In the Big 3 era, and even last year when the Nets won the championship, talent was valued over toughness.
It's still early, but so far this season it's been the opposite.
And that toughness has led to the Nets' surprising 4-4 start heading into Friday's game in Boston.
“You have guts, right?” Cam Johnson said. “Two of our wins came on the second night of back-to-back games, but I don't think we've had much success in the past. We're winning games by playing clean basketball. It's not because we're doing it, or we're making shots, or things are going our way. We're finding ways to win and being tough, and we understand that part of the game.
“We played a lot of games, we gave up a lot of free throws, we had some games where we were a little bit lacking in size. 82 to establish an identity.”
That's what they found out all too often in the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving era, or last season with Mikal Bridges' team.
Brooklyn grit was an empty slogan, not a reality.
They let go of the rope too often late in the game, blowing a fourth-quarter lead and showing a lack of fortitude.
“I wouldn't say we weren't tough enough as a team. I would say we probably just didn't show it,” Johnson admitted. “We didn't respond in the best way at times, but that was just the foundation of what we were doing at the end of the day. Our focus throughout camp was on that very foundation and night in and night out. It was all about how we played and what we hung our hats on. That led to sustainability and the toughness we showed on the court.
“That toughness aspect and how we're trying to play is sustainable. And I don't think we're as dependent on the ups and downs of games.”
The devil is in the details.
Nothing screams grit like putting your body at risk to press charges.
And last season, the Nets won just nine games as a team, fewer than any other team since the league's website began tracking such statistics in the 2016-17 season.
Over the past 20 seasons, no other team had nine fewer charges in a season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
But they are actually in the top 10 in the league so far this season.
And their late-game play has shown just as much toughness, moving the Vault from 16th last season to third in effective field goal percentage.
And that indomitable spirit was demonstrated in consecutive matches.
The Nets had a disappointing 4-10 record last season after playing non-stop, but are 2-0 this season, bouncing back from their opening day losses.
“I think the players really care, and when you play hard and give yourself a chance and you don’t win, you always want to find a way to get a little bit better. You can't control it, but what you can control is just coming in with that energy,” said coach Jordi Fernandez, who focused on toughness while putting the Nets through a grueling camp. It's paying dividends.
“Reward for work is always important. This group has worked really hard and the message was that if we work together and build relationships, we will see results on the court. Sometimes you lose, and you're even happier when you win. It's part of the process.”
The Nets have back-to-back games against reigning champion Boston on Friday and undefeated Cleveland on Saturday.
“We're just going to go into this year with no excuses,” second-year forward Jalen Wilson said. “Everyone in the league has to play back-to-back games, so it's not like we get tired just because the other team is as tired as we are. We just attack the situation. is.”
