Dayron Sharpe hasn't just improved after a previous injury.
He's probably putting in the best overall performance of his career.
The Nets' backup centers dominated Indiana on the glass, especially on the offensive boards.
“I take a lot of pride in my offensive rebounding. I call it my bread and butter,” Sharp added. [If] It doesn't matter if you're 7-foot-4 or 7-foot-5, you better box me out. I feel like I can do this for anyone, regardless of their weight or height. I feel like anyone can do it. ”
Sharpe's 16 points and 13 rebounds in Monday's loss were both season highs, and his nine offensive boards and five assists were both tied for career bests.
And the young big man did it all in 22 minutes without a turnover.
He became the fourth player in Nets history to record at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, five offensive boards and five assists off the bench.
“Impressive. His effort, second, third, fourth on the glass, that's his superpower. That's why we bring it to him every game and then improve in other aspects as well. We need to keep going,” said Jordi Fernandez, who has watched Sharpe grow. “He's a very likeable guy who works hard every day with a smile on his face and is always uplifting. And that's good for the group. That's how he plays, too. He comes in and plays really hard… [Monday] It was his best match. ”
A hamstring injury caused Sharpe to miss not only the entire preseason, but also the first 21 games of the regular season.
Once he started playing, his career 54.9 percent shooter dropped to just 44.8 percent.
But he's clearly been on a roll lately, averaging 9.5 points and 53.3 percent from eight boards over his past four tilts.
“I feel like there's still room to do more. I feel like this is a start,” Sharp said. “I feel like I'm really starting to find myself again about three games ago. I just came back from an injury and hadn't played in months, so I'm still trying to find my way. And this… I feel this is the beginning.”
Brooklyn's backcourt will still be short-handed against the Pistons on Wednesday.
Point guard Ben Simmons has been upgraded to a hip injury management issue after missing the past three games, while newly acquired D'Angelo Russell remains sidelined with a right shin contusion.
Cam Johnson (right ankle sprain) and Cam Thomas (left hamstring injury) are still out, as are Bojan Bogdanovic, Maxwell Lewis, De'Anthony Melton and Trendon Watford.
