How can the Brooklyn Nets turn things around under a new coach?

On Tuesday, the Nets announced they're parting ways with Steve Nash after two-plus seasons at the helm in Brooklyn, with Jacque Vaughn to serve as acting head coach against the Chicago Bulls.

Shortly after the announcement, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Nets are negotiating with suspended Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka to take on that role.

NBA

Steve Nash's departure from Nets confirms obvious issues within Brooklyn's franchise

Whether it's Udoka or not, the next Nets coach will be tasked with turning around a season that has started with a 2-5 record despite stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving being in the lineup for all seven games.

Still less than 18 months removed from looking like NBA title favorites after taking a 2-0 lead against eventual 2021 champion Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn has been just three games better than .500 since then, got swept by the Celtics in the first round of last season's playoffs and is currently embroiled in controversy.

What changes can a new coach make to help the Nets realize the high expectations when they paired Durant and Irving in the summer of 2019?

Or is this version of Brooklyn doomed as a contender?

 

Goal No. 1: Respectability on defense

As currently constructed, Brooklyn has no realistic hope of being a good defensive team.

Even the 2020-21 team that looked so dominant in the playoffs when healthy ranked 22nd in defensive rating during the regular season, two spots worse than the Nets finished last season.