The Brooklyn Nets didn’t just show up defensively this week - they made a statement. In what’s become a noticeable shift under head coach Jordi Fernandez, the Nets are turning defense into their identity, and their latest win over the Philadelphia 76ers was the clearest example yet.
Brooklyn held Philly to 106 points - a number that’s becoming a bit of a magic marker for this team. In fact, the Nets haven’t allowed more than 107 in any of their last four games, and every win this season has come when they’ve held opponents under that threshold.
But this one stood out for more than just the final score. It was about who they stopped - and how.
Tyrese Maxey came into the game red-hot, averaging 31 points per night and riding high off a 38-point explosion against Dallas. But against Brooklyn?
He was held to just 13 points on a season-worst 3-of-14 shooting. That’s not just slowing down a star - that’s throwing a wrench into the engine of Philly’s offense.
So how did the Nets pull it off? It started with relentless ball pressure and a game plan that tracked Maxey like he was the only man on the floor.
“I think our ball pressure was good. We always had bodies in front,” Fernandez said postgame.
“We all know how special a player he is and how disruptive he is. He can drive you crazy throughout a game because he's that good.
Today, he probably didn't have the impact, but still, he creates so much attention."
That last part is key. Even when Maxey doesn’t have the ball, he’s a threat - and the Nets played like they knew it. They chased him off screens, denied him clean catches, and made sure he felt a defender’s presence every time he touched the rock.
“Every time he was running to get the ball, or had the ball in his hands, we were aware,” Fernandez added. “So happy for the guys, I think they did a great job. Not just against him, but the whole game defensively was a good game.”
Maxey logged 39 minutes and still couldn’t find a rhythm. That’s a credit to Brooklyn’s effort and execution.
And it wasn’t just the usual suspects doing the dirty work. Tyrese Martin even got in on the action, knocking down a long-range three that seemed to frustrate Maxey even more as the game wore on.
This was Maxey’s second-lowest scoring night of the month - only the Milwaukee Bucks held him to fewer points back on December 5, when he scored 12. But even then, he shot better than he did against Brooklyn. The Nets forced him into 21.4% shooting - the lowest he’s posted in December - and completely took him out of rhythm.
That kind of defense doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the product of a team buying in, communicating, and playing with a collective edge. Brooklyn’s eight steals and two blocks may not pop off the stat sheet, but they’re indicative of a team that’s locked in on that end of the floor.
Now, with momentum building, the Nets will look to carry that same defensive intensity into their next matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. If they keep defending like this, Brooklyn might just be turning the corner - not just in the standings, but in their identity.