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The Brooklyn Nets are officially in a slump. Having lost four of their last five games, the only recent game the team won was a road match versus the Indiana Pacers, which happened to be Kyrie Irving's season debut. James Harden came back from health and safety protocols on Christmas Day and went nuclear in two big wins at Los Angeles over the Lakers and Clippers. But then Kevin Durant returned from the lineup, and even though he has played every bit like himself, the team has now hit a wall.
Brooklyn dropped a Friday night showdown versus Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, 129-109.
Two dribbles. 🤯
Giannis reaches a sprint speed of 16.5 mph to go nearly the length of the court in just two dribbles, tracked by #NBACourtOptix powered by Microsoft Azure! pic.twitter.com/5a6ykxJQrH
— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2022
As you might have gleamed from that final score, defense has been a pretty big problem for the Nets lately. Brooklyn came in with the 6th overall ranked defense, tied with the Bucks. But the game result highlighted that these teams might be heading in opposite directions on that end of the court.
The first 32 games of this season, defense has been the Nets surprise calling card. How on earth has a team that looks pretty light on rim protection and wing stoppers thrived on D? Maybe some of it is luck. Maybe some of it is schemes. Maybe opponents have seen some shooting variance that's tipped the scales. But at the end of the day, it's a cliche for a reason. Defense requires effort and lately the team's effort has been lacking a bit also.
Dollars to donuts there's a natural tendency to relax upon learning you'll be introducing a superstar like Kyrie into the rotation. But still….
Over their last five games the Nets have allowed 119.2 points per 100 possessions. That qualifies as the 28th ranked defensive rating per NBA.com. Before their recent “we're all just getting back from protocol and we're all getting used to Irving being back” slump, they had the fifth rated defense.
Well a recent stretch where they've hemorrhaged buckets, has sunk their standing as stalwarts down to 12th overall in defensive rating.
#Nets defense last five games hasn't been there
First 32 games: DEFRTG 106.4, rank: 5th overall
Last 5 games: DEFRTG 119.2, rank: 28th overall
total season: DEFRTG 108.1, rank: 12th overall
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) January 8, 2022
“It's been tough of course,” said rookie Cam Thomas, who had 14 points and 5 rebounds in 28 minutes versus Milwaukee, “cause everybody was out at different periods, like it was kinda like groups. The first group went out, then the other group went out. So it's tough right now, just trying to be back in the flow, get back playing with each other but eventually I think we'll figure it out. We're a great team, so gon' figure it out eventually,” added the always confident Thomas.
“You name it. We’ve really struggled since returning from all the COVID interruptions,” said Steve Nash.
“Yeah we looked off,” said Durant after the Bucks claimed Barclays. “We’re not on the same page, we’re not in sync offensively, defensively, and in order for us to be a great team, we gotta be in sync,” said the D.C. native. “We’ll figure it out I think.”
But what gives? Why are they balling out on the road, even before Irving was eligible to play but not so much at home?
The Nets have some unusual home-road splits. They're just 10-10 at Barclays Center, but 14-3 on the road. Before the game, coach Nash was asked about this and why the team may not have been as good in Brooklyn as they are on the road.
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“Yeah, I don't know,” admitted the second year head coach. “Sometimes that happens with teams. I think it's great that we have a good road record. But it certainly would be something we should seek to improve at home. I think we don't start games as well as we would like to. Just haven't had maybe the same kind of intensity at home as on the road, perhaps if you look at the totality of our games but I don't really have an answer for you.”
Durant offered the not safe for work version of the same thought.
“Our home crowd wants to get behind the team that’s playing well. I don’t expect us to have a great home court advantage if we’re playing s–tty basketball. That’s just what it is,” said KD, who also shared a conversation he had with Kyrie Irving about his teammate's controversial vaccination status.
Giannis continues to torment Brooklyn. After really limiting him in the first two games of the playoffs, when these teams met in the Conference Semis last season, The Greek Freak has found a way to dominate them ever since.
“I think Giannis is such an incredible player,” said Head Coach Steve Nash prior to tip off. “I think he makes them a threat no matter who's out there with him,” said Nash.
“A little frustrating,” admitted Harden after the game Friday. “Just can’t get it together.” Harden also shared this three word response regarding Kyrie Irving being a part-time unvaccinated player.
The Bucks will improve to 26-15, having won seven of their last nine. They're looking like the best team in the East right now, despite not even having Jrue Holiday in the lineup.
“We just gotta find a way, we're a good team trying to become a great team and we go through things like this,” said Harden.
“Yeah, we would love to have our whole team back,” said Durant after the game when Kyrie's name came up. “But I trust the guys that's gonna step up and fill that void until our full team gets back together. I trust everybody who's there….Long as we're shooting the ball with confidence I'm cool.”
No one is panicking in Brooklyn. But they definitely have work to do.
