The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Brooklyn Nets 123-112. Another game, another disappointing performance from the Nets. Charlotte completely dominated the game from the second quarter on, and picked apart a very weak Brooklyn defense. Charlotte scored 30+ points in the first, second, and third quarter. Brooklyn cannot expect to win playoff games if they can’t get stops on defense. Aside from Monday’s game against San Antonio, every team the Nets played in February scored 100+ points. That’s not the recipe for success for a team that’s trying to make the playoffs. The Nets’ poor defense resulted in a 4-6 February record, their worst month since the infamous 8 game losing streak. The last time the Nets held a team under 100 points (besides the San Antonio game) was on January 25th against the Knicks, when they scored 99 points without Nets killer Enes Kanter. Teams pick apart D’Angelo Russell’s rather poor defense, and they bully Jarrett Allen in the paint. Allen will be a better defender when he gets stronger, and Russell has come a long way but still has a lot left to conquer. The Nets are also undersized compared to mot teams, as their starting 4 Treveon Graham is only 6’5. Most power forwards’ in the NBA are at least 6’7, and that’s why the Nets get killed in the paint.

First half defense has absolutely destroyed the Nets these past 2 games. On Wednesday night, the Wizards dropped 68 points in the first half alone. That was the most points allowed in the first half by the Nets all season. Once again, the Nets let up 68 points in the first half tonight against the Hornets. Brooklyn comes out sloppy, and does not look like they are trying on defense for much of the first half. Their defense should be put in the same category as the Lakers’ defense. Brooklyn is 17th in the NBA with a 109.6 defense rating, which is a lot better than I thought it would be. I expected Brooklyn to be in the bottom 5, but I forget that there are teams like the Knicks and Suns. However, the Nets rank 28th in the NBA in Opponents points per game in the paint as the Nets allow opponents to score 51.8 ppg in the paint. That is a shockingly bad number that stresses the Nets need for a stretch 4 who can play defense. For example, tonight Frank Kaminsky dropped 15 points and 7 rebound against Brooklyn. Kaminsky had been out of the rotation a couple games before the all star break, and then magically returned against the Nets to make an impact. The Nets have zero answers for big men who can score. Brooklyn will not win games if they let Kemba score 25, Lamb score 22, Batum score 17, and Parker score 12. It’s ok if Kemba scores 25, but it’s inexcusable to allow Lamb and Batum to torch the Nets. All in all, Nets need to make some serious defensive changes if they want to win playoff games, or even make the playoffs. The Nets are back in action tomorrow night in Miami in a must win game against the Heat.

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