Ten days ago, a brutal loss to the Detroit Pistons forced the Brooklyn Nets to reorient. Since then, the Nets have won a wave of victories, the most recent 109-98 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
Brooklyn has taken a step toward solving its defensive puzzle and is in the middle of a five-game winning streak.
“That [Detroit loss] it was a low level for us and it caused some conversations and a kind of rededication for what we’re trying to do, “said Nets coach Steve Nash.” I’m proud of the way they’ve responded since then, obviously I’ve taken care of business. “
The Nets’ 122-111 loss to Detroit on Feb. 9 was ugly. But after allowing the Pistons to shoot 56% off the field in that game – the highest goal percentage they’ve allowed in a game this season – Brooklyn has tightened up defensively. The Nets’ five consecutive victories mark the longest winning streak of the season.
“It’s time to turn the corner,” Irving said with a smile. “No team will win anything in this league if it doesn’t stop. It’s time. And I’ve heard them loud and clear in the last few games.”
In the 13 games played by the Nets between January 16 and February 9, the Nets challenged 85.5% of the shots in the paint, according to the Second Spectrum. It ranked 28th in the NBA. Against the Pistons on Feb. 9, Brooklyn challenged just 78.6 percent of the paint shots, the second-worst shooting in any game since acquiring star guard James Harden in a mid-month deal January.
But since Feb. 10, the Nets have contested 91.1 percent of the paint shots – the sixth-highest in the NBA.
“I think after our game against Detroit, obviously it was a game where we fought a lot defensively and it was kind of, not a breaking point, but it just happened pretty repeatedly until then.” , said Joe Harris. “I think after that game only the level of focus, the attention to detail and the defensive intensity really increased.”
Brooklyn has kept its opponents below 100 points three times since trading Harden, and two of those cases have come in the last five games – including against the Lakers. On the other side of the ball, Brooklyn shot 18-of-39 in the 3-point range on Thursday and now has 42% of the league beyond the arc since Harden joined the team.
Irving finished with 16 points against the Lakers. Harris added 21 points, and James Harden had 23 points and 11 assists.
“It’s scary when other teams do their best to stay in the defensive game and we continue to compose more offensive executions,” Irving said.
He added: “We know this doesn’t often happen when you get an excellent collection of guys who have been prominent guys in their roles on their respective teams and guys who come from the bench who are beginners to other teams. “