The Brooklyn Nets were red hot in December, finishing the month with a 7-4 record. While the All-Star caliber offense from Michael Porter Jr. and the immediate impact of budding role players have contributed to their success, Brooklyn has found its identity all on the defensive end.
After struggling to start the season, Brooklyn made changes in their starting lineup, replacing scoring with size and defense. Once they made this change, Brooklyn began to click, using their tall, long lineup to their advantage, and it led to the start of their new defensive identity.
Defense By the Numbers
In December, Brooklyn led the NBA in multiple significant defensive categories.
Brooklyn had the best defensive rating over the month, allowing just 105.4 points per 100 possessions. Brooklyn also allowed the third-lowest opponent field goal percentage and three-point percentage, as well as the lowest effective field-goal percentage. On top of it all, the Nets forced the eleventh-most steals at 8.7 per game.
Even though Brooklyn still struggled offensively, finishing towards the bottom of the league in points per game in December, the defensive identity helped Brooklyn get more transition looks, allowing them easier baskets and less stress on their half-court offense.
Impact of Size in the New Lineup
Since the Nets switched their starting lineup, their defensive identity has been in full effect.
The big change in this lineup was replacing Cam Thomas after his injury with Noah Clowney. Head Coach Jordi Fernandez emphasized this change as the reason for their eventual success on defense. Adding Clowney allows Michael Porter Jr. to play the three, bringing more size to the lineup.
With this change, the frontcourt for Brooklyn consists of 6-foot-10 Porter Jr. at the three, Noah Clowney, who is also 6-foot-10 at the four, and 6-foot-11 Nicolas Claxton at the five, a change giving Brooklyn one of the biggest starting lineups in the league.
In a league that is constantly growing, Brooklyn took advantage, using their size to their advantage.
Rotational Impact on Defense
While the size of the Nets’ roster played a part in the defensive success, their identity came from more than just being big.
Brooklyn has many key defenders in their rotation who all have an impact on their success. The anchor of the defense is Claxton. He has been one of the better interior defenders in the league, but has also shown versatility, being able to switch out to the perimeter and use his size to stay with guards.
Along with Claxton, players like Clowney, Day’Ron Sharpe, and, in flashes, Danny Wolf have all shown the ability to be a force in the interior while holding their own on the perimeter. Having switchability and size on the court allows them to handle pick-and-roll actions better, while also shrinking the court and forcing deflections.
Buying Into the Defensive Identity
With Brooklyn being at the bottom of the league in offensive statistics this season, Jordi Fernandez made clear the importance of defense on the roster. Fernandez emphasizes the importance of playing hard on defense to maintain a spot in the rotation.
With how Fernandez preaches defensive effort, players are buying in and taking pride in their defense. Whether it is communicating and switching off screens, staying in front of defenders, or drawing charges, from top to bottom, Brooklyn has shown improved effort on that side of the ball
To go with the rim protection and size, guards like Terance Mann, Egor Demin, Drake Powell, and Nolan Traore, since being called up from the G-League, have all been able to provide sturdy defense on the perimeter while also doing the little things that add up to winning basketball.
To start 2026, Brooklyn lost their first two games in blowout fashion. In these two games, Brooklyn was without Michael Porter Jr. due to illness, along with Egor Demin, Terance Mann, and Cam Thomas for injury management.
Following those two games, all four players returned to action against the Denver Nuggets, a game which Brooklyn cruised to a 127-115 win, showing again the team Nets fans saw in December.
Brooklyn will look to carry the momentum from that game and continue to show its top-of-the-league defense throughout 2026.
Leave a comment