To a man, the Nets seemed bemused, almost befuddled. They had played so well earlier in the season and come up empty, but sputtered at times on Sunday yet still walked out of Barclays Center with a win over Detroit.
It’s funny what can happen if you defend.
It’s no coincidence their best two defensive performances of the season came back-to-back over the weekend, forcing the Cavaliers to need LeBron James’ last-second heroics Saturday and then smothering the Pistons’ pick-and-roll a day later at home.