There’s certainly been plenty of off-the-court turmoil in Brooklyn early this [season](https://enjoybasketball.beehiiv.com/p/jayson-tatum-bad-man), but on it, they’re quietly gelling into one of the most fearsome teams in the Eastern Conference.
After a 2-5 start under former head coach **Steve Nash**, the Nets have cruised to a 15-7 record with **Jacque Vaughn** at the helm. The secret? A newfound defensive identity. Brooklyn has the 6th best defense in basketball by defensive rating since Vaughn took over, and a lot of that has to do with two players in particular.
**Nic Claxton** has subtly molded himself into one of the best rim defenders in the league and should be getting some serious All-Defensive consideration. Opponents are shooting 10.6% worse around the rim when guarded by Claxton, who currently ranks second in the NBA in total blocks.
And [Ben Simmons](https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets/status/1602457754680971264) has fully rounded into shape on D after a shaky start. The rangy playmaker is the glue that holds Brooklyn’s bench defense together, thanks to his length and unmatched versatility. In the two games he’s played since returning from a minor injury, Simmons has kept opponents in prison with a 98.9 defensive rating.
by BoCruz22
1 Comment
Love Claxton, KD, Ben defense. If we can replace two of Seth/Patty/Cam with a defensive role player, we would be so good on the defensive end.