Jarrett Allen needs to be interior stopper for Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets ended their preseason with a whimper. On Wednesday night at the Nassau Coliseum, the team dropped a 133-114 decision to the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel Embiid had his way with the Brooklyn Nets defense.

The Brooklyn Nets finally dropped a preseason game. The team was 3-0 in the preseason heading into Wednesday night’s game on Long Island. They were mostly dominant in their first three outings against the New York Knicks (twice) and the Miami Heat.

They were dominated Wednesday night.

Joel Embiid was unstoppable. The 76ers wings (and Embiid) torched the Nets from deep, shooting at a 43 percent clip. To the Nets credit, they were able to convert 13 triples at a 35 percent clip.

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Embiid physically dominated the Nets to the tune of 22 points in just 15 minutes. As Anthony Puccio of NetsDaily pointed out, 14 of those came at the free throw line. As Puccio also pointed out, the Nets had no chance of guarding Embiid. Timofey Mozgov was the only body big enough. Quicy Acy and Trevor Booker proved far too small.

The Nets will be alright this season offensively. Their pace-based attack will hide the problems the Nets lack of size in the paint.

Defensively they will be exposed. Unless there is an ace up their sleeve.

Jarrett Allen may be that ace. The team will need him to be if it is to be competing in meaningful games in April.

Allen played well Wednesday night. He provided 7 points on 60 percent shooting and grabbed seven rebounds. In 14 minutes, that is noteworthy. What he needs to provide, however, is solid rim protection.

Mozgov isn’t guaranteed to be healthy after two years of up and down availability the past two years.

If Allen could use his size and length to become what Brooklyn needs, the team will have a shot at defending the elite hosses of the league.

Otherwise Brooklyn will be dominated like this uncomfortably often.