After a turbulent start to the season, from Kevin Durant’s trade request to Kyrie Irving’s suspension, Ben Simmon’s slow start after injury to the firing of head coach Steve Nash, the Brooklyn Nets seemed far from becoming a title team.
Fast forward to December and the Nets under Jacque Vaughn have been revived and have taken the Eastern Conference rankings to No. 2 in the seeding list, while holding the second-best record in the league at 24-12, only behind the Boston Celtics, at the back of one league-best 11-game winning streak – their longest since 2006, 14 straight games.
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Key to their resurgence was the dynamic play of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and while their star duo picked up points, the Nets were greatly improved on both sides of the court, with their on-pitch performances looking much more like the team that we expected on paper.
Zooming out the Nets has now won 15 of its last 16 games and went 12-1 in December – their most successful month in franchise history. Per Nets PR.
With the Nets officially the hottest team in the league, let’s dive into the key stats driving their rise.
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123.4: Networks are firing on all cylinders
The Nets have been on the ball at an absurd rate in their 11-game winning streak, with a 123.4 offensive rating that leads the league in that span, 4.0 points per 100 possessions ahead of the second-place New York Knicks .
During that span, Brooklyn shot the ball with extreme efficiency, hitting 55.2 percent from the field (1st in the NBA), 43.6 percent from the 3-point line (1st in the NBA), and 27.5 assists spread per game, good for third in the NBA, behind the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets.
Push the pace! pic.twitter.com/SYPhDodikP
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 1, 2023
16.3: Ben Simmons’ net rating
While Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have grabbed the headlines, Australia’s Ben Simmons has been one of the Nets’ most influential players on both sides of the ball, leading the team with a Net rating of 16.3per NBA.com Stats.
Simmons changed the game on defense as his versatility allows him to switch seamlessly between defenders and big men while being a disruptive backup defender. His 107.6 defensive rating leads the team while on the other side of the ball he is second of all starters with a 123.9 offensive rating.
“As a teammate, if you just see him smiling and having fun and being competitive, that’s who he is,” Irving said of Simmons’ improved game.
“Once he could just be himself and trust that we have his back, I feel like he’s the best version of himself.”
✅ @BenSimmons25 & The @BrooklynNets make it ???? wins in a row! #NetsWorld
???? 10 points | 2 AST | 5-10FG pic.twitter.com/gM6EnXIoiU
— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) December 29, 2022
58.8: Durant and Irving burn
For all the talk this season about who is the best duo in the league, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have more than chimed in the conversation.
Irving (29.6) and Durant (29.2) are averaging a combined 58.8 points per game over their 11-game streak, both scoring the ball with ruthless efficiency.
Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant combine for 51 points in 20-for-34 shooting in BKN’s win over CHA. Nets have 11 consecutive wins, 15 of 16, and hold the second best record in the NBA. They are 22-7 under Jacque Vaughn, who is a suspension to win Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 1, 2023
While Durant has been the standout for the Nets this season, Irving has been on another level in terms of crunch time.
Irving leads the NBA with 9.0 points in the fourth quarter of this season, with that number rising to 11.3 points during their 11-game streak and surpassed only by LeBron James in the last 11 games.
“It means a lot to know that we have the confidence to play our part out there, quarter after quarter,” said Irving after their win over the Hawks.
“..I think all of us as teammates just want to be aggressive with our minute out there but for me specifically it’s time to win when the fourth quarter comes around that’s all I really know.
“…I’m grateful to have the trust of my team-mates and the coaching staff.”
7: Net delivery into the clutch
Late game execution of the nets was near perfect during this run.
During her 11-game streak, six of her games were decided by six points or fewer seven of their wins come in the clutch (games within five points in the last five minutes).
As calendar year 2022 draws to a close, their newfound offensive rhythm and execution have arrived at just the right time as they look to continue gaining momentum with their Championship hopes back on track.