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Brooklyn Nets: Can (and should) the team’s defense improve?

By Jacob Zinkula

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 26: Blake Griffin #2 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates a second half basket with James Harden #13 while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 26, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 26: Blake Griffin #2 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates a second half basket with James Harden #13 while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 26, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Although one former MVP in Kevin Durant has been sidelined for 20 games, another in James Harden has helped the Brooklyn Nets maintain what statistically could be the best offense in NBA history. Kyrie Irving (28.1 points per game) deserves his fair share of credit as well.

Brooklyn has the league’s No. 1 offense, scoring 117.4 points per 100 possessions — a mark that would be the best in recorded NBA history over an entire season (topping the Dallas Mavericks’s 115.9 last season). It’s worth noting, however, that six other teams — the LA Clippers (117.1), Denver Nuggets (117.0), Utah Jazz (116.8), Milwaukee Bucks (116.6), Portland Trail Blazers (116.2) and the New Orleans Pelicans (115.9) are ALL in position to break the record as well if the season ended today.

The Brooklyn Nets have been a poor defensive team this season in spite of their dynamic offensive attack. Can (and should) their defense improve?

Brooklyn is not only shooting a 4th-best 39.3 percent from three, it’s doing so on a hefty number of 3-point attempts. 41.8 percent of the team’s shots have come from downtown, ninth-highest in the NBA. If the offense can get up to 40.0 percent from downtown, it would be the first NBA team to ever enter the “40-40 Club” — shoot at least 40 percent from three AND attempt at least 40 percent of their shots from downtown. At 39.7/48.5 percent, the Jazz are the team currently in the best position to reach this mark.

Due to the team’s offensive prowess, the expectation that Durant will be healthy come playoff time, and the injuries to Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Nets are now the title favorites per the betting markets.

Title Odds:

Nets: +260

Lakers: +280

While Brooklyn’s offense may very well be elite enough to carry the team to the promised land, the team’s relatively mediocre defensive performance should be monitored nevertheless. Perhaps things will improve on this side of the ball once Durant returns and/or when the intensity ratchets up in the postseason.

Which Nets players have had the best defensive ratings this season? In other words, opponents have scored the fewest points per 100 possessions with which players on the floor? This is a far from perfect way to evaluate defensive value, but’s it’s a place to start.

Of the ten Brooklyn players that have played at least 15 games and averaged at least 15 minutes per game, three have a better defensive net rating than the team’s 113.6 overall rating.

Kevin Durant: 110.6

Joe Harris: 110.7

Tyler Johnson: 111.9

Kyrie Irving: 112.6

When healthy and engaged, Durant is fully capable of being the team’s best defender. The fact that the numbers back this up should make Brooklyn Nets fans optimistic the defense will improve once he returns to the lineup. With regards to Irving and Harris, it’s nice to see that both players don’t seem to be hurting the cause defensively, but given they’ve already been playing significant minutes, this information doesn’t offer any obvious adjustments.

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If head coach Steve Nash was even considering excluding Harris from crunch-time lineups, however, he should probably consider otherwise. Additionally, Irving has missed 15 games, so perhaps his consistent presence in the lineup will help matters.

Tyler Johnson’s presence in the quartet is worth exploring, given he’s only averaging 16.2 minutes per game (mpg). There’s some reason to suspect Johnson’s favorable numbers aren’t a fluke. In 31 games with the Phoenix Suns last season, he posted the 2nd-best defensive net rating of any player on the team (15 games, 15 minutes per game criteria).

Whether the 6-3 guard’s play justifies any additional minutes — especially on a Brooklyn Nets squad that continues to add more pieces — is unclear. While his 37.6 percent 3-point shooting suggests he can contribute offensively, it’s hard to see his minutes tick up come playoff time. It’s simply hard to see any contributions he brings defensively offsetting the potential offensive drop-off with him on the floor. Still, if the defense ends up becoming a major issue the offense can’t overcome, Johnson could be an option worth exploring.

Next. Players most likely to be traded this offseason. dark

(Credit to NBA.com for statistics — data as of 3.30.21)

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