Nets Analysis

Nets Analysis

Should the Nets be running more?

Posted on: April 2nd, 2013 by Justin DeFeo 4 Comments

 

To run or not to run, that is the question.

The Nets pace (or lack there of) has been a topic of discussion amongst those following the franchise all season. The Nets play the second slowest pace in the NBA, as they are just a shade quicker than the New Orleans Hornets. There are advantages and disadvantages to playing at such a slow pace and we're taking a deep dive into both styles. After presenting the arguments for each speed, we're asking you the reader to decide which way is best for this Nets team. Let's get to it.

Reasons NOT to run.

 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

As stated earlier The Nets are almost the slowest playing team in the NBA, edging the Hornets for the right to be the league’s sloth. Despite this slow pace though, the Nets score 104.4 points per 100 possessions, an efficiency rating that puts them ahead of all but eight other teams. They are outscoring opponents by 1.1 points per game and their 42 wins (so far) have them in contention for a division title and an outside chance at the East’s number two overall seed. Point is, the Nets’ pace works for them and they project to finish right in the range that most basketball savvy pundits predicted they would, or should.

Knowing that the status quo isn’t always a great thing to stick to, would an innovative coach change things up and attack more in transition? Perhaps. But the fact is, two different head coaches have taken a look at this roster, weighed its strengths and weaknesses and both have decided to play at a super-slow speed. That should tell you something. As the old saying goes, if your basketball system ain’t broke, don’t fix it. ... MORE →

Nets , Nets Analysis

Surprise! Nets pick-and-rolls often go nowhere

Posted on: March 20th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 2 Comments

 

In the follow-up to a comprehensive, brilliant piece by Zach Lowe of Grantland on the data gleaned from optical tracking SportVU cameras and analyzed by the Toronto Raptors analytics department, the Brooklyn Nets get an ignominious mention, after the cameras analyzed how effectively (or ineffectively) Brooklyn uses its pick-and-rolls:... MORE →

Nets , Nets Analysis

Infographic: Valuing the Nets vs: Their Cost

Posted on: March 19th, 2013 by Guest Post No Comments

 

BY JOHN HOOD

An interesting way to look at the Brooklyn Nets season so far: the first chart looking at the value Nets players bring on the floor (by win shares per 48 minutes), and the second from their salaries. Click on the circles at the top of the chart to toggle between each chart.

You'll see that six players had salaries so small they couldn't be included individually -- including Andray Blatche, who's provided by far the best value compared to his salary of all Nets players.

Graph after the jump.... MORE →

Nets , Nets Analysis

Brook Lopez and “The Dwight Effect”

Posted on: March 4th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 2 Comments

 

Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh receives an entry pass about fifteen feet from the basket on the left side of the floor. The Heat, up seven with plenty of time left in the game and on the shot clock, all stack up on the other side of the floor, giving Bosh all the space he needs to operate on his defender, Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez.... MORE →

Nets Analysis

Nets free Brook Lopez with cut screen

Posted on: February 8th, 2013 by Justin DeFeo 5 Comments

 

If the last two games gave us any indication, its clear that at the end of close games, the Nets are comfortable running their offense through Brook Lopez.

In Wednesday night's 93-90 win over the Detroit Pistons, it was Lopez who got the ball on the last two crucial possessions. In Lopez's final bucket, the Nets ran a basic post up play for the center, letting him isolate against Greg Monroe. Lopez backed his way in towards the hoop and scored with relative ease.

As easy is that hoop looked, the Nets showed on the possession before that while they may want to run their offense through Brook, there are other creative ways to get him the ball aside from just straight post ups.

Let's take a look... MORE →

Nets Analysis

Deron Williams and the Art of the Free Throw

Posted on: January 16th, 2013 by Justin DeFeo No Comments

 

After going eight-for-eight from the line vs. the Toronto Raptors Tuesday night, Deron Williams has now made 40 consecutive free throws, his longest streak as a Nets player.

