Brooklyn’s defense is historically terrible. Will Jordi Fernandez make a difference?

Embarrassing would be too generous a descriptor for The Brooklyn Nets’ season-opening defensive performance. The tank posted a league-worst 126.3 defensive rating during the 1-10 start, 6.9 points behind the Utah Jazz’s league-worst rating last season.

Jordi Fernandez tries to implement one of the most aggressive defensive coverages in the NBA. Brooklyn’s inability to defend the paint in Fernandez’s scheme is troubling. The Nets are allowing a whopping 59.1 points per game this season. They have been outscored 206-104 in points in their last three games.

Despite the eye-opening numbers, Fernandez won’t be changing his philosophy anytime soon.

“You look at top defenses like Oklahoma City, and all of those teams are able to run multiple coverages, but they’re mostly level and press the ball. So if you don’t want to do that, you’re probably not going to be able to play for the Nets,” the coach said. “Because we’re going to be aggressive. And as we grow, we’re going to be able to run multiple coverages. Right now, with our stage, we’re going to stick to the basics. But there’s no excuse not to protect the rim. … You can be able to be aggressive and also protect the rim.”

The Nets allow the most points in the NBA. I asked Jordi Fernandez if he’s considering changing the team’s aggressive P&R coverage:

“Look at the top defenses like OKC and all those teams … They’re mostly level and they’re putting pressure on the … pic.twitter.com/dccNkobU7p

— Eric Slater (@erikslater_) November 11, 2025

Nets centers have posted one of the NBA’s highest points defenses this season. On other plays, Brooklyn trapped the opposition’s best player near half court before any action. The strategy often leaves the team’s guards and wings to defend a four-on-three situation from the big men, a task for which they seemed ill-equipped in terms of athleticism, effort or communication.

The goal of any aggressive coverage is to force change. However, the Nets fell short in that regard, ranking sixth in the league (13.9 per game).

Meanwhile, Brooklyn is allowing an NBA-worst 1.38 points per possession on pick-and-rolls where the ball finds a player. The team’s guards and wings — including the likes of Terrance Mann, Noah Clowney, Tyrese Martin, Drake Powell, Ziaire Williams and Egor Demin — offered little to no resistance in low rotations. Others, like Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr., seem completely disinterested.

Why the Nets posted historically poor defense during a 1-10 start

Fernandez alluded to this, calling out Clowney, the biggest player in the group above, for his lack of defensive impact.

“I need (Noah) to be better defensively, and he knows that. His voice needs to grow and (he needs to) accept contact,” the coach said after the Nov. 7 loss to the Detroit Pistons. “Whether you’re a short man, whether it’s your communication on or off the ball, all those things.

Clowney admitted that there is a lot of room for improvement.

“I’ve got to protect the rim better when I’m the short man,” he said after the Pistons loss. “I think sometimes I try to go vertical to avoid the foul, whereas I used to just block the shot, and I have to go back to that.”

Brooklyn’s aggressive reporting backfired Nic Clactonthe team’s best defender, far from the edge on a pick-and-roll possession, which caused the center to subtly express displeasure.

“I like to be in the paint. I like people (to have) try to finish over me. But we just have to have our low men (out there). We just have to be all on the wire and pulled early and defend the paint better,” Claxton said after Tuesday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Claxton dominated defensively during the 2022-23 season while playing a switch-heavy scheme, one he recently admitted he prefers.

“I mean, I’m involved in any scheme, but I like guarding the one-to-five. That’s probably why I’m getting paid. That’s probably why I’m still here, I feel like that,” the center said earlier this season. “That’s my most natural thing to do on the basketball court, guarding multiple positions. But I want to be able to dominate whatever scheme my coaches want me to do. That’s what I’m working on.”

Still, Brooklyn’s struggles in defending the pick-and-roll are just the tip of the iceberg. Regardless of whether a ball screen is set, the Nets routinely get beat at the point of offense or fall asleep without the ball. They looked disjointed in subsequent rotations, allowing wide-open shots to spot shooters and cutters. Brooklyn’s opponents recorded the highest percentage of field goals (51.9) and three-pointers (39.6) in the NBA this season.

Outside of the half court, the Nets’ transition defense is abominable. Despite taking better care of the ball than expected (16.0 turnovers per game, 18th in the NBA), Brooklyn is allowing 18.6 rushing points per game and has been outscored 205-94 rushing points for the season.

The Nets’ defensive effort and communication in transition was abysmal last night. The players jog back during the first half of the first game of the season.

It didn’t look like a team that wanted to be there. pic.twitter.com/arKsd8k5m1v

— Eric Slater (@erikslater_) October 23, 2025

While Fernandez’s team has clear limitations defensively, much of their struggles stem from a lack of effort and focus.

“The energy that we’ve had at times, I need consistency and urgency. That’s something we can’t decide if we’re going to do or not. It’s a question of who we want to be. It’s just unacceptable to take the NBA game for granted,” the coach said earlier this season. “Our guys are trying; they just don’t know how much harder and more focused they can do things… I think the foul is a big problem, which I don’t worry about as much because I want to be physical. We have to be better technically. Rebounding was a problem.”

“Our coverages were a problem, because you can’t do it halfway. You have to do it 100 percent. You have to be two feet inside. If you have half a foot outside, (it’s not going to work). And right now, we’re trying, and we’re just not there yet.”

Even with improvements in effort and communication, it’s hard to imagine Brooklyn making a defensive leap this season. After falling to the eighth pick in June’s draft, the team embraced a clear battle plan this offseason. A big part talk of the Nets’ expected struggles has focused on the team’s offensive shortcomings and an inexperienced quarterback rotation.

However, through 11 games it has become clear that their defense is their biggest tank weapon.