As tough because the Nets have regarded this season, particularly at instances on the defensive finish, the newest NBA.com energy rankings say they’re not among the many league’s three worst groups at this level.
These spots belong to the Washington Wizards (No. 30), Indiana Pacers (No. 29) and New Orleans Pelicans (No. 28). Brooklyn landed at No. 27, with its solely two wins coming in opposition to Washington and Indiana. The Nets received’t see New Orleans for the primary time this season till Dec. 6.
What’s holding Brooklyn from sinking into the league’s absolute basement? NBA.com’s John Schuhmann factors to a protection that’s trending upward, and during the last two video games in opposition to Orlando and Washington, the Nets have lastly began to indicate constant effort on that finish, although the numbers nonetheless paint a grim image, with a league-worst defensive ranking of 124.0.
“The Nets’ 30th-ranked defense might be getting a little better, with their weekend games in Orlando and Washington being just the second and third times this season that they’ve allowed fewer than 120 points per 100 possessions,” Schuhmann wrote. “The Magic and Wizards combined for 31 turnovers and just 10 offensive rebounds.”
Even with a couple of encouraging indicators, Brooklyn nonetheless struggles to generate straightforward offense, an issue tied on to its defensive inconsistency and inexperience at level guard.
“With their defense being so bad and with their point guard being so young, the Nets are getting next to nothing in transition,” Schuhmann wrote. “Their 8.8 fast break points per 100 possessions are the fewest in the league by a wide margin and would be the fewest for any team in the last eight seasons.”
SPANISH CONNECTION
With the Boston Celtics visiting Barclays Middle on Tuesday, Nets head coach Jordi Fernández received an opportunity to face Celtics rookie and fellow Spaniard Hugo González, a participant he has adopted for years.
González, the twenty eighth decide within the 2025 NBA Draft, spent three seasons with Actual Madrid from 2022 to 2025 and was even projected to Brooklyn early in final summer season’s draft cycle due to his shared Spanish roots with Fernández. The 19-year-old entered Tuesday averaging 3.0 factors and a pair of.0 rebounds throughout his first 11 video games with Boston.
“We all knew that with the Spanish national team, all the honors, he was a difference maker,” Fernández mentioned. “There’s a reason why he’s in the NBA. He belongs at this level, size, skill set, so very excited to watch him.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Brooklyn followers entered mock draft season sooner than regular with the workforce sitting at 2-11. These monitoring the tank had a lot to smile about Tuesday, when ESPN’s newest mock draft from Jeremy Woo projected the Nets to land the No. 1 total decide for the primary time since 2000 and choose Kansas star Darryn Peterson, broadly seen as a can’t-miss, generational prospect.
“The Nets badly need a player to anchor their team moving forward,” Woo wrote. “They’ve taken five first-round swings in the 2025 draft and are still figuring out how everyone fits long term. Peterson would address their lack of star power and then some.”
The 6-5 guard wasted no time making an influence on the faculty stage, averaging 21.5 factors, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks throughout his first two outings whereas taking pictures 15-of-25 from the sphere, 6-of-12 from deep and 7-of-9 on the free throw line.
