Before the Nets’ 113-107 victory over the Cavaliers Wednesday, Kenny Atkinson was worried how lanky rookie Rodions Kurucs would hold up at power forward against Kevin Love, a former All-Star who outweighed him by over 40 pounds.
Turns out he needn’t have worried. No, Kurucs didn’t outplay Love. But he didn’t kill the Nets defensively either. And considering what he and DeMarre Carroll provide as floor-spacing stretch fours, they can live with that.
“Kevin Love is a heck of a player and we didn’t necessarily stop him. But, I think Rodi, for a rookie, in this situation — an important game — I thought he did a heck of a job,” Atkinson said.