Defense! defense! … Not so much!!

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The Brooklyn Nets ranked 30th in both offensive and defensive ratings last season and that was a good thing if you’re tanking to get a high pick. But if you’re trying to win some games in the next stage of the multi-year rebuild, one or the other will have to improve dramatically.

So far, based on Summer League and preseason, the offense looks improved. The addition of Julius Randle, a bona fide NBA scorer, looks like a big get. Playing next to Michael Porter Jr. both will their get shots. Two members of the Flatbush 5, Egor Demin and Nolan Traore, have grown in a number of ways as well. And even though he’s a rookie, Mikel Brown Jr. looks like he’ll be able to contribute. Here’s some data…

Teams With The Best Offensive Rating In The 2026-27 NBA Preseason :

1. Brooklyn Nets — 120.3
2. Miami Heat — 118.3
3. Orlando Magic — 118.1
4. Houston Rockets — 117.7
5. Portland Trail Blazers — 117.4
6. Toronto Raptors —… https://t.co/jP2nP2ZY0xpic.twitter.com/stN5tKtlXh

— Stat Defender (@statdefender) October 17, 2026

Now let’s talk about defense. Judging by what we saw vs. the Miami Heat in the final preseason game, it is, to be most kind, a work in progress. Or as Brian Lewis described it Saturday, “sieve like.” MPJ had this to say.

“Yeah, that’ll be the most important thing. Offensively we’ll be able to score with the best of them,” Porter Jr. said. “I think offensively is not a problem. [But] if we want to be good, then defensively we’ll have to lock in.”

Jordi Fernandez, who prides himself as a defensive coach, agrees.

“There’s been two games that we were an aggressive and…

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Publish date : 2026-10-17 19:00:00

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