Inside The Nets

Mikal Bridges gives a potential solution for the Nets' fourth-quarter woes

The Nets have underperformed during the fourth quarter of games.
Peter Sunjic|
Mikal Bridges gives a potential solution for the Nets' fourth-quarter woes
Mikal Bridges gives a potential solution for the Nets' fourth-quarter woes

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Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are a talented team, but they’re having a rough go of it closing out games. Over the past ten days, Coach Jacque Vaughn's team has built four double-digit leads but still lost all four games.

That is a concerning trend for Brooklyn because they have the talent to build those leads, but they can’t close out games properly. Even star player Mikal Bridges has noticed, and he’s offering a potential solution to the problem.

“Just gotta stay together, that’s the biggest thing. A team can make a run, make a push, just have to handle adversity a little bit better,” Mikal said after the latest loss to the Knicks. “We had it earlier in the year. It's tough when you keep losing at the end; it pushes your confidence down.”

Brooklyn needs to move the ball better

Whenever the Nets are moving the ball, their offense flows much better. It is a big deal for the squad because they’ve found the optimal way to play. However, they are going away from this in the fourth quarter, and defenses are more prepared to handle isolations. Compare that to the offense that moves the ball around and stretches the defense.

In those four blown leads, Brooklyn’s offense slowed down after the three earlier quarters had strong ball movement and fluid play. That should not happen because the Nets are a much better team in transition, done when the team sticks together.

Mikal showcased how to play an efficient offense

In the Knicks game, Mikal was superb because he hit self-created or off-ball shots. The former Villanova Wildcat was moving all over the court, going through screens and thriving off the catch-and-shoot. He scored a career-high in three-pointers during that game because of his movement without the ball in his hands.

The rest of the team needs to follow Bridges’ example because his movement was so good that the rest of the team benefited. The space that off-ball cuts build is a big proponent of an efficient offense, and the entire Nets roster needs to understand this.

Coach Vaughn should keep hammering the point of going through screens, amplified by good passing vision. The Nets are one of the most talented teams in the league, this squad just needs a better system that helps them beat the best teams.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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