Inside The Nets

What's Wrong With The Nets This Season?

Mikal Bridges discussed the defensive struggles post-game after the loss against the Hawks.
Peter Sunjic|
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Brooklyn Nets

The Nets defense has been a struggle this season, and it is becoming a glaring problem. Players know it, coaches know it, fans know it. The Nets are 23rd in the league in defensive rating and are allowing 116.2 points per game, which is 22nd in the league.

Being on the same page

Following the overtime loss to the Hawks, Mikal Bridges sat post-game and discussed the defensive struggles plaguing the Nets.

“Whatever the coaches give us, we just have to be able to do it,” Bridges said. “All of us just got to be on the same page.”

Defensive transition is an area where the Nets seem to struggle defensively in terms of being on the same page. This season, they are 29th in the league in forcing turnovers on fast breaks, forcing a turnover on just 7.2% of their opponents fast breaks.

In general though forcing turnovers has been the main issue. Pressuring the opposing team into errors and turnovers is typically a effective strategy to remain competitive, yet the Nets' struggles, evidenced by their last-place ranking in forced turnovers in the NBA, are not unexpected, contributing significantly to their overall challenges this season.

Chemistry issues

Injuries have been a big problem for the Nets this season, with key players like Cam Thomas, Ben Simmons, and Dennis Smith Jr. all missing games at some point this season. 

The team itself is very new as well, which when paired with the injuries has caused some chemistry issues. In total, following the KD and Kyrie trades last season, this current Nets unit has only played about 40 games together.

“We went to the playoffs together, we got a good little chemistry, we just gotta figure out what kind of team we want to be,” Bridges continued.

So far this season, the Nets only have one 5-man unit that has played more than 60 minutes together. They have performed extremely well, but they cannot play the entire game, nor can they play the entire game together.

As Mikal Bridges said, the Nets need to figure out what kind of team they want to be. With more time, their chemistry will improve, their identity improve, and so will their results.

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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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