The Brooklyn Nets are down 2-1 to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, and Gerald Wallace, who shot a combined 3-for-15 in the two losses, isn't happy with the way he has been used to this point. The veteran swingman sounded off to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News Friday.
Nets vs. Bulls: Gerald Wallace grouses about lack of defined role
The Nets’ small forward hasn’t been productive in the playoffs, and he’s not sure he’s to blame.
“I don’t know. I couldn’t tell you my role now,” Wallace told Bondy. “I don’t have a clue what my role is on this team.”
Wallace has been an offensive black hole all season long for the Nets, who signed him to a four-year, $40 million contract in the offseason. When he and Reggie Evans share the floor -- which is frequently, consider they are the starting small and power forwards, respectively -- they've been atrocious offensively, and the pair's defensive talents haven't been enough to make up the difference.
Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo didn’t fire back at Wallace, but accepted blame for Crash’s frustration:
“I think we’re going through a tough time right now and that’s what playoffs are all about,” Carlesimo said. “We’re all frustrated. And we have to - I have to - do a better job of constantly defining roles and redefining roles so we perform the way we’re capable of performing.”
Wallace admitted that his “shots aren’t falling,” which is a pretty gross understatement, and gave the Bulls’ defensive credit for being disruptive and stopping the Nets’ transition opportunities. Either way, the Nets are down a game and have lost home-court advantage in this series, so Saturday afternoon is the time for Wallace and Carlesimo to figure things out before it’s too late.
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