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The Brooklyn Nets are formally in a droop. Having misplaced 4 of their final 5 video games, the one current recreation the workforce gained was a street match versus the Indiana Pacers, which occurred to be Kyrie Irving’s season debut. James Harden got here again from well being and security protocols on Christmas Day and went nuclear in two large wins at Los Angeles over the Lakers and Clippers. However then Kevin Durant returned from the lineup, and regardless that he has performed each bit like himself, the workforce has now hit a wall.
Brooklyn dropped a Friday night time showdown versus Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, 129-109.
Two dribbles. 🤯
Giannis reaches a dash pace of 16.5 mph to go practically the size of the courtroom in simply two dribbles, tracked by #NBACourtOptix powered by Microsoft Azure! pic.twitter.com/5a6ykxJQrH
— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2022
As you might need gleamed from that last rating, protection has been a reasonably large drawback for the Nets currently. Brooklyn got here in with the sixth total ranked protection, tied with the Bucks. However the recreation end result highlighted that these groups is likely to be heading in reverse instructions on that finish of the courtroom.
The primary 32 video games of this season, protection has been the Nets shock calling card. How on earth has a workforce that appears fairly mild on rim safety and wing stoppers thrived on D? Perhaps a few of it’s luck. Perhaps a few of it’s schemes. Perhaps opponents have seen some taking pictures variance that’s tipped the scales. However on the finish of the day, it’s a cliche for a motive. Protection requires effort and currently the workforce’s effort has been missing a bit additionally.
{Dollars} to donuts there’s a pure tendency to chill out upon studying you’ll be introducing a celebrity like Kyrie into the rotation. However nonetheless….
Over their final 5 video games the Nets have allowed 119.2 factors per 100 possessions. That qualifies because the twenty eighth ranked defensive score per NBA.com. Earlier than their current “we’re all simply coming back from protocol and we’re all getting used to Irving being again” droop, they’d the fifth rated protection.
Nicely a current stretch the place they’ve hemorrhaged buckets, has sunk their standing as stalwarts all the way down to twelfth total in defensive score.
#Nets protection final 5 video games hasn’t been there
First 32 video games: DEFRTG 106.4, rank: fifth total
Final 5 video games: DEFRTG 119.2, rank: twenty eighth total
complete season: DEFRTG 108.1, rank: twelfth total
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) January 8, 2022
“It’s been robust in fact,” mentioned rookie Cam Thomas, who had 14 factors and 5 rebounds in 28 minutes versus Milwaukee, “trigger all people was out at completely different intervals, prefer it was kinda like teams. The primary group went out, then the opposite group went out. So it’s robust proper now, simply attempting to be again within the move, get again enjoying with one another however ultimately I believe we’ll determine it out. We’re an excellent workforce, so gon’ determine it out ultimately,” added the all the time assured Thomas.
“You identify it. We’ve actually struggled since getting back from all of the COVID interruptions,” mentioned Steve Nash.
“Yeah we seemed off,” mentioned Durant after the Bucks claimed Barclays. “We’re not on the identical web page, we’re not in sync offensively, defensively, and to ensure that us to be an excellent workforce, we gotta be in sync,” mentioned the D.C. native. “We’ll determine it out I believe.”
However what provides? Why are they balling out on the street, even earlier than Irving was eligible to play however not a lot at house?
The Nets have some uncommon home-road splits. They’re simply 10-10 at Barclays Middle, however 14-3 on the street. Earlier than the sport, coach Nash was requested about this and why the workforce might not have been pretty much as good in Brooklyn as they’re on the street.
“Yeah, I don’t know,” admitted the second 12 months head coach. “Typically that occurs with groups. I believe it’s nice that we’ve an excellent street report. Nevertheless it actually can be one thing we should always search to enhance at house. I believe we don’t begin video games in addition to we wish to. Simply haven’t had perhaps the identical type of depth at house as on the street, maybe if you happen to have a look at the totality of our video games however I don’t actually have a solution for you.”
Durant supplied the not protected for work model of the identical thought.
“Our house crowd needs to get behind the workforce that’s enjoying effectively. I don’t anticipate us to have an excellent house courtroom benefit if we’re enjoying s–tty basketball. That’s simply what it’s,” mentioned KD, who also shared a conversation he had with Kyrie Irving about his teammate’s controversial vaccination status.
Giannis continues to torment Brooklyn. After actually limiting him within the first two video games of the playoffs, when these groups met within the Convention Semis final season, The Greek Freak has discovered a strategy to dominate them ever since.
“I believe Giannis is such an unimaginable participant,” mentioned Head Coach Steve Nash previous to tip off. “I believe he makes them a menace irrespective of who’s on the market with him,” mentioned Nash.
“Somewhat irritating,” admitted Harden after the sport Friday. “Simply can’t get it collectively.” Harden additionally shared this three word response regarding Kyrie Irving being a part-time unvaccinated player.
The Bucks will enhance to 26-15, having gained seven of their final 9. They’re trying like the perfect workforce within the East proper now, regardless of not even having Jrue Vacation within the lineup.
“We simply gotta discover a manner, we’re an excellent workforce attempting to turn into an excellent workforce and we undergo issues like this,” mentioned Harden.
“Yeah, we’d like to have our entire workforce again,” mentioned Durant after the sport when Kyrie’s identify got here up. “However I belief the fellows that’s gonna step up and fill that void till our full workforce will get again collectively. I belief all people who’s there….Lengthy as we’re taking pictures the ball with confidence I’m cool.”
Nobody is panicking in Brooklyn. However they positively have work to do.
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