The pick-and-roll was the bread-and-butter play of NBA legends Karl Malone and John Stockton when they were still playing with the Utah Jazz up to the late 90s.
A number of variations have evolved from the classic pick-and-roll play, and oftentimes, it is also being referred to as the high-low play.
It works best between a witty point guard and an agile big man who knows how to position himself in the middle.
With the major overhaul of the Brooklyn Nets during the current NBA offseason, it seems like new head coach Kenny Atkinson will resort to the classic pick-and-roll play featuring reliable big man Brook Lopez and new point guard Jeremy Lin.
The Brooklyn Nets appears to be determined to turn things around next season with the acquisition of both Atkinson and Lin, whose tandem proved to be successful with the New York Knicks five years ago, notes Yibada.
Critics believe that Jeremy Lin is the biggest acquisition of the Nets during the summer but there would not be so much pressure on the team since the owners’ idea is to just turn things around for the team by putting the possible right pieces together. If the team makes it to the post-season again with its fresh lineup, it would be well and good. If it fails to do so, then the team would just need to continue with its rebuilding.
A mix of old and new
The lineup of the Brooklyn Nets is a mix of old and new. Aside from Lin, the team has taken on Trevor Booker, Justin Hamilton, Luis Scola, Greivis Velasquez, Anthony Bennett, Randy Foye, and Joe Harris. The incoming rookies are Caris LeVert and Isaiah Whitehead.
The roster bands together a mix of upstarts which means a lot hinges on Lin and Lopez for next season.
Getting everyone on the same page is the task of Atkinson though he hopes that Lin can be of help. Lopez is a vital cog but it all depends on how he can keep himself healthy this coming season.
Barring that fear, Atkinson believes that Lin and Lopez can strike it well as one of the best pick-and-roll partners in the league.
Mixed emotions on Lin’s departure
Meanwhile, Kemba Walker, the prolific point guard of the Charlotte Hornets and the backcourt partner of Jeremy Lin last season, feels bad that their team lost three of their free agents this summer.
The Hornets lost Lin to the Nets, big man Al Jefferson to the Indiana Pacers, and Courtney Lee to the New York Knicks.
As the starting point guard for the Hornets, he said that he feels bad for his team that they lost three key players. He also shared that he has mixed emotions regarding Lin’s departure, reports the Nets Daily.
Walker admitted that he hated to see Jeremy Lin go but he is happy for his former teammate’s move. He said that Jeremy deserves to be a starter in the league because he is such a great player after proving himself while playing for the Hornets.
The Hornets point guard recalled that there were games last season that he was off and Jeremy Lin just carried the team.
Hornets forward Nicolas Batum also feels sad that they lost Jeremy Lin during the offseason. In a blog last month, the French national player said that losing Lin is a huge one for the Hornets because the 27-year-old Harvard graduate is a great player.
Walker also said that being offered a starting point guard position was just too big a lure for Jeremy Lin not to accept.
For his part, Jeremy Lin has stated that the primary reason why he took the offer of the Brooklyn Nets during the free agency was because of new head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Atkinson was a former bench mate of Lin on the New York Knicks before ‘Linsanity’ took everyone by storm during the 2011-12 NBA season.