The Nets have reached the Thanksgiving break with a 3-14 record, 6 games out of the play-in (and 1.5 games out of the cellar, for those who celebrate). Their schedule so far has been a couple points tougher
than average, but even taking that into account, they are half a dozen points worse than the Eastern Conference’s worst play-in teams. With 20% of the season complete, it’s a good time for some reflections. In the spirit of the season, let’s alternate some blessings with the more obvious turkeys.
Blessing: Defensive improvement. In the first 8 games of the season, the Nets gave up an embarrassing 125.1
points per 100 possessions. Since then, they’ve held opponents to just 120.4. We’ve seen fewer players looking
lost, blowing assignments, and trotting back on defense.
Turkey: Need for defensive improvement. While 120.4 is better than 125.1, it is still worse than any NBA
defense has done over an entire season in the past 30 years. Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, and Cam
Thomas are all among the very worst defenders in the league. The team’s best defenders, Tyrese Martin and
Day’Ron Sharpe, are only a little better than league average. Defensive schemes can only take you so far.
Blessing: Rookies showing flashes. Egor Demin and Drake Powell are both getting consistent minutes and
looking increasingly comfortable on the court. Demin is 11th in the 2025 draft class in minutes played, 11th in
points, 9th in rebounds, and 4th in assists. Powell is 15th in minutes, 16th in points, 22nd in rebounds, and
13th in assists. Two long-term pieces?
Turkey: Rookies exiled to Long Island. Ben Saraf started the first five games of the season, but has played just
6 minutes since. He is 27th in the 2025 draft class in minutes played; Nolan Traore is 39th and Danny
Wolf—the oldest of the Nets’ rookies—is 42nd, with just 8 minutes of garbage time. At what point does
“bringing them along slowly” become “maybe next year”?
Blessing: Getting to the line. The Nets are 5th in the league in free throw attempts, with 27.1 per 100
possessions (up from 21.3 last season). That’s especially impressive with Thomas, a good foul-drawer, having
missed half the games so far. Nic Claxton, Sharpe, Porter, and Clowney are all shooting 8.7 to 6.7 free throws
per 100.
Turkey: Sending opponents to the line. The Nets are dead last in the league with 21.3 personal fouls per 100
possessions. Sharpe is the team “leader” in this regard, as he has been throughout his career; but Terance
Mann, Powell, and Ziaire Williams are all committing more than 5 fouls per 100.
Blessing: Michael Porter Jr.’s offense. Porter has been on a tear, averaging 36.7 points per 100 possessions on
efficient .607 true-shooting despite a career-high 29.2% usage rate. His offensive EPM rating is +3.4 points per
100 possessions, 18th best in the league. Welcome to the Nets!
Turkey: Michael Porter Jr.’s defense. Porter gives back most of that offensive contribution on the other end of
the floor. His defensive EPM rating is -2.1, 4th worst in the entire NBA. This is why the Nuggets chose to dump
Porter and pay Aaron Gordon (+3.1 offensive EPM, +1.2 defensive EPM).
Blessing: Shot selection. The Nets are taking 48% of their shots from behind the arc, the third-highest 3PA rate
in the league. So far, they are only connecting on 33.5% of those attempts, well below the league average of
35.8% (and far below the 39.5% they are giving up). But the looks are there—80% of those 3PAs have been
“open” or “wide open” (no defender within 4 feet).
Turkey: Transition offense. The Nets are 28th in pace, 27th in points off turnovers, and dead last in fast break
points—almost 5 points per 100 possessions behind average NBA teams. If easy points seem few and far
between, that’s why. Their 27th-ranked fast break defense feels even worse than it is due to the contrast.
Blessing: 17 games closer to the draft lottery. Each of the three worst teams gets a 40% chance of a top-three
pick. We hear there might be some promising talent there.
Turkey: 65 more to go. Is the novelty of losing wearing off yet?
Blessing: Turkey. And gravy. Happy Thanksgiving, all!
