as Gortat came off the bench Sunday in the Wizards’ 134-100 win over Bauru, a Brazilian club, at Verizon Center. Nene, who had exited Friday’s exhibition against the New York Knicks early because of a minor back injury, scored 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting and grabbed four rebounds in 16 minutes Sunday. “Coach just said he’s going to try things, and that’s what he’s doing,” said Nene, who has started 601 of his 747 career regular season games. Nene won’t be the first longtime starter to shift to the bench; it happens to plenty of players as they climb out of their prime. Wittman recently invoked the most famous recent example: Andre Iguodala, a former all-star, moving from the Golden State’s starting lineup to sixth man for the Warriors’ championship run. “I’m sure sometimes it is, but it happens all the time,” Wittman said when asked whether the conversion could be difficult for Nene. “The bottom line is the betterment of the team.” Nene has battled various injuries during his career, including plantar fasciitis in his right foot last season, but he played in 77 regular season and playoff games last year, the most he has appeared in since he arrived in the District in March 2012. Wittman emphasized Nene’s playing time will not decrease. “Nene’s going to continue, whether he’s a starter or non-starter, to get the minutes he’s gotten since he’s been here,” Wittman said. “I’m not going to play him any differently whether he’s a starter or not.” When Nene does play alongside Gortat at power forward, a configuration the team believes often inhibited their offense because of spacing issues, extending his range beyond the three-point line more often is a possibility. Nene, who has made 4 of 36 three-pointers in his career, has worked to improve his accuracy, notably from the corners. But that front court will be used significantly less this season. Instead, Nene, the first Brazilian selected in the first round, will spend most of his time as the focal point for Washington’s second unit, utilizing his passing ability and defensive presence to bolster the deepest bench the Wizards have constructed in years against lesser talent. “Basketball is basketball,” he said. “If you know how to play basketball, you’re fine.” Notes: Led by Gortat’s 19 points, seven Wizards reached double figures in their rout of Bauru. It was Washington’s final home preseason game. They finish their exhibition slate with four road games, beginning Friday in Philadelphia. |