With the possibility of Caris LeVert missing several weeks due to a thumb injury, coach Kenny Atkinson should give second year guard Dzanan Musa regular minutes. The former first round pick hasn’t gotten his true chance in the NBA to showcase his supreme scoring ability. Musa spent most of his 2018-19 season playing for the Long Island Nets in the G-League, where he averaged 19.5 ppg and 6.3 rpg while shooting 36% from deep across 36 games. Musa had a very good preseason, during which he averaged 12 ppg in 4 games, but he is only receiving 9.6 minutes per game so far in the regular season. Dzanan is averaging 4.6 ppg and 1.4 rpg while shooting 50% from the field across 5 games played this season. The past 2 games Kenny has started to give Musa meaningful minutes, and he has responded well. Musa received an average of 18 mpg against the Suns and Jazz, and returned the favor by averaging 10.5 ppg and 3 rpg. Musa was especially good on Tuesday night, during which he scored 9 points in 15 minutes while shooting 4-5 from the field. Musa was on the court when the Nets were playing their best basketball in the second quarter of Tuesday night’s game, and he fits in well while Spencer Dinwiddie runs the point. Musa’s three point shot has not been great so far (he’s shooting 11% from deep and went 0-5 from three against the Suns) but it should get better with time. The Nets need guys to step up during LeVert’s absence, and Musa should absolutely be given a chance to show what he’s got. His defense can be considered a liability at times, but with the way the Nets have been defending so far this season he can’t be much worse. Musa finishes very well at the rim with both hands, and can beat defenders off the ball with his dribbling skills. Musa can be that second spark off the bench that the Nets have lacked this season.

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(All images via @BrooklynNets on Twitter)