DAngelo Russells return to Nets changes backcourt dynamic, adds needed playmaking

TORONTO — D’Angelo Russell is back for a Brooklyn encore.With Russell on the floor, the Nets will have a different speed.A different style.Maybe even different starters.They’ll be just plain different.Brooklyn will miss Dorian Finney-Smith’s toughness and defense.

But they’ve lacked playmaking, a pick-and-roll threat, and end of game execution.Russell — acquired Sunday along with Max Lewis, and joining the team in Toronto before Wednesday’s tilt — can provide some of those things.How much that benefits the Nets in the long run is a separate argument.“Yeah, [Russell’s] seen so much in this league.

He’s been in so many different types of environments, winning environments,” Cam Johnson said.“He’s a really capable player, capable scorer, capable leader in those ways.

So it’s going to be big for us.“He’s somebody that can kind of control the game and is able to pass, is able to score.And I think he’ll be a good voice for us.

So I’m looking forward to starting to figure this thing out with him.”The Nets have a lot to figure out.Since trading Dennis Schroder, the Nets have lacked a pick-and-roll threat and a player who can break defenders down off the dribble.They’ve been over-reliant on the fast break behind Ben Simmons, who was Russell’s teammate for two years at Montverde Academy, where they went 45-2 and won consecutive national titles.Now they’ll bring disparate skill sets that should make the offense more complete.“Yeah, we could definitely use him for sure,” Ziaire Williams said.

“He’s a great on-ball guy, can shoot, play-make.That’s what we need.“We need a guy who could put pressure on the rim, get a 2-on-1 and play 3-on-4 on the back side.

And he’s real good at that when he has the ball in his hands and has confidence.So, definitely looking forward to meeting him, and winning some games for sure.

We definitely could use him.”But how does coach Jordi Fernandez plan to use him?Simmons had largely ...