Inside The Nets

Nic Claxton believes teams playing switch defense is the Nets' Kryptonite

The Nets had one of the biggest collapses of the season when they couldn’t score a point in the final five minutes against the Clippers.

Peter Sunjic

© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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The Brooklyn Nets were flying against the Los Angeles Clippers for three-and-a-half quarters. Unfortunately for Coach Jacque Vaughn, his team started to focus on one-on-one plays, which led to the Clippers changing their defense to become a more switch-oriented scheme. This change helped LA mount a comeback and win the game 114-125.

Coach Tyronn Lue adjusted his lineup as he played Kawhi Leonard as the small-ball center. This change helped LA to become more versatile on both ends of the floor. Kawhi switched in the pick-and-roll, and Russell Westbrook sat under roll man Nic Claxton to prevent lob passes.

“I think switching has somewhat been a Kryptonite for us. It’s definitely hurt us this far into the season. It forces us to play slow and mismatches instead of keeping that flow we had going offensively,” Nic said after the Nets’ collapse against the Clippers.

Switching makes the pick-and-roll ineffective

The Clippers usually run a lineup with a center like Ivica Zubac or Mason Plumlee. Unfortunately, Zubac was out, forcing Lue to make creative adjustments. He found the right formula when he inserted all the star players, with Kawhi and Paul George as the two stretch big men.

Nic can play well on defense against a lineup like that because he has the foot speed to keep up. However, offense was the issue in the Nets’ collapse because they had five quick players for LA. It meant the Nets’ pick-and-roll became ineffective because there was always a skilled defender guarding the ball-handler and screen-setter.

Brooklyn couldn’t get into their rhythm to close the game, leaving the team scoreless in the final five minutes, conceding a 22-0 run.

The Nets should adjust their style according to the defense

It was puzzling to see the Nets pull away from the ball movement. That play style worked for Coach Vaughn and his team, but the players became reliant on one-on-one plays in the final few minutes.

That made the switches even more valuable because, on one possession, PG can handle defending Cameron Thomas. On the next possession, Russell Westbrook takes over the reins. Lue recognized the Nets were not playing a sustainable offense, leading to him adjusting the scheme.

Moving forward, Coach JV and his players must learn how to adjust to this because this is an issue that other teams are noticing. The Nets could win more games by focusing on beating the switch and having a more versatile offensive attack.

The Nets fall apart in the fourth quarter in a crushing loss to the LA Clippers

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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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