The Nets’ sudden surge has been all about protection.
Getting into Wednesday’s assembly with the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Heart, the Nets had held an opponent to below 100 factors in 5 of their final six video games.
The Nets had been 5-1 in that stretch, with their opponent scoring 98 factors or fewer in every of the 5 victories. Within the earlier 47 video games, the Nets held an opponent to below 100 factors solely 4 instances.
“We’re just being consistent with the coverages,” heart Day’Ron Sharpe mentioned after Monday’s 97-89 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. “Everybody’s just being consistent in what they’re supposed to do. We’ve got all five guys on the same page.”
On the forefront of the defensive turnaround has been the Nets’ play on the again line.
Beginning heart Nic Claxton and Sharpe off the bench have thrived as rim protectors, combining for twenty-four blocks over that six-game stretch.
Claxton has been particularly efficient, recording at the very least two blocks in 5 of the six video games, together with a six-rejection efficiency within the Nets’ 104-83 victory in Charlotte on Jan. 29.
“It goes back to being the anchor of the defense,” head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned of Claxton and Sharpe.
“It starts with their communication, their presence, their physicality. They both have done a great job. I’m very happy to see that they’re owning that part. It’s on them to get everybody going and start our defense. Yes, the ball pressure has to be there from the guards or whoever guards the ball handler, but these guys have done a very, very good job.”
After signing a four-year, $100 million extension over the summer season, the 6-11 Claxton started the season on a minutes restriction attributable to a hamstring harm. He has additionally handled a nagging again situation that he mentioned stemmed from the summer season, for which he acquired an epidural injection in November.
Sharpe, in the meantime, missed the primary 21 video games after struggling a hamstring pressure throughout coaching camp.
Having each massive males obtainable and enjoying properly has taken stress off of their teammates, particularly the on-ball defenders who know there’s one other line of protection behind them.
“When you’ve got them on the backside and protecting the rim, it makes it easy,” guard-forward Trendon Watford mentioned. “It’s always good having two bigs like that.”
Two of the Nets’ latest wins got here towards the Houston Rockets, who entered Wednesday because the Western Convention’s No. 5 seed. One other got here towards the Miami Warmth, who started the day because the No. 7 seed within the East.
In that six-game stretch, the Nets boasted the NBA’s finest defensive ranking (103.6) and lowest opponent field-goal share (40.8%). The 15.5 turnovers they compelled per recreation had been the fourth most within the league.
Brooklyn misplaced every of its seven video games earlier than then, permitting greater than 100 factors in six of them and 99 within the different.
The Nets established themselves as sellers properly earlier than this month’s NBA commerce deadline, parting with level guard Dennis Schroder and ahead Dorian Finney-Smith in separate offers in December. Final week, Brooklyn agreed to a buyout with level guard Ben Simmons, who has since signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
However the latest wins have the Nets again within the combine for the Play-In Match. They entered Wednesday with a 19-34 file however solely 2.5 video games out of the East’s No. 10 seed.
“I’ve seen a very connected group where all of them constantly talk to each other about whatever is going on on the court,” Fernandez mentioned. “That just makes our jobs as coaches easier because they can correct themselves and they know what they’re supposed to do.”
