3 NBA Playoff performers Golden State Warriors should pursue

Golden State Warriors should pursue Bruce Brown

Bruce Brown embodies the idea of ‘next man up’ as his timely contributions in wake of the Brooklyn Net’s numerous injuries are a key reason they hold a 3-2 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Brown, a third-year player who spent his first two seasons dwelling in Detroit, has been one of the more surprising performers in the playoffs this year. With both Kyrie Irving and James Harden dealing with injuries, Brown had no choice but to step up and fill a much-needed role for Brooklyn.

Now, Brown isn’t a surprise because he’s putting up insane numbers. He’s only averaging 8.8 points on a worrisome 1-for-7 shooting clip from the 3-point line versus Milwaukee. However, his impact as a small-ball roller has been shocking.

The Bucks have been fully committed to drop-coverage in the pick-and-roll, meaning, they are perfectly fine with a player like Kevin Durant attempting a somewhat contested mid-range versus allowing him to get all the way to the rim.

As a result, there is a sweet spot in the lane that is open for abuse. And, this is exactly what Brown has done throughout this series. He scored 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting in Game 2 and dropped 16 points in Game 3.

While his role has been further reduced by the return of Harden and an uber-aggressive KD, Brown still serves as an interesting pickup for any team with championship aspirations next year. He’s shown he’s willing to lay his body on the line and work harder than anyone else to earn his spot on the floor. And, he poses a unique threat to punish specific types of defenses.