Brooklyn Nets: 3 takeaways from 2018-19 season opener

2. The defense needs help

The Nets’ defense was a huge problem last season, which mostly stemmed from the deployment of a rookie at center. Jarrett Allen didn’t mess around on D, but the rest of the team left a lot to be desired.

One can argue that the Pistons’ big-centric style around Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin is a bad matchup for the Nets. That’s legitimate, and simply the trade-off a small-ball team makes. But Brooklyn didn’t make enough shots to justify relinquishing those post-up points either.

Quite simply, this is the risk the Nets took with the construction of their roster. There are only three bigs on the roster, and Kenny Atkinson wants to emphasize offensive space. Kenneth Faried and Ed Davis have the ability to play next to another big (i.e. each other), but Atkinson did not resort to such a combo.

Quite simply, it would’ve helped in this particular game. Allen was decidedly outmatched on the boards, though he did his best as a rim protector. The rest of the team simply couldn’t hold its own.

Detroit had a game plan designed around its two stars; Brooklyn couldn’t match up. The Nets’ defensive style will be a point of discussion going forward, as certain teams are bound to try and expose the holes in this defense.