Rookie guards ignite Brooklyn's defense, showcasing grit and tenacity. Despite loss, these young stoppers are forging a strong identity on the court.
The Brooklyn Nets fell in a 119-99 rout against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on Friday night, but head coach Jordi Fernandez was presented with a few exceptional silver linings.
Though Washington's offense combined for a solid 60.1-percent true shooting percentage on the backs of rising star Alex Sarr, rookie revelation Tre Johnson III and veteran C.J. McCollum, a few key role-players made plenty of defensive stands for Brooklyn.
Fernandez name-checked Nola Traoré for the rookie point guard's impressive 12-point, five-assist night on offensive and his efforts defensively, both on the perimeter and towards the basket.
"I like the aggressiveness -- he made winning plays at the rim defensively," Fernandez told reporters after the loss Friday.
"The plays that give energy to the group -- those are winning plays whether (they happen) on offense or on defense," Fernandez said. "And that gives a spark to the group. So he's done a good job with that. He's taking charges, he's gone vertical at the rim.
"Obviously, I have to go watch the film, but I like the way he's growing."
The energetic 19-year-old did plenty to jump-start the team's defensive pressure and initiate a few key runs, but he was just one piece of the puzzle.
Alongside Traoré, the combined efforts of fellow rookie Drake Powell and forwards Ziaire Williams, Jalen Wilson, and Noah Clowney presented the Wizards' would-be offensive attackers with a plethora of matchup problems and blistering coverages.
In total, the five youngsters tallied 10 steals and four blocks on the night, with their never-say-die attitude on the perimeter, muddying up passing lanes and keeping their hands active for large stretches of the second half.
The final score was lopsided due to the Nets' inability to knock down their own 3-point attempts and proclivity to turn the ball over in advantageous positions on the fast break. Still, Brooklyn gave the NBA world more examples as to why the team boasts the league's No. 2-rated defense over the past 10 games (107.7 defensive rating).
Washington's more balanced attack on offense quelled several of Brooklyn's impressive attempts to make the game competitive in the second half, but Fernandez's group provided legitimate flashes of real, sustainable strength on the defensive side of the ball.
Williams, Clowney, Traoré, Powell and Wilson are all long, strong, and athletic difference-makers, who provide the Nets' second-year coach with a slew of different lineup combinations, and they were able to showcase their newfound defensive identity again despite the blowout defeat.