With the Nets lacking energy and leaking defensively, coach Kenny Atkinson had threatened changes. The threats turned into action when point guard Spencer Dinwiddie and power forward Trevor Booker lost their starting jobs to Isaiah Whitehead and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for Wednesday’s 95-90 loss to the Knicks.
“Listen we were 1-15 in January. I felt like we needed to make a change,’’ Atkinson said. “I thought Rondae competed hard, had eight rebounds, had some great drives, so I did like that. I thought Isaiah played really well, he was plus-13.”
After Saturday’s loss in Minnesota, Atkinson chastised his team’s effort and warned if they wouldn’t defend he would reallocate minutes to those who will. Apparently, Hollis-Jefferson and Whitehead earned their way forward in this meritocracy.
Atkinson didn’t call it a full-on youth movement or say whether it was a permanent or even long-term move. But considering Booker had started all 43 games he had played, it wasn’t a small one.
“He said he just wanted to switch it up and wanted me to run with some of the younger guys on the second unit. So it’s his call. I don’t mind at all,’’ Booker told The Post. “He definitely talked to me this morning. It means a lot when your coach communicates with you. That’s what makes him a special coach.”
Hollis-Jefferson had a team-high 16 points and tied Booker for the team high with eight boards. But he seemed to tire in the fourth, going 0-for-4 and posting a minus-18 while Kristaps Porzingis dominated.
“Coach was like, ‘You’ve been working hard, you earned it.’ Just to be able to come back and compete at the end of the day it was really good,’’ said Hollis-Jefferson, admitting, “Sometimes we get caught up in the heat of the moment and things go south.”
Whitehead played physical defense and finished a team-best plus-11.
“It was just them having confidence in us as young guys to give them a spark and play the way we play,’’ Whitehead said. “They had confidence in us and we just tried to go out and live up to it.”
The Nets have seen point guard Yogi Ferrell — whom they waived — lead Dallas to upsets of San Antonio and Cleveland, who have the league’s second- and third-best marks. He gave them 28 points, 10 assists, seven boards, six steals and zero turnovers in two games before struggling in Wednesday’s victory over Philadelphia.
“Just thrilled for him,” Atkinson said. “He’s in a situation where they needed a guy who could play big minutes for them. He’s a great kid, and I’d say he’s desperate to make it in this league. He was great for our D-League team. … I just look at it as a real positive for him. He deserved it. I texted him and said, ‘You deserve it, with your hard work, your dedication.’ So happy for him.
“I just want to spin a positive because I love the guy. He’s a great kid. I’m happy for him. That being said, we’ve gotten a good look at Spencer, which is great. Isaiah is getting great minutes. It’s worked out for him, and it’s worked out for us. Just wish him the best of luck.”
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