Nets turn to Moritz Wagner to help their defense find its voice – New York Daily News

Nets turn to Moritz Wagner to help their defense find its voice  New York Daily News

The young Nets aren’t short on conversation. Head coach Jordi Fernández would just like more of it to happen on defense. “They talk a lot on the bus, but then when they’re on the court, they don’t talk as much,” Fernández said before Friday’s game against the Detroit Pistons. That gives Moritz Wagner another way to contribute. The veteran center is still learning a new team’s system, but Fernández already values his willingness to speak up. For a defense struggling to coordinate its coverages and rotations, a dependable voice is needed. Wagner scored 15 points in Tuesday’s overtime loss at Boston. Fernández’s assessment Friday extended to the work between baskets, like communicating, competing and encouraging teammates from the bench while adjusting to unfamiliar demands.

“Everything is new for him, but he’s out there being the ultimate pro, a veteran, always communicating,” Fernández said. The challenge is getting that engagement to carry through the entire group. Brooklyn has already seen how quickly a missed assignment can become an opponent’s scoring run. After Thursday’s practice, Day’Ron Sharpe identified reaching for the ball, failing to get back and overhelping as small mistakes with expensive consequences. “Can we keep it six points only instead of letting them go 10, 12 run?” Sharpe said. If a teammate has to stop the ball, someone else must