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Breaking down the Brooklyn Nets’ defensive struggles

By Omri Benami

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 19: Kenny Atkinson of the Brooklyn Nets reacts against the Miami Heat during their game at Barclays Center on January 19, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 19: Kenny Atkinson of the Brooklyn Nets reacts against the Miami Heat during their game at Barclays Center on January 19, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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The Brooklyn Nets lost another heart breaking game Sunday night against the Clippers. The script was all to familiar, too. The Nets found themselves down big, mounted a comeback, and fell short.

What was slightly different about the game against the Clippers, however, was that the Nets had a significant lead, late. Not two or four points, but an eight point lead with under 3 minutes to play.

The fact that the team wasn’t able to hold such a lead, and that they gave up 123 points, was in large part due to defense. The Nets have struggled on the defense end all season long.

More specifically, the Nets are giving up 109.9 points per game on average, which is 25th in the league.

Let’s take a deeper look into the defensive metrics. For starters, the Nets force an opponent’s turnover percentage of 11.1, which is last in the NBA. The metric estimates the number of turnovers forced per 100 possessions. When it comes to steals, the Brooklyn ranks dead last in the league with just 6.2 per game. The Nets also average the sixth least blocks per game at 4.6 per.

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What this means is that the opponent rarely has a bad possession against Brooklyn. Whether it be from giving the ball away, or having it send back from where it came. The Nets aren’t able to step up their level of aggression in these areas of defense.

Consequently, the Nets are giving up 89.1 field goals attempts per game, which puts them 28th out of 30 teams. Opponents are connecting on 46.4 percent of those attempts, which is 18th. The field goal percentage is middle of the pack, but there’s another factor at play.

Opponents are getting to the line against the Nets. The opposition average .203 free throw attempts per field goal attempt. That puts the Nets at 22nd in the league, and considering how many attempts they give up, this really sets the team back in game.

Part of this is a discipline issue, as the Nets commit 20.6 personal fouls per game, which ranks 23rd.

The Nets have struggled on both sides of the ball to be sure. Despite the high volume three point shooting they display, their offensive efficiency is minimal. This certainly puts a good amount of pressure on the defense. But as the advanced metrics show, the Nets aren’t helping themselves at all in the effort areas.

The team is definitely a young one, and they show occasional signs of what could be. But without more effort on the defensive end, Brooklyn will struggle to win any games, even when they have what seems like a healthy cushion late in the fourth quarter.

Next: Nets lose nail-biter to Clippers, 123-120