New York, March 30: The Brooklyn Nets returned home from a challenging west coast road trip, facing a daunting 10-game losing streak. Despite the setbacks, head coach Jordi Fernandez praised his team’s defensive efforts during their recent match against the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I was very pleased with the level of competitiveness and physicality, except for the fouling,” Fernandez remarked before the upcoming game against the Sacramento Kings. He noted that the Nets allowed 42 free-throw attempts, attributing this to their youth and the need for improved technique.
In their last encounter, the Nets managed to hold their own against Luka Doncic and the Mavericks for three quarters, but the Lakers capitalized on free-throw opportunities in the final quarter.
“For the season, we allow 24 free-throw attempts while we shoot around 22 or 23 ourselves, resulting in a 1.7 disparity. In the last four close games, this ratio has been closer to two-to-one,” Fernandez explained. “We need to take ownership of what we can control, focusing on better technique and defending without fouling.”
In their 116-99 defeat to the Lakers, the Nets struggled to contain Los Angeles’ offense, allowing them to shoot 54.0% from the field and 44.0% from beyond the arc. Notably, guard Austin Reaves managed to secure 11 free-throw attempts despite only attempting 13 shots from the field.
This season, the Nets have struggled defensively, ranking among the worst in both standard and advanced metrics. However, they have demonstrated the ability to play strong defense, as seen in their performances last December. With the season nearing its end in two weeks, the focus will shift to developing younger players and reclaiming their defensive identity before the summer break.
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