Nets decreasing block rate this season coincides with scheme change

After seeing arguably the Nets’ best rim protection of the season fuel their easiest rout of the year, it begs the obvious question: Where had this been? And can they do it again? Nic Claxton’s six blocks Wednesday in Charlotte were a season-high, and the Nets’ eight were one shy of their top mark.It was a rare showing of rim protection from a squad that came into that night last in the entire NBA. “I spoke to Jordi [Fernandez], I want to be impactful on the defensive side of the ball,” said Claxton, whose Nets play Saturday in Houston.“And that’s my challenge, figuring out ways to do that with our defense and just having that consistency on that side of the ball especially. “This season has been kinda rough for me defensively, honestly, because it’s different schemes.

It’s been different for me, but I’m growing into what the coaches want me to be.… The pick-and-roll defense is a lot different than what I’m used to.

But I’ve been doing a lot better at it and there’s definitely a lot of areas I can keep growing.” That scheme change can’t be overstated. Fernandez’s defense — especially against the pick-and-roll — is different than that of previous coaches Jacque Vaughn and Kevin Ollie.And it’s been an adjustment for all of the bigs — Claxton, Day’Ron Sharpe and Noah Clowney. “Right now, [Claxton’s] pick-and-roll defense is what we want him to be: aggressive, using his length and disrupting the basketball.

And same thing when he’s the low man or he’s protecting the rim,” Fernandez said. “The other thing is, we haven’t had the centers healthy.So what we could’ve taught and gone through the process before, we couldn’t go through the process.

That’s why the process is a little late.… When we do what we’re supposed to do, we’re a top defense in pick-and-roll.” The Nets have been switch-happy for years, but the bigs were also able to protect the rim.

Now under Fernandez, the bigs are tas...