Nets rookie Mason Plumlee is only allowed to shoot in the paint

Mason Plumlee is quietly having a very effective rookie season for the Brooklyn Nets. Working primarily in a reserve role unless injuries dictate otherwise, the Duke product is averaging 7.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in just 17.9 minutes.

He's also shooting 65.5 percent from the floor, which would be second to only DeAndre Jordan if Plumlee had taken enough field goal attempts to qualify for the leaderboard.

What's the secret to Plumlee's success? According to head coach Jason Kidd, it's a strict set of rules that doesn't allow Plumlee to shoot outside of a 12-by-15-foot rectangle under the basket, also known as "the paint."

"Part of the thing about getting playing time on this team is I have a very strict rule,” Plumlee told the New York Daily News.

"J-Kidd has been consistent. He’s said, ‘We’ll work on (shooting jumpers) next season and you'll be hitting that next season, but this is what we need from you now right now.’ So I’m going to do what he needs."

Well, Plumlee is following Kidd's directions very closely, and has only taken nine field goal attempts outside of the immediate basket area all season. He's 0-of-9 on those, so Kidd's probably on to something here, at least in the short term.

So, a note to any potential playoff opponents: you probably don't need to guard Plumlee outside of the paint, but you better not let him get the ball down there.