Nets Egor Demins conditioning, weight work starts to pay dividends

When the Nets tipped off their preseason Tuesday night in Charlotte, a strong offseason by Egor Dëmin had buoyed hopes of a potential sophomore leap.Brooklyn’s young guard said he’s not the player he was in summer league.He’s better.“Yeah, my goal is to translate not just a part of what I did in summer league, but even more, right?” said Dëmin, who has worked to improve his driving and shore up his Achilles’ heel.“Obviously I had some more time after summer league, and I kept working on that stuff.

And I think I’m even better right now than I was in summer league.”The Nets can only hope so.That would give them a leg up in their rebuild.Dëmin starting the Nets’ 124-90 preseason-opening win over the Hornets was hardly a surprise, but his getting the nod at point guard was noteworthy.

And encouraging.Dëmin’s playing time was limited, though his 18:26 led all the starters.He hit 2-of-3 from 3-point range (six points), but his repeated paint touches unlocked his passing.

He handed out a game high-tying five assists, including a second-quarter drive down the lane and behind-the-back pass to Day’Ron Sharpe for a dunk.It showed not only the Nets’ faith that he was more capable of handling on-ball duties, but that they were less intent on force-feeding minutes to their sophomore point guards — regardless of struggles — and more intent on playing the best available, and winning.After two years of tanking, it will be a welcome sight for fans.Brooklyn tanked through two arduous seasons to get consecutive lottery picks that became first Dëmin and then Mikel Brown Jr.Dëmin taking a quantum leap would let the Nets advance their rebuild and exceed expectations.“To win as many games as possible,” Dëmin said.

“Our process is oriented now on getting there each day, at least a little bit, but getting there, no matter whether it’s a game day, practice day, or an update.”Dëmin would have to be a big part of that.He wasn’t merely an in...