‘Blowing Teams’: Brooklyn Nets’ James Harden Accepts Their Weakness But Also Sends a Warning

It is not a hidden fact that the Brooklyn Nets are one of the worst defense rosters in the league today. They’re a unit that always keeps their opponents in the game because they can really blow it with their permeable guarding ability. 

Their loss against the league-bottom Washington Wizards opened up fresh wounds for them. They won 124-120 against the Clippers, but the LA-based team was able to bounce back in the dying minutes to make it a single-point game (119-120). If not for those clutch FTs, the result could have been different.

The Brooklyn Nets and their defensive woes

For the Nets, James Harden scored a 23-point triple-double and proved great at both ends. He has taken on the role of playmaker and perhaps happily compromised on his shooting figures. This has lifted the game for Kyrie Irving, who is continuously posting big numbers and becoming the top offensive weapon. However, there’s something bothering The Beard.

In the post-game interview, the newest entrant to the squad accepted the issues and also sent out a warning, and said, “Once we get that down pat defensively, you’re talking about blowing teams. Offensively, we’ll figure it out and continue to figure it out. Defensively, we have to figure it out. That’s where it has to be in order for us to be playing at the end.”

The league standing ranks the Nets #26 in the defense rating, which is even below the teams like Bulls and Pistons. As good as they’re offensively, they’re just as bad defensively.

Steve Nash had also raised his concerns

Before the season was even about to kick off, the newly appointed rookie head coach Steve Nash had said, “Defense is our number one priority.” However, after those back-to-back losses against the Cavs, he had to agree that the Nets were “not a defensive roster”. Even NBA analysts came down heavily on the Nets, pointing out that this team had no more excuses left.

With the loss of Caris LeVert, their bench had already taken a hit. Then they also lost Jarrett Allen and perhaps with him, their guarding abilities.

The Nets’ have a few holes that are making them lose games that can prove expensive later in the season. They need to put their guards back in place if they are to fight with the like of the Bucks and Lakers in the future.

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