Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie reacts to success of switching defense against T’Wolves
Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie isn’t confused for being the best defender in the world. However, the one thing he will do on the defensive end is compete and that goes for the rest of the team as well. Given the fact that Brooklyn is one of the smaller teams in the league, for the team to be successful, every played has to be willing to play out of position on the defensive end.
In Friday’s 124-123 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dinwiddie had 29 points and 11 assists as he took over the game for the Nets in the second half and the overtime period. Despite how well Dinwiddie played on offense, he lamented how the team played on the defensive end in the first half when they allowed the Timberwolves to score 68 points.
Brooklyn’s defense played better after the first half as they found a way to help as necessary so that Minnesota center Rudy Gobert wouldn’t get as many easy second-chance points like he was getting in the first half. The Nets wanted to switch on defense as much as possible and when that happens, the smaller players for Brooklyn have to compete with the bigs of the league if they want to be a good defensive unit when the playoffs come around. Dinwiddie reacted after the game to how the defense turned things around after halftime:
“So, I think there was focus and attention to detail. I mean, we went to switching one through five, and rely on our guards to kind of hold up Rudy (Gobert) a bit, which, you know, had pros and cons. But Nic’s (Claxton) obviously phenomenal on the perimeter as well. So, he always holds his own regardless of matchup. It’s on us to help him. But, for the most part, regardless of the defensive switch, like it really had more to do with focus and attention to detail, because 68 points in the first half is just far too much. I don’t care who you’re playing.”
