Why the Brooklyn Nets' Bench Is Their Greatest Strength

NBA players who gain headlines are often viewed as the most important assets to their franchise. This assumption comes with good reason, as they are the players who lead their respective teams to postseason glory.

The truth of the matter, however, is that a superstar's abilities mean nothing without a supporting cast alongside them. More times than not, it's even more important to have the proper players behind them.

In other words, it's the players who perform in their absence that mean the most to consistent success. Such is the art of piecing together a reliable success.

During the 2011-12 NBA regular season, this necessity was on full display for the Brooklyn Nets. Starters such as Deron Williams, MarShon Brooks and Kris Humphries consistently performed at a high level, while the second unit hit the floor and allowed the blowouts to begin.

After an active offseason during the summer of 2012, those issues have been all but erased.

Unlike a majority of NBA franchises, the Brooklyn Nets have viable second options at every single position on the floor. At most slots, they even have depth that ranges beyond one player who can man the position.

Not only does this prepare the franchise for unfortunate occurrences such as injuries, but the Nets have made the proper preparations for battles with the NBA's elite.

While the names on their bench won't turn heads, the production and overall quality of the individuals should. Although a learning curve is in store for a unit that will be made up of seven fresh faces and just one returning player, the talent and maturity of each asset cannot be overlooked.

Nor can the sheer will to win the borough of Brooklyn and the Nets franchise have expressed.

To start the evaluation process, we must evaluate the quality of the Nets' second unit backcourt. While the reserves pale in comparison to Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, each bring their own significant qualities to the table.

From energy to experience, this perimeter can do it all.

Point guards C.J. Watson and Tyshawn Taylor are of different makeups but similar quality. Watson is a veteran sharpshooter who has made the playoffs in each of the past two years. As a member of the Chicago Bulls, Watson was the starter in five 2012 postseason games.

He also started 25 games during the regular season and helped lead the Derrick Rose-less Bulls to the first seed in the Eastern Conference.

Tyshawn Taylor, meanwhile, is an athletic rookie who focuses his full attention on the defensive end of the floor. While he can be a bit reckless on offense, Taylor is a dynamic playmaker who always runs with a full head of steam.

The best comparison for what you can expect from Taylor's first year in the league would be similar to what we saw out of Norris Cole.

Cole, a point guard for the Miami Heat, provided infectious energy that often brought the Heat out of inconsistency. Expect the same out of Taylor, whose non-stop motor should positively influence the veterans around him.

At the 2, Nets fans are well-aware of what MarShon Brooks has to offer.

Brooks, a 2012 Rookie of the Year nominee, is a potential superstar due to his versatile scoring and well above-average ball handling abilities. He can also run the point, which we saw during the 2011-12 season as Deron Williams moved without the ball in his hands.

Behind Brooks will be Keith Bogans, who remains one of the better perimeter defenders in the league despite a long history of injuries.

Pair this perimeter with versatile forwards Tornike Shengelia, Mirza Teletovic and Reggie Evans and you have a second unit ready to make noise. Shengelia can play both the 3 and 4, while Teletovic is a bang in the paint player that some believe could be the next big international star.

As for Reggie Evans, his rugged defense, fierce rebounding and uncanny ability to take a charge should provide a boost to a relatively weak defensive frontcourt. Evans can also stake his claim as a postseason veteran after playing such a pivotal role for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2012.

His fifth career postseason appearance.

With the phenomenal combination of youth, athleticism, veteran prowess and postseason experience, this second unit could make more waves than expected. So much so that the Nets could make a fair claim that they are on or near the level of every NBA foe they will face come the 2012-13 postseason.

For instance, top tier opponents such as the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers are solid but not spectacular with their second unit. Ray Allen commands respect in Miami, but the sharpshooters they have are either inconsistent or coming off of injuries.

As for the Heat's second unit big men, we might as well cut that conversation short once Udonis Haslem is out of the picture.

The Los Angeles Lakers made some significant improvements by bringing in Jodie Meeks and Antawn Jamison, as well as re-signing Jordan Hill, but have plenty of holes. They remain weak at the 3 and will look to Steve Blake for second unit production at the point.

Something he has struggled to put forth in two years with the Lakers.

The San Antonio Spurs may be the best comparison in terms of bench productivity. Much like the Nets, they have strong scoring options in Manu Ginobili and Stephen Jackson. They also have sound defenders such as Jackson, DeJuan Blair and the often maligned Tiago Splitter.

This is a solid comparison due to the presence of MarShon Brooks and C.J. Watson for points, as well as Reggie Evans and Keith Bogans for D.

As for the second tier teams in the NBA, the greatest comparison might be their in-city rival New York Knicks.

The Knicks put forth a second unit that includes pass first point guards Jason Kidd and Pablo Prigioni, as well as the dynamic scorers J.R. Smith and sharpshooter Steve Novak. They also have an elite interior defender in Marcus Camby, who will pair with Tyson Chandler to make for, arguably, the best defensive center position in all of basketball.

The Nets, of course, will counter that with Brooks, Watson, Bogans and Evans. International rookies Mirza Teletovic and Tornike Shengelia will be the X-factors as they prove that versatility and interior toughness often outweigh ability.

Especially on a second unit.

So how far can the Brooklyn Nets go? While Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries and Brook Lopez will carry the team to the postseason, the true answer lies within their bench. As long as these players can mesh, the Nets should be considered legitimate title contenders.

After all, there is nothing more important than putting forth 48 quality minutes. Something the Brooklyn Nets can now do every time out.