NEW YORK _ The Nets began Wednesday night at Barclays Center in search of a victory over Charlotte that would give them their first three-game winning streak in a difficult season. But unlike a year ago when improved defense coupled with the return of previously injured Jeremy Lin lifted them to an 11-13 finish, their failure to develop a strong defensive backbone this season has been obvious.
Even in their previous two wins over Dallas and Memphis, the Nets yielded an average 30.5 points through the first three quarters of each game before holding the Mavericks to 17 fourth-quarter points and the Grizzlies to 21 in the final period. Even so, the Mavs finished shooting 52.3 percent over all and 43.5 percent from 3-point range, and the Grizzlies shot 44.6 and 54.5.
The Nets reversed that script with disastrous results, playing solid defense for three quarters before coughing up the last of a 23-point lead to the Hornets, who scored 36 fourth-quarter points on their way to a shocking 111-105 victory. Dwight Howard scored 32 points and had 30 rebounds for the Hornets, who overcame a 23-point second-quarter deficit.
Nets coach Kenny Atkinson made it clear before the game that poor defense isn't part of a successful formula for a strong finish to the season, expressing disappointment their defense hasn't improved, especially with the return of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert.
Asked if he was surprised defense had not fed their improved offense, Atkinson said, "Yeah, I'm surprised. We don't force a lot of turnovers. Part of it is strategically, we bring our bigs back and we're conservative in how we play. But I do think we can be more active and create more for our offense.
"We do have to address it, and we have addressed it with the team. I do like the last two games in the fourth quarter. We've locked down, but you're playing with fire when you're waiting until the fourth quarter. We just have to do a better job of getting stops throughout the game."
Hornets coach Steve Clifford expressed his admiration for how hard the Nets have played despite their lopsided losing record, and he said his team had to prevent the Nets from controlling the paint with their drive-and-kick spread offense as they did when they won their previous meeting March 8 in Charlotte.
At the same time, Clifford acknowledged the Nets' lack of size when they play a smaller lineup capable of spreading the floor inevitably leads to poor defense. "They have good players, but when they go five-out [to the perimeter], they're playing small. If you're small, then, it's going to be hard to be good defensively."
If the first half was any indication, the Nets clearly received Atkinson's message. They led by as many as 23 points on their way to a 62-43 halftime lead while holding the Hornets to 36.4 percent shooting, including an 0-for-8 effort from 3-point range. At the same time, the Nets committed only six turnovers and turned four steals and six blocks on defense into a transition game that produced a whopping 38-14 margin in points in the paint.
In the third quarter, the Hornets outscored the Nets in the paint, 16-2, and cut their deficit to 12 points. That shrank to 89-83 when the Hornets opened the final period with an 8-2 surge.
.png?w=600)
