The Brooklyn Nets might still be sitting well below .500, but don’t let the record fool you - something is brewing in Brooklyn, and it starts on the defensive end.
After spending time at the bottom of the NBA’s power rankings, the Nets have climbed out of the basement and into what’s now being called the “Not the tier to fear” group - a nod to their recent surge. They’ve moved up to No. 22 after previously sitting at No. 23, and while that might not turn heads on paper, the way they’re playing certainly should.
Sunday’s dominant win over the Toronto Raptors - just a week removed from a blowout of the Milwaukee Bucks - was the latest sign that this team is starting to find its identity. And that identity is rooted in defense.
Here’s a stat that puts it into perspective: only four times this entire NBA season has a team been held under 85 points. Two of those games? Courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets defense.
That’s not a fluke. It’s a sign of a team buying in, getting scrappy, and leaning into its length and versatility.
Nic Claxton is leading the charge on that end, grabbing seven boards in the 96-81 win over Toronto and anchoring a group that’s starting to look cohesive. Brooklyn’s defensive personnel doesn’t feature many weak links - or “pigeons,” as some in the league like to say.
Instead, it’s a lineup full of switchable, active defenders who are making life miserable for teams that lack elite shot creation.
One name to watch: Noah Clowney. The rookie has flashed serious upside at power forward, giving the Nets another long, athletic piece to plug into their defensive schemes.
The result? A team that can smother offenses that rely on ball movement and rhythm, especially if they don’t have a true go-to scorer to break things open.
And it’s not just a game or two. The numbers back it up.
In the month of December, the Nets are holding opponents to just 102.3 points per game - the best mark in the league. That stat, via team insider Erik Slater, also includes a rare feat: Brooklyn has now held multiple teams to 82 points or fewer in a single season for the first time since 2018-19.
Claxton, speaking after the win, summed up the mindset: “Our defense has been pretty solid this past month. We just gotta keep taking steps in the right direction.
We got a lot of switchable defenders. There’s still a lot of areas we can get better.
We gotta just keep going.”
That’s the tone you want to hear from your defensive anchor - grounded, focused, and hungry for more.
Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Brooklyn is still 8-19, and there’s a long road ahead.
But the trend lines are encouraging. They’ve won five of their last eight games, and in that stretch, they’ve only allowed more than 120 points once - a 123-point outing by the Utah Jazz.
Next up? A rematch with the Philadelphia 76ers, who come in at 16-11 and riding a two-game win streak.
The last time these two teams met, the Sixers walked away with a 115-103 win, powered by Egor Demin’s 23-point performance. But this is a different Nets team now - more confident, more connected, and far stingier on defense.
They’re not a finished product. Far from it. But the foundation is being laid, and if December is any indication, the Nets are starting to find their fight.