After the 125-113 loss to the Cavaliers on Friday night, the Brooklyn Nets abandon their road trip to Cleveland by 0-2 and have a series of defensive breakdowns to review in their next film session.
“That meant two humiliating losses,” U.S. goalkeeper Kyrie Irving said after Friday’s game.
Scoring wasn’t a problem for the Nets, even without Kevin Durant, who sat down after playing more than 50 minutes in Brooklyn’s double overtime loss on Wednesday. On the defensive side, the Nets couldn’t stop the Cavaliers with the paint.
In Wednesday’s loss, the Nets yielded 64 points in the paint. They conceded 70 more in Friday’s loss, with Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen finishing 19 points off the bench to add 19 points from center Andre Drummond and 25 points from guard Collin Sexton. The 134 points in the paint are the most Brooklyn has allowed in a two-game period over the past 25 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
“There are a lot of points in the paint,” said James Harden, who finished with 19 points and 11 assists. “There are offensive rebounds, throws pass, good things don’t happen when the ball goes into the paint and tonight we’ve allowed it too much.”
On Friday, Brooklyn also outscored 50-29. The Nets’ rebound rate of 35.6% was the worst in a game in the last two seasons.
Allen, who was traded to Cleveland as part of the package that landed Harden in Brooklyn, had been an anchor for the Nets ’fledgling defense. In the last two games against his former team this week, Allen played 23 shots and kept Brooklyn to shoot just 26% over those shots, according to ESPN’s research on statistics and information.
Brooklyn could not meet the defensive urgency: the Nets defenders did not respond to 40% of the Cavaliers ’field goal attempts during their last two games. Allen and Taurean Prince, who were also part of Harden’s trade, combined to shoot 64% in the last two games.
“I wish it wasn’t against you,” Joe Harris said of Prince and Allen’s performances, “but you’re obviously happy for these guys.”
Now, the message from Nets coach Steve Nash is to walk the tightrope not to panic, but also to urgently improve at the defensive end of the floor.
“We just have to find a harder way to play,” Nash said. “We don’t take advantage of a defensive roster. We have to be more proud, play more shots, fight, get rid of, harp, and that’s what I think is missing as much as any scheme we’re breaking.”
Nash added, “I think the biggest message is that just showing up at the gym isn’t good enough.”
The Nets plan to sign center Norvel Pelle once he clears the league’s coronavirus testing protocols, his agents, BJ Bass and Tod Seidel, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. Still, Nash reiterated several times that Brooklyn cannot rely on signing reinforcements to consolidate its defense. Instead, he implored the Nets to “look inward and take responsibility, to be a priority and to try to grow defensively.”
DeAndre Jordan, who is the Nets ’only real active center, said he considers his job to be“ a defensive force ”and a defensive lie for the team. Jordan had his hands full with Drummond and Allen, who were 7-on-11 on the field when he was defended by Jordan for the last two games.
“We can’t unload too much or panic soon,” Jordan said. “Even though a lot of people want us to panic. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Championship teams weren’t built in a day. Difficulties have passed. So we need to be able to take on that chin and learn from it. and finally come back and respond tomorrow and the rest of the season. “