Miami exposes any lack of physicality, as clearly and as vividly as any team.
After suffering just that last week in South Florida, the Nets’ 112-97 victory over the visiting Heat on Saturday at Barclays Center was a chance for the Nets to correct it.
“I think the last time they got a win against us, I talked about the physicality in which they played with on a nightly basis. So they present that to you, how you respond to it a lot of times results in a win and a loss,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “You know how they want to play, how their schemes are. Are you mindful of being tough enough, physically and mentally, to somehow get an advantage?”
Brooklyn came into Saturday — the front end of a back-to-back — mired in their first three-game skid of the season. During that slump, their defense has bottomed out, allowing 390 points total.
“For me, it’s about is our process correct in trying to defend on a nightly basis,” Vaughn said. “The care factor of offense and defense have to be married and mutual. And so the onus on the entire group, whoever steps out on the floor has to do their part, each possession.
“And that’s a challenge to this group, especially when we’re not whole right now. And so when we do have breakdowns, they are elevated and we pay for it. And so that’s just where we are right now and we have to understand that as a group.”
Spencer Dinwiddie has bounced back from a slow start.
Through his first nine appearances, he averaged a modest 10.7 points and 4.8 assists.
But he’s nearly doubled that through his past four games to 19.3 and 8.3 dimes.
And the point guard has been one of the few Nets attacking the rim, underscored by his free throw attempts vaulting from just 2.2 to 5.8 over that span.
He scored 14 Saturday, including 4-for-4 from the line, and had a hefty 11 assists.
That’s key for a team that was next-to-last in foul shots attempted.
“Oh, a big component of our offense,” Vaughn said. “We do a lot of good things, but we don’t get to the free throw line. And so he is a guy that can drive the basketball and get to the paint. I think we’re 29th in free throw attempts and we’re ninth rated overall offensive team, so there’s some growth there. So there’s definitely departments for us to get better at.
“That’s what encourages me as a coach of pushing these dudes toward those areas. But Spencer has the ability to get downhill, get to the paint, cause havoc that way. He’s done that the last four games, I think overall really organized us as a group, handled the basketball more and that’s beneficial for us.”
Miami was missing some key contributors Saturday playing the tail end of a back-to-back after blowing a lead against the Knicks.
Center Bam Adebayo (hip) and wing Duncan Robinson (thumb) were both out, while star Jimmy Butler (ankle) was a late scratch after having been listed as questionable.
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