Should Brook Lopez Be Brooklyn Nets' 1st Weapon on Offense?

With career scorers like Deron Williams (17.7 points per game), Paul Pierce (21.7), Kevin Garnett (19.0) and Joe Johnson (17.6) composing four of the Brooklyn Nets’ starting five, should Brook Lopez be the team’s first weapon on offense?

Well, he already is their first weapon.

Should he be?

It appears not.

Through seven games, Lopez is the Nets’ leading scorer at 19.6 points per game (23.7 per 36 minutes). Pierce is a distant second at 13.4 (16.9 per 36).

Lopez has been Brooklyn’s leading scorer in five of its seven games and was off by one point in a sixth.

He takes the most shots, has the highest shooting percentage of any Net who averages at least five attempts, has drawn the most fouls, has the most points from the line and is the most efficient Brooklyn baller by a wide margin (a PER of 27.3 to Andrei Kirilenko’s 17.6 and Pierce’s 17.4).

He’s got a delicate touch and is a very capable scorer, regardless of the defender. You can see the essence of his offensive game in this highlight video from last year which features now-Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck.

Rebounds, as usual, are another story. The 25-year-old 7-footer is third on the team in boards per game (6.4) behind 37-year-old Kevin Garnett (6.9) and 6’6” Paul Pierce (6.6).

Per 36 minutes, it’s worse. Lopez is sixth.

It’s true what “they” say and what Beck alluded to in the video above:

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Everybody knows [Lopez is] a really talented scorer and he’s shown that in his young career. The questions about him have always been a little bit more about his toughness or his physicality, his willingness to mix it up in the paint.

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The New York Times’ Harvey Araton confirms. Lopez is “soft” and needs to “be meaner,” specifically on defense. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith agrees.

So no one on the Nets pulls down seven boards a game and as a result, Brooklyn is 17th in the league in rebounding.

The Nets sit at 2-5, looking particularly bad after a mail-in, 21-point loss to the Sacramento Kings. They are a half-game ahead of the last place Washington Wizards—a team they lost to.

Brooklyn has the 20th best offense and 20th best defense in the NBA in the early goings, after being lauded as a preseason Eastern Conference contender.

Brook Lopez is their main man on offense, and he’s slacking on the defensive end.

That might be part of the problem.

Last season, Lopez finished as Brooklyn’s leading scorer, attempter and foul recipient.

He was the most consistent main man on a three-headed offense, partly out of necessity—everyone around him including Williams and Johnson had off years—and partly due to the natural evolution of his talent.

But Brooklyn traded for two other talented (and lethal and game-winning) offensive players, at least historically, in Pierce and Garnett.

Is Lopez just a little bit of a black hole? Time to scale him back?

It seems crazy—reign in your leading offensive player—but not on this team.

Perhaps Lopez is getting too much opportunity. Can the Nets up their offense by spreading it around more?

Brooklyn is 16th in assists. Lopez contributes a criminal 0.4 a game. Williams leads the team with 7.4 per game, his lowest number since his rookie season. Everyone else on the team dishes three or less.

Jason Kidd should know. Moving the ball around will improve the offense. Clearly, Garnett and Pierce need to be more involved. Lopez has to kick the ball out more often after drawing defenders. All the starters can score, and all—but Lopez—can score from anywhere on the court.

This will also increase the Nets' three-point play opportunities, either by getting other shooters to the line or by passing back out for three-pointers (Brooklyn is 22nd in treys made).

Lopez’ range is limited.

With Lopez’ accuracy so high and his range so narrow, he should be more of a later option, a fail safe. This will open up the offense.

Spread the ball around the perimeter and let Lopez set up for rebounds, second chances and stray balls inside.

The Nets would be better off if Lopez develops his defense and rebounding. That is a game changer on this team.

Never mind offense. Chip in with Garnett for 30 points a game and leave the rest to Deron Williams, Paul Pierce and Joe Johnson.

It's certainly worth a try.