Through their first 10 games this season, one of the biggest problems for the Nets has been their 3-point defense, with opponents shooting better against New Jersey from behind the arc (.429 percent) than any other team in the league. Without improvement in that area tonight against Toronto, the Nets will likely be looking at their second straight loss.
Toronto has four players (Jason Kapono, Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker and Jose Calderon) shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range, and sit third as a team in the league in 3-point percentage (.402).
“[It] can’t get worse,” coach Lawrence Frank said of his team’s perimeter defense. “We’re 30th in the league . . . we either foul you or we put you on the 3-point stripe. We gotta get better at it, and it starts with on-the-ball defense.”
The 6-foot-10 Bargnani, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft, has looked better since being inserted into the starting lineup at small forward three games ago. He set season-highs with 25 points in 37 minutes Wednesday against Miami.
“Two of the three games he’s put up good numbers,” Frank said. “He’s putting the ball on the floor, he’s not just relying on the 3-point shot, he’s got great length . . . like Yi, because of his size, he can shoot over most defenders from the perimeter . . . he’s gotten better.”
Along with Bargnani, the Nets have to deal with Toronto’s pair of 7-footers in the paint, Chris Bosh and Jermaine O’Neal, who are averaging a combined 39 points and 20 rebounds a game.
“We’re going to try and make it tough for [Toronto], more than anything,” Vince Carter said. “We’re at the point where we’re just worrying about us and what we need to do. Of course Chris has been playing at a high level, J.O. is proven . . . so it is going to be a challenge for our young guys, and we have to have their back.”
Frank, however, refused to say the game was going to be more of a test for his young players in the frontcourt than the rest of his team.
“I think every night is going to be a challenge, and not just for the young guys, but for everyone,” he said. “Look we’re a team . . . not just our young guys against their veteran guys.”
On the injury front, Keyon Dooling (hamstring), Jarvis Hayes (back) and Yi Jianlian (neck) all are probable to play tonight, while Josh Boone, Stromile Swift and Chris Douglas-Roberts all are out. . . . The X-rays on Yi’s neck came back negative. He suffered the injury Wednesday in practice.
tbontemps@nypost.com