The Nets knew all along they were going to have to play defense to win, but there’s a big difference between knowing and doing.
It wasn’t until a New Year’s Eve epiphany that Brooklyn finally embraced its grind-it-out identity — and the work that entailed. But the results have been undeniable.
“I think we always knew we needed to be a defensive-minded team. It just wasn’t happening. Our defense wasn’t there,’’ point guard Deron Williams said following Sunday’s 93-81 win over the Pelicans. “I think the games we’ve had a lot of success, we were doing a great job defensively. The way we guarded the paint [Sunday] was the way we needed to do it against Detroit. We didn’t do that, and we lost bad.’’
Bad is an understatement, as Brooklyn fell behind by 29 en route to a 111-95 humiliation by the Pistons in Auburn Hills on Friday. But it was an aberration, as the Nets bounced back to smother New Orleans defensively on Sunday. They will face a rolling Charlotte team on Wednesday.
“Guys are coming in, are focused and understanding what they can provide to this team for us to be successful,’’ reserve guard Jason Terry said. “Individually guys are taking it upon themselves to play within the team concept and understanding our identity. We’re a grit-and-grind team.
“We find a way. And that’s what we have to hang our hat on. Defensively, get stops and offensively, share the ball. When we haven’t won games, it’s because we don’t share the ball and it translates into bad defensive possessions.’’
Brooklyn has been a study in complementary basketball. Early in the season, poor offensive execution and 1-on-1 play led to misses and opponents’ fast breaks. The Nets’ struggled in transition defense, not shocking considering they featured 37-year-old Kevin Garnett, 36-year-old Paul Pierce and 32-year-old Joe Johnson in the starting lineup, and the 36-year-old Terry off the bench.
But more meticulous offense has led to better execution, more baskets and a quantum leap defensively. Since falling to 10-21 with an embarrassing New Year’s Eve loss in San Antonio, Brooklyn has rebounded to go 13-5 — second-best in the Eastern Conference — on the strength of vastly improved defense.
“For us, it’s more about execution,’’ Terry said. “As a bench, execution. As a bench, we’re not coming in to play freestyle, Summer League, rap-ball type basketball. We’re put in the game to execute, run our sets, play defense and get stops and I thought [Sunday] we did an excellent job of that.’’
Truth be told, they have done an excellent job of it since the calendar turned. The Nets have gone from being outscored by 4.8 points every 100 possessions to outscoring their opponents by 3.8, vaulting from 26th in the league to ninth.
And nowhere was the improvement more marked than on defense. Their defensive efficiency has risen from 28th to sixth since that Spurs loss, and they lead the NBA in steals over that span.
“When you’re not getting stops, then you’re taking the ball out and walking it up,’’ Williams said. “You’re playing at a really slow pace and you don’t get into your sets quick. That puts you at a disadvantage.’’
The Nets have also developed an advantage at Barclays Center winning 10 of their last dozen at home.
“Guys are playing well since the New Year, so we understand the importance of trying to protect home,’’ coach Jason Kidd said. “And right now that’s what we’re doing.’’