The Nets’ sudden surge has been all about defense.
Entering Wednesday’s meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center, the Nets had held an opponent to under 100 points in five of their last six games.
The Nets were 5-1 in that stretch, with their opponent scoring 98 points or fewer in each of the five victories. In the previous 47 games, the Nets held an opponent to under 100 points only four times.
“We’re just being consistent with the coverages,” center Day’Ron Sharpe said after Monday’s 97-89 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. “Everybody’s just being consistent in what they’re supposed to do. We’ve got all five guys on the same page.”
At the forefront of the defensive turnaround has been the Nets’ play on the back line.
Starting center Nic Claxton and Sharpe off the bench have thrived as rim protectors, combining for 24 blocks over that six-game stretch.
Claxton has been especially effective, recording at least two blocks in five of the six games, including a six-rejection performance in the Nets’ 104-83 victory in Charlotte on Jan. 29.
“It goes back to being the anchor of the defense,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said of Claxton and Sharpe.
“It starts with their communication, their presence, their physicality. They both have done a great job. I’m very happy to see that they’re owning that part. It’s on them to get everybody going and start our defense. Yes, the ball pressure has to be there from the guards or whoever guards the ball handler, but these guys have done a very, very good job.”
After signing a four-year, $100 million extension over the summer, the 6-11 Claxton began the season on a minutes restriction due to a hamstring injury. He has also dealt with a nagging back issue that he said stemmed from the summer, for which he received an epidural injection in November.
Sharpe, meanwhile, missed the first 21 games after suffering a hamstring strain during training camp.
Having both big men available and playing well has taken pressure off of their teammates, namely the on-ball defenders who know there’s another line of defense behind them.
“When you’ve got them on the backside and protecting the rim, it makes it easy,” guard-forward Trendon Watford said. “It’s always good having two bigs like that.”
Two of the Nets’ recent wins came against the Houston Rockets, who entered Wednesday as the Western Conference’s No. 5 seed. Another came against the Miami Heat, who began the day as the No. 7 seed in the East.
In that six-game stretch, the Nets boasted the NBA’s best defensive rating (103.6) and lowest opponent field-goal percentage (40.8%). The 15.5 turnovers they forced per game were the fourth most in the league.
Brooklyn lost each of its seven games before then, allowing more than 100 points in six of them and 99 in the other.
The Nets established themselves as sellers well before this month’s NBA trade deadline, parting with point guard Dennis Schroder and forward Dorian Finney-Smith in separate deals in December. Last week, Brooklyn agreed to a buyout with point guard Ben Simmons, who has since signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
But the recent wins have the Nets back in the mix for the Play-In Tournament. They entered Wednesday with a 19-34 record but only 2.5 games out of the East’s No. 10 seed.
“I’ve seen a very connected group where all of them constantly talk to each other about whatever is going on on the court,” Fernandez said. “That just makes our jobs as coaches easier because they can correct themselves and they know what they’re supposed to do.”