Chaney Johnson's Start Yields Mixed Results for Nets Amidst Egor Demin's Injury

The Brooklyn Nets experienced a significant offensive struggle in their 110-94 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, compounded by the absence of Egor Demin, who is sidelined with a right leg bone bruise. Demin is expected to miss at least the next week, and his absence was felt in the Nets' spacing and secondary playmaking.

With Brooklyn shorthanded, head coach Jordi Fernández opted for a larger lineup, giving Chaney Johnson his second career start and first in the backcourt. Johnson, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound two-way player, contributed defensively, utilizing his size and athleticism to challenge Pistons star Cade Cunningham. However, the offensive side of the ball suffered.

"Our offense is not… we’re not generating the looks we want," said Michael Porter Jr. "Part of it is every night is a new lineup’s playing together. Chemistry is a real thing. So lineups can have something to do with it. Egor is out, we put Chaney in there. That’s a group that hasn’t played together. So sometimes when it comes to the positions we’re playing on the floor, it might be confusing for some guys."

Porter Jr. elaborated on the positional confusion, noting that Johnson typically plays the four but was playing the two in this lineup. "For us, we need to know different positions in the playbook. So some of that’s on the players, just so that when we’re put in the game in different positions, we can execute regardless of where we are. So I think that was part of it, guys were not knowing where they’re supposed to be on certain plays."

Despite the offensive difficulties, Johnson recorded six points, a steal, and a block in 18:32 of play, often hounding Cunningham. The Pistons guard managed 20 points but shot 6-of-15 from the field and committed four turnovers.

"Yeah, he did great," Fernández commented on Johnson's effort. "You know, he picked up those three fouls, and then we had that good run to respond to their run, which we cut it to six. They called a timeout. And then they went to a 28-9 run, so they won those minutes by 19 points. And I thought Cheney’s effort and purpose and everything he’s done so far, it’s been very good. I think he’s taking advantage of his minutes. We just need everybody to have the same intentions and intensity and play as hard as he plays. And I think then we will be OK."

The Nets are scheduled to play at Indiana on Sunday at 5 p.m. They will face the Pacers without star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for at least the next two weeks with a strained left hamstring.