Nets’ second-year guard MarShon Brooks was benched and ridiculed for his defense, lost in what had become recently fired Head Coach Avery Johnson’s nightly rotation shuffle. For him, more than any other player, new interim Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo represents new life.

“It was a valuable lesson,” the 23-year-old guard said. “It was very humbling. Obviously, it’s a new opportunity, just to have a chance to go out there and show that I can play defense. That’s huge for me.”

After arriving in Brooklyn with great expectations following a productive rookie season, Brooks admitted he and Johnson “never meshed,” leading to a string of short cameos and DNPs.

Last season, the 25^th overall pick out of Providence averaged 12.8 points and received four votes for Rookie of the Year. This season, he was averaging 5.2 points and just 11.6 minutes before Saturday’s game against the Cavaliers.

His 20 minutes in Friday’s victory over the Bobcats – which was Carlesimo’s debut as coach – represented his longest appearance since Dec. 9. He scored nine points with three rebounds and two assists, leaving hopeful that his minutes will become consistent – although Carlesimo made no guarantees, saying Saturday, “There are different guys we want to look at.”

via Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News