For the Nets, Wednesday’s 113-107 loss to the Wizards once again exposed the team’s vulnerability in giving up 3-pointers.
Through 25 games, the Nets are the only team in the NBA allowing its opponents to shoot above 40 percent from 3-point range. The opposition is making more than eight 3s per game, shooting at a 40.6 percent clip.
It has been the difference in several games, including Wednesday, when the Wizards shot 12-for-20 from 3-point range — 9-for-11 in the first half.
Paul Pierce said after Wednesday’s loss he thought one of the Nets’ biggest problems was failing to make a second and third effort in single possessions to chase guys off the 3-point line, something coach Jason Kidd agreed with. Kidd even used a video clip Thursday to highlight to his charges.
“I showed a clip of us offensively moving the ball and having six passes, and it was to show not only good offense, but to show our opponent making a multiple effort of running us off the 3,” he said. “I would say we have to get better at that, making that second and third effort.”
The Nets, in particular, have struggled to prevent teams from getting good spot-up looks from behind the arc. Nets opponents have gone 126-for-293 (43 percent) on spot-up 3-point attempts so far this season, according to mySynergySports. At the other end of the spectrum, the Pacers have allowed teams to go just 68-for-184 (37 percent) on spot-up 3-pointers, and are allowing teams to shoot just 33.6 percent from behind the arc overall, good for sixth best in the league.
The Nets had a few welcome sights in their practice facility Thursday, as both Andrei Kirilenko and Jason Terry went through some shooting drills with some players and coaches.
“They’re working, they’re getting some work in offensively,” Kidd said. “It’s good to see those guys getting close [to returning].”
Kidd added, however, that both players would not have participated in a full practice if the Nets had gone through one.
Kirilenko has missed all but four games this season thanks to a severe case of back spasms, and hasn’t played since the first half of the Nets’ overtime loss on Nov. 8. Terry, meanwhile, has been out since Nov. 20, as he has battled soreness in his surgically repaired left knee that has kept him out for the last 14 games.
Both have targeted returns for one of the three games at home next week.
As for Friday night’s game, rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams is expected to return for the 76ers after missing several games with a knee infection.