Shot making is the name of the game, and the Nets are still doing better than everyone else.
Even at half the strength. Final game aside.
The Nets lead the NBA in field-goal percentage with a 49.9 percent clip, which will need to miss their next 63 consecutive shots against the Spurs starting Monday, which is not topped by the No. 2-ranked Bucks . Is it a product of pure talent? Chemistry? Looks open?
“I think it’s a mixture of all those things,” center DeAndre Jordan said. “Obviously our defense is a big component to that, we’re getting out early and getting easy fast-transition points.”
Jordan is an expert on the subject: He is the NBA’s career leader in field-goal percentage (67.2 percent) and one of only two players in history (jazz forward Rudy Gobert) shooting better than 60 percent in over 500 career games. Have been.
Like he did with the Clippers for 10 seasons, Jordan finishes around the rim and takes a backseat to the Big 3 of James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. But that trio – united after a Jan. 14 trade to Harden – missed a total of 36 net games, forcing others to drop this season’s league-leader 3-point percentage, Joe Harris.
“We have a lot of weapons,” Jordan said. “Joe Harris is shooting the ball better than anyone in the league right now.” A great finisher from Kyrie, and James is here doing MVV things. He is the best passer in our league at the moment – and he is also shooting heels from the ball. With those guys, whenever Kevin is healthy, we have a lot of threats, people who can make their shots, shots for other people.
Landry Shamette is coming after the January-January meltdown, in which the Nets tried to fix the sharpshooter they had acquired to knock out the open look of a drive-and-dish pass.
“As many aggressive shots as you are playing, looking for your own shot, usually with the confidence you will shoot,” Harris said. “And sometimes it takes a little time. Especially if you are not hitting early, you can sometimes be a little hesitant.
“Playing with everyone that we have, I think we’re just so aggressive, especially now that we’re exploring more of the rhythm with each other, where people are just looking neat.”
Great shooting is not a fail-safe. But the team reached the NBA Finals with the best shooting percentage at the end of each of the last eight seasons: The Heat to back-to-back years, Warriors in Five Straight and Last Year Lakers. Won five championships.
Only two of those eight teams (2013–14 Heat and 2017–18 Warriors) made more than half of their shots. Without The Shorts-roster – the Nets were up over 50 percent without Durant, Irving and Tyler Johnson – disappointing on 51 of 86 losing attempts from the floor on Saturday, pulling the Mavericks to an eight-game winning streak.
Coach Steve Nash said, “When you can’t match them aggressively and make shots with them, and we have the weapons we normally have,” your defense should be exceptional. “
Is the shot making speed permanent?
The Spurs rank 16 in the league in field-goal percentage defense. A chance to get back on track, especially if the league’s top-rated offensive player, Irving (right shoulder keeper), returns as expected. The Nets only managed four fastbreak points – 10 under average – against the Mavericks.
“People with roles like me, it’s easy for us to get baskets when teams are blocking people who can score 25 on any given night,” Jordan said. “We just need to be able to continue our work and make it easier for those people.”
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