Back when it looked like we’d have to wait until the 2023-2024 season to see Ime Udoka again as an NBA coach, o Steve Nash has been fired by the Brooklyn Nets the landscape has changed. And it is that according to several reports, led by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Udoka is the main and strong candidate to replace Nash in guiding the Nets.
It’s worth remembering that Udoka is at this moment was suspended by the Celtics for the entire seasonfor violating group guidelines, linked to inappropriate behavior with a Boston staff member. However, the suspension was internal to the Massachusetts franchise and not the league, so he could direct to other teams.
And everything indicates that this is exactly what will happen in the next few hours.
The hope is that Udoka can tighten up the Nets defensively and earn the respect of the franchise’s key players. Udoka spent one season on Steve Nash’s staff before accepting the Celtics job and winning the Eastern Conference. With the suspension, his future in Boston was effectively over.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 1, 2022
Why are the Brooklyn Nets looking to coach Ime Udoka?
What exactly is Brooklyn looking for with the arrival of Udoka? First, we must say that he is a familiar face: was an assistant to Steve Nash in Brooklyn during the 2020-2021 seasonshortly before making the jump as manager of the Celtics, whom he guided to Finals 2022 in his first year as an NBA coach.
In athletic terms, Udoka’s idea addresses a very clear quest for the Nets: strengthen the defense. Brooklyn is currently the worst team in the league in that regard, allowing 119.6 points per 100 possessions. An absolutely devastating figure for any team that fancies themselves a contender.
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Brooklyn’s defensive issues are huge and Udoka could help with that. The former San Antonio Spurs player has always been known for making his mark on that side of the court, which is evident by what has been happening with the Celtics over the last three seasons.
| Time | Coach | defensive ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | Joe Mazzula | 25° |
| 2021-2022 | Ime Udoka | 2nd |
| 2020-2021 | Brad Stevens | 14th |
The season is young, but Boston is far from being second-best defense last season, ranked 25th at this beginning (with a fairly similar roster, save for low-key Robert Williams), weighs in favor of Udoka’s credentials.
Of course, one story is the talent he had with the Celtics, with specialists like Marcus Smart, Robert Williams and Al Horford and athletic forwards like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and a completely different one on a Nets that lacks brand name tools. Nicholas Claxton (agile but very light) is their only interior that has been proven to defend the color and the perimeter is full weak links in the defense like Kyrie Irving, Seth Curry, Patty Mills or Cam Thomas.
In fact, this 2020-2021 season with Udoka as Nash’s assistant is proof that you can’t do magic without resources: Brooklyn finished 23rd that season in defensive rating. An improvement from current 30th, but a long way from the top of the league.
Can Udoka improve this area of the Nets’ performance? To some extent, yes. Especially if Ben Simmons is regaining form as a defensive prospect (today it is far from being) and perform some others move to strengthen the board (Miles Turner?). But in the long run, Brooklyn’s stuff is completely inferior to Boston’s, as reflected in their 4-0 run in the last playoffs, and if the Nets go far this season, it will be because of their scoring talent.
