Kenny Atkinson apologizes to Spencer Dinwiddie for 'slump' remark
Nets coach Kenny Atkinson looks on against Charlotte on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, at Barclays Center. Credit: Jim McIsaac
One day after Nets coach Kenny Atkinson suggested point guard Spencer Dinwiddie might be in a “slump” and needed to “play better,” Dinwiddie reacted with a sardonic post on Twitter that read: “LOL . . . slump . . . ”
Atkinson laughed when the subject was raised before the Nets beat the Celtics, 109-102, on Monday night at Barclays Center and said the two had smoothed out any differences. “We talked about it, and we’re good,” Atkinson said. “I normally don’t like to do that. Kind of slipped out. Quite honestly, I apologized to him. That’s not the way I like to operate to motivate a guy.
“But also, I told Spencer, ‘You’re a talented player. You were playing at an All-Star level. How can I help you get there?’ That was the conversation. We had a little chuckle, so we’re good. Maybe ‘slump’ was the wrong word . . . We need excellent Spencer. I think we need him to play at a high level.”
Dinwiddie has emerged as one of the leading candidates for the Sixth Man Award, averaging 16.9 points and 5.0 assists while playing primarily off the bench this season, but in the previous eight games, those numbers fell to 11.3 points and 4.0 assists per game.
Clearly, defenses are focused on stopping a player whose 14.3 drives per game rank 10th in the NBA, and Celtics coach Brad Stevens hinted that his defense focuses on making it tough for the Nets to get to the rim.
Atkinson made it clear that he’s aware the Nets have relied heavily on Dinwiddie, saying, “I’m sure at this point in the season, as much as we’ve asked of him, it’s normal. But Spencer always bounces back, and I’m sure he’ll play well tonight.”
Dinwiddie had eight points in 28 minutes.
RHJ, Napier sit out
Although Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (adductor strain) practiced Sunday, he sat out against the Celtics, and Shabazz Napier (right hamstring tightness) was added to the injury list. Atkinson called Hollis-Jefferson “hopeful for the next game” Wednesday in Houston.
Greg Logan has worked for Newsday since 1982 covering a wide array of sports and events, currently including the Brooklyn Nets beat.
