ATLANTA — The Nets returned to State Farm Arena on Wednesday, a reminder of how they scored 145 points two weeks ago but lost to the Hawks.
He also mentioned how NBA offenses continue to reach new heights every season. The Hawks won the first match against the Nets by scoring 147 points, a day after losing to the Pacers 157-152 in the highest-scoring game this season.
Coach Jack Vaughn marveled at the way the Bucks scored 146 points Tuesday in their NBA championship win over the Knicks. It’s a far cry from his playing days, which ended in 2009, but it feels like the Dark Ages compared to pinball-style scoring now.
“You see that over and over again,” Vaughn said. Before the match. “you know [I] He used to think “Cool!” Now I just say: OK, move on to the next game.
“I think spacing has increased in its use. The offense certainly has the advantage of speed, quickness, tempo, movement, all of the above.
The Nets are right in the mix as they rank sixth in the NBA in offensive efficiency and second in three-point percentage. They have had four games where they scored at least 128 points, two fewer than they earned all of last season.
It’s not just the Nets who are scoring goals at a fast pace. The Kings led the NBA in offensive efficiency last season with 118.6 points per 100 possessions, yet three teams currently have a higher offensive rating, led by the Pacers, who have an offensive rating of 123.6.
Vaughn believes it has to do with more skilled players arriving in the NBA as well as better spacing. With more players capable of creating their own shots, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Nets – or any team – fell into another high-scoring matchup.
“The space they can create and take advantage of. There’s no playing catch-up once they have the advantage,” Vaughn said of contemporary players. “They have the advantage and I don’t see that changing. It’s a big challenge to guard guys every night.
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis and Memphis Grizzlies football and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
