Nets continue to reap benefits of this unit’s drastic turnaround

Spencer DinwiddieMEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Nets have made a host of huge strides since Kenny Atkinson arrived as coach. Nowhere are those strides more apparent than on their bench.

Atkinson has always used his backups liberally, giving them significant minutes. But this is the first time he has a bench that doesn’t stink.

“It’s huge. The bench guys are producing,” Atkinson said. “We can go to Shabazz Napier, who has done a lot in this league. We can go to Kenneth [Faried]. We can go to [Jared Dudley]. We have guys on our bench that’ve produced in this league.

“It’s not guys that are there, ‘Oh, I wonder if he can produce.’ In the past it was that. We weren’t sure, kind of guys that are trying.…