Inside The Nets

What the Brooklyn Nets need to improve on in the second half of the season

The Nets are raring for a good second half to the 2023/24 season.

Peter Sunjic

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Brooklyn is looking for a fresh start in the second half of the season with a new head coach and a refreshed squad after a 21-33 record before All-Star Weekend. Everyone in the regular rotation is healthy now, which bodes well for the second half of the season.

Now playing under interim head coach Kevin Ollie, the Nets will look to compete and succeed en route to a spot in the postseason. It will be a rough road ahead for the team, which has led to fans asking, “What do the Nets need to work on?”

Find out what improvements the Nets should try to qualify for the Playoffs.

Get Claxton more involved in the offense

Under former head coach Jacque Vaughn, the offense revolved around isolations and ball movement for open threes. Those two dimensions can still be parts of the offense, but the Nets should get Nic Claxton more involved on offense.

The 24-year-old center is a talented defender, but that is not his only strength. Clax is one of the league’s most efficient players, shooting 62.5% from the field. Aside from his efficiency, the former Georgia Bulldog is making a concerted effort to add more to his offensive game, shooting the occasional jump shots.

With a healthy Ben Simmons and recent trade acquisition Dennis Schroder, Brooklyn has the playmakers to maximize Claxton’s offensive game. Throwing accurate lobs and drop passes will be the key to feeding Clax the basketball and letting him work.

Give Cam Thomas the minutes he needs

Under Vaughn, Cameron Thomas had a bumpy campaign as he was in and out of the starting lineup. Logically, it would be best for Thomas to keep playing in the starting group so he can get rhythm and score in bunches,

The 22-year-old is the team’s primary natural scorer, so maximizing his skill set should be the priority. Interim coach Kevin Ollie should do his best to give Cam the well-deserved minutes, especially when paired with fellow star Mikal Bridges.

Go deeper into the rotation

Vaughn had a shorter rotation that did not give players the minutes they earned. Trendon Watford has been superb every time he’s been on the floor, but he couldn’t buy regular minutes under JV.

Now that Ollie is in charge, players like Watford, Noah Clowney, and Jalen Wilson could make a big splash. The second half of the season is promising for Brooklyn; the team just needs to stay healthy and keep competing every game.

Nets promoting Kevin Ollie as interim head coach upon Jacque Vaughn's HC firing

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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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