Analyzing the Unexpected Defensive Hurdles for the Brooklyn Nets

Despite offseason defensive reinforcements, injuries and adjustments have left the Nets grappling with an unexpected defensive slump.

© Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, the Brooklyn Nets were middle of the pack defensively, with their defensive rating being 16th overall in the NBA, along with 10th overall in overall scoring defense. 

However, their one standout was blocks per game, in which they led the league. Yet despite the defensive additions, the Nets' defense is struggling to start the season.

Important injuries

A 6-6 record isn’t necessarily a worrying sign yet for the Nets, but they had certainly hoped to be contending with the top teams in the East like Philadelphia or Boston. However, their slow start to the season defensively can in part be blamed by injuries to Nic Claxton and Ben Simmons.

Last season, when the Nets led the league in blocks per game, Claxton averaged 2.5 blocks per game, but his presence in the interior caused much more missed shots and turnovers than this season. 

This season, Claxton has improved, averaging 3.0 blocks per game in the few that he has played in. The two weeks Claxton was out this season saw the Nets drop to dead last in the NBA in forced turnover percentage and 17th in blocks per game (5.0).

Last season, Ben Simmons averaged 1.3 steals per game, and the Nets were 16th in the league in steals per game. The Australian guard's injury has seen the Nets fall to 30th in league in steals per game, averaging just 5.8 per game.

Other guys have to step up

Among the Nets players who have logged at least 100 minutes in the current season, making them eligible for a defensive rating, young big-man Day’Ron Sharpe boasts the team's top defensive rating at 110.0.

Ben Simmons and newcomer Lonnie Walker IV are second and third on the team, with ratings of 112.4 and 114.4 respectively. However, players acquired in the KD and Kyrie trades last season have struggled to find their footing defensively.

Mikal Bridges, acquired in the blockbuster trade last season, who finished on the NBA All-Defensive First Team in the 2021-22 season, has struggled to find that defensive form since joining the Nets. This season, he is averaging just over a block a game, but has only recorded 5 steals through the first 12 games.

Dorian Finney-Smith, another midseason acquisition, received All-Defensive nods two seasons ago, but hasn’t found the same success in Brooklyn, averaging only 0.3 steals per game. However, he is averaging the most blocks per game in a season throughout his career this season, which leaves hope going forward.

Now that Claxton has returned, the Nets' prospects are looking up. If they can close out key games, and players like Finney-Smith and Bridges return to their 2021-22 defensive form, the sky's the limit for the Nets defense.

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