After struggling defensively to start the 2019-20 season, the Brooklyn Nets have finally stabilized things on that end of the floor.
Naturally, an indicator of the Nets’ defensive improvements is their opponents’ points per game. Over the last three contests, Brooklyn has surrendered 101, 97 and 91 points.
In part, this a result of the Nets minimizing the length of their rough patches — which were sometimes quarter-long at the start of the year. When you boil it down further, Brooklyn is forcing turnovers more consistently.
Over the last five games — since Kyrie Irving was first ruled out — the Nets have forced double-digit turnovers each night. Their longest stretch of 10-plus forced turnover games in 2019-20 had previously been three games.
Of course, this is a good sign for the Nets — their record over the last five games shows that. But Kenny Atkinson’s remarks about the turnovers to reporters following Sunday’s 101-103 win against the New York Knicks indicates this won’t be a flash in the pan:
It’s all on the players. Really, there was no scheme, nothing in place. We weren’t blitzing. We didn’t extend our defense. It’s just, these guys out here are defending their tails off right now. I think we’re in the right position defensively. I think that’s helping. But, again, it’s all on the players, they’re creating the turnovers.
The Nets expressed at the beginning of the season chemistry was an issue, and it could only be resolved over time. Well, this is a sign the Nets are starting to come together.
Atkinson isn’t asking them to do anything differently. The players now have a better feel for what it is they need to do and how to work with one another to accomplish their defensive objectives.