Brooklyn Nets confident of defending stars with help of versatile defenders
The Brooklyn Nets seem all but prepared to face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night. Placing their faith in the defensive capabilities of Ben Simmons and Nicolas Claxton, Jacque Vaughn and Kyrie Irving outlined how Brooklyn could stifle Cleveland's stars.
Under former head coach Steve Nash, the Brooklyn Nets weren't exactly known to be a defensive unit. However, this season has seen a lot of improvement in this department.
With Ben Simmons being an active and involved presence on the floor, the Nets have seen a major boost in their defensive output.
Simmons and Claxton's contributions on the defensive front have been massive in Brooklyn's recent performances. After restricting the Milwaukee Bucks to only 100 points in their latest win, the Nets also seem pretty confident in their overall defensive ability.
Read: How does Ben Simmons' height compliment him to be a favorite 2-way player in NBA?
In light of their success against Milwaukee, Brooklyn appears to have a similar game plan ahead of their matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn also shared his insight regarding the approach toward defending against the Cavs. He said:
"Yeah, I think we answered a lot of those questions. Being able to have multiple bodies like we talked about around Giannis, seven turnovers for him."
Brooklyn did have a lot of success in stifling Antetokounmpo in their recent meeting. Nets superstar guard Kyrie Irving also showed faith in the defensive capabilities of Simmons and Claxton. He said:
"I mean, I can’t necessarily guard everybody on the court and on the perimeter. So when KD can guard Jrue [Holiday], I can guard Jevon Carter, Royce [O’Neale] can guard Giannis or Ben can guard Giannis, I think our lineup is so interchangeable that it is a positive for us.
"It’s a strength of ours. And then you have two of the top guys guarding [isolations] in Nic and KD.
"I mean, it makes a huge difference out there and leading league in guarding [isolation]. So anytime people are going out and we know that we have a great chance to make them miss, and when you can make professionals miss at that high level, then you know pretty much we’re getting out on offense and putting together some quality possessions."
Nets confident Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton provide versatility to defend stars trib.al/PLJqRuJ https://t.co/P5he7Ic5vN
Vaughn and Irving's comments present a lot of promise for the Brooklyn faithful as the team prepares to face the Cavs on Monday. With one of the best young cores in the league, the Nets will certainly have their hands full against Cleveland's superstar guard duo.
The Brooklyn Nets face a tough challenge against the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Brooklyn Nets are on a roll. With an eight-game winning streak behind them, the Nets look unstoppable. However, on Monday, the team faces a formidable opponent, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Nets have been an impressive unit throughout December. With the best offensive rating in the league, Brooklyn has been an equally impressive defensive unit.
Read: “You don't trust the Nets” - Tony Kornheiser compares New York Knicks & Brooklyn Nets on their championship drought
However, Cleveland poses a tough challenge. With the Cavs statistically boasting the best defense in the league, Brooklyn will be tested in their approach to the game. Meanwhile, the Nets will be forced into an odd situation on the defensive front as Cleveland's backcourt carries their offensive rotation.
With Ben Simmons and Kyrie Irving being direct matchups for Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, it will be interesting to see how the Brooklyn Nets respond to the Cleveland Cavaliers' firepower.