Williams is a career 81% free throw shooter, so going on a streak of 40 straight without a miss is not inconceivable, however it is his longest streak as a Net and so far this season Williams is off to a career-best percentage from the line at 85%.

One thing I've noticed Williams doing more and more this season... MORE →

Nets Analysis

Brooklyn Nets “Flex” Their Offensive Muscles

Posted on: December 24th, 2012 by Justin DeFeo 3 Comments

 

"It was just too much one-on-one. I don't mind the one-on-one at the end of the shot clock, but we're playing the 1-on-1 in the beginning of the shot clock. We've had to take a look at how we function in those situations, have a little bit more ball and player movement, a little more continuity, but none of it is going to work unless we make good passes, set good screens, space the floor properly, and don't turn the ball over."

- Avery Johnson

More sets and less isolations was the edict Avery Johnson promised after the Brooklyn Nets' humbling loss to the New York Knicks. With three days off to practice and fine-tune their offense, the Nets needed to showcase a crisper offense, featuring more ball and man movement.

That's precisely what they did in topping the 76ers 95-92 Sunday afternoon.... MORE →

Nets Analysis , Nets News & Analysis

The Bench Mob Gets Defensive

Posted on: November 24th, 2012 by Mark Ginocchio No Comments

 

Andray Blatche Brooklyn Nets

Andray Blatche & The Bench Mob are in session. (AP/Kathy Willens)

Brooklyn’s “Bench Mob” has already earned its share of attention in the early part of the season – primarily for the offensive performances from the likes of Andray Blatche, CJ Watson, MarShon Brooks and Jerry Stackhouse. But what’s most impressive in these (very) early stages of the season is how the group has performed defensively. Last night’s come-from-behind victory against the Los Angeles Clippers was a shining example when the bench kept the game even during the first few minutes of the 4th quarter and then Reggie Evans was subbed back in for the games final four minutes when the Nets outscored the Clippers 12-2.

Looking at some limited overall numbers at 82games... MORE →

Nets Analysis , Nets News & Analysis

Spread PNR’s: What The Nets Could Learn From Mike D’Antoni

Posted on: November 4th, 2012 by Justin DeFeo No Comments

 

As the Brooklyn Nets opened up their season last night vs. the Toronto Raptors, many continue to speculate how the on-court product will grow & evolve over the course of 82 games and beyond.

One such opportunity that I see is a spread pick-and-roll, a play made popular by Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns and an offense that is gaining popularity across the NBA league wide.

Mike D'Antoni, the coach who lead those famous Suns teams, could be considered an offensive genius, but even a high school JV coach would take one look at the Nets roster and decide that his best offensive strategy would be to flip Deron Williams the ball and more or less “get out of the way.”

Nothing I’m going to write should be considered offensive innovation from a mastermind, but this offensive concept is being utilized more and more and it suits particular lineups of the Nets roster well.

As such, with almost any action that the Brooklyn Nets use this season, their best offense will probably come with the ball in Williams' hands creating for others or himself. Why not put him in as many of these situations as possible, surrounded by teammates that will maximize his abilities?

This is where I believe a spread pick-and-roll could be an oft-used tool that pays huge dividends for the Brooklyn Nets this season. Here’s how it works. ... MORE →

Nets , Nets Analysis , Nets News & Analysis

Brook Lopez’s Image Problem

Posted on: November 1st, 2012 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

Dorell Wright, Brook LopezFirst impressions can make an indelible impact on us as human beings. Once we have an idea of what makes a person, place, or thing, it's difficult for them (us) to shed that perception. In sports, it's part of the reason why players considered to have high potential continue to get second, third, and fourth chances despite having played at below-average levels; conversely, it's why players that sign surprise-high contracts with substandard numbers tend to have a poor league-wide image.

Sometimes those perceptions are borne from comparison. No less than a half-dozen guards were compared to Michael Jordan once Jordan passed the baton in the late-90s. None of them lived up to those lofty standards, and as a result they're often considered by their flaws, rather than their accomplishments. ... MORE →