Nets hoping a win in Paris can reignite their season

Can eating croissants help the Nets defend the perimeter? Can sipping on pinot noir help the Nets shoot better? The Nets flew to Paris for Thursday’s international clash against the Cavaliers at Accor Arena with their season in turmoil. Now in the City of Love, there’s been nearly nothing to love about the Nets’ recent performances.

They’ve lost 11 of their last 14 games, many of which weren’t even close. They’re now without center Day’Ron Sharpe — who has a hyperextended left knee — for at least two weeks. Discontent with head coach Jacque Vaughn and doubts about his ability to right the ship have emerged among fans.

Perhaps foreign soil and added time to bond can help reignite their skidding season. “The energy of the fans and playing a game that is a little bit unusual adds extra motivation for sure,” guard Spencer Dinwiddie said from Paris after practice. “We need the win regardless, with where we are in the season.” There is ample time for the Nets to use the trip to take a step back from the piling losses and attempt to reset.

After their 134 127 loss to the Blazers on Sunday, the Nets will have had three days without a game before Thursday’s showdown, and then will have three more days before their next game against the Heat on Monday. “You don’t get that often,” forward Cam Johnson said. “You don’t get that too often, so looking forward to it.

… Playing in Paris gives you a little extra motivation. It is a regular season game, but we need them. We need all that we can get, so the urgency is high for any game right now.” The Nets’ defense, which has been a season long problem, has been a glaring issue in their recent downfall. And it’s largely come on the perimeter.

In the last 14 games, the Nets’ 121.3 defensive rating was fourth worst in the NBA. Only the lowly Pistons, Hawks and Wizards were worse. But in that same stretch of games, the Nets gave up 47.4 points in the paint per game — the fourth best mark in the league. Only the Bulls, Suns and Lakers were better.

Though Sharpe is now out, he and Nic Claxton’s rim protection has been a rare bright spot. But the Nets’ guards and wings are getting torched. And none of those guards or wings are defensive stoppers, which is so vital in today’s NBA. Johnson, Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Cam Thomas, Lonnie Walker IV and Dennis Smith Jr.

have all — yes, all — recorded the worst defensive ratings of their career so far this year. That is pretty striking. Bridges started his career as a strong defender, but as he’s evolved from a 3 and D role to now the Nets’ leading scorer, his defensive acumen has declined. It’s hard to win with such dismal perimeter defending.

It was evident in Sunday’s loss, as the Nets wasted 42 points from Bridges by not being able to slow down the Blazers’ guards and wings. Anfernee Simons racked up 38 points, Jerami Grant scored 27, Shaedon Sharpe had 21 and Malcom Brogdon added 18. The Blazers’ two big men, Toumani Camara and Duop Reath, notably had just 15 and five points, respectively.

In the last 14 games, opponents are shooting 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3 point range. That 43 percent allowed from behind the arc was the worst mark in the league. It all starts on the perimeter. “Obviously an area where we gotta be better,” Johnson said after Sunday’s loss.

“I can’t sit up here and make an excuse for it or anything like that. … Forcing teams to take tougher shots or shots that they don’t necessarily want to take, I think will go a long way for us.” For their own part, the Nets shot just 44 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3 point range the last 14 games.

Can’t stop a nosebleed and can’t hit the ocean from a boat — that’s not a recipe for success. Maybe the long trip overseas will provide time to find some answers. If not, this season will have the same success as the Battle of Waterloo..