The Brooklyn Nets lost in the first round of the playoffs this past season. They were swept by the Philadelphia 76ers. Trades, coaching, and injuries lowered the expectations of the Nets, but one of their bright spots is their defensive potential. Here are three reasons why the Nets could be the NBA’s best defensive team next season.
The Best Defensive Team in the NBA is on the Rise: The Brooklyn Nets
1. Elite Defensive Players
Two players on Brooklyn’s roster are All-NBA caliber defenders. At the end of the 2021-22 season, Mikal Bridges finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He finished with a first-team All-Defensive selection. Similarly, Ben Simmons finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting at the end of the 2020-2021 season. He was also a first-team selection. With the rise of Nic Claxton’s improved defense, the Nets have three elite defensive players who can match up well with other teams. The addition of Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Cam Johnson with contributions from Royce O’Neale further improve Brooklyn’s defense. With the exception of Ben Simmons (who played 42 games), each player mentioned above was ranked top 20 at their position in defensive plus-minus.
2. Versatility
Elite defensive players tend to be able to guard multiple positions and thrive in almost every defensive situation. The Nets have plenty of players who have that ability. For instance, each of the aforementioned players has shown the ability to successfully switch the player they guard on defense. In addition, they each have a wingspan that nearly reaches 7 feet or greater. Each of the Nets’ defensive stars has great lateral quickness and height. The return of Ben Simmons means the Nets will have more size and length in the frontcourt. These qualities make it tough for offenses to deal with. When defenses have players with such versatility, it makes it easier to run strategies to stop the other team’s best scoring options. It disrupts the flow of the offense and makes the other team tired.
3. Coaching
After a rough start to the season, the Nets ranked 24th in team defense during the month of October 2022. After coach Jacque Vaughn took over, the Nets ranked 2nd in the league for November. While many factors go into a team’s defensive performance, the coaching change was one of the biggest reasons the Nets’ play changed. For the 2021-2022 season, the Nets finished 14th in team defense. They finished 9th this year with coach Vaughn. In the first round of the playoffs, his defensive schemes limited the Philadelphia 76ers’ top two scorers. The downfall was that their role players had more scoring chances. The Nets suffered for that, but more depth will fix these problems next season. Although not perfect, Vaughn has shown the ability to be a great defensive coach.
Additional Stats to Look For
Steals and blocks are only part of what makes a great defense. Hustle stats also measure a team’s defensive impact. During the playoffs, the Nets ranked 4th in the NBA in total deflections per game and 6th in charges taken. They didn’t perform as well at contesting threes, but they ranked a solid 11th. These stats reinforce the Nets’ commitment to stopping the opposing offense.
Final Remarks
The Brooklyn Nets have the players, versatility, and guidance to be one of the greatest defenses ever assembled. It will be no surprise if the Nets lead the defensive rankings next season. They have all the pieces needed to dominate individually and as a team. The most important factor is the players staying injury-free. If the Nets high caliber defensive players are healthy, then they will be hard to score on. It is said that defense wins championships. The Nets have confidence in theirs. There is no doubt the Nets will have a chance to win if they build upon their defensive prowess.
