“It comes with responsibility. Responsibility to take the shot when you’re open, responsibility to box out when you have to. Obviously, the 19 second-chance points. Once again, if we don’t rebound, we don’t win,” Fernandez said after Sunday’s 103-98<\/a> loss at the Grizzlies. Brooklyn lost the rebounding battle to Memphis 54-43 and the Grizzlies were able to score nine second-chance points in the fourth quarter off six offensive rebounds.<\/p>\n “We’ve been the No. 1 defensive rebounding team for a stretch of games where we had the best defense and now, we’re not rebounding and we’re not winning games,” Fernandez continued. “You got to keep learning, got to keep getting 1% better every day and, holding the guys accountable, but also supporting them because there were good things done tonight.”<\/p>\n To Fernandez’s point, the Nets<\/a> have not been playing like they did during December when they led<\/a> the league in defensive rating and were tied for seventh in the league in rebounding percentage. Brooklyn finished December with a 7-4 record thanks to how well they were playing on the defensive end, but January has been a different story for a Nets team that is hoping to continue their winning ways.<\/p>\n So far in 2026, the Nets have a 1-5 record and despite holding the Grizzlies to just 103 points on Sunday, they are still 26th<\/a> in the league in defensive rating (119.0) and 28th in rebounding percentage (46.2%). While Brooklyn took on a Memphis team missing star guard Ja Morant without potential All-Star forward Michael Porter Jr., Fernandez understands that his team has to rebound and play defense no matter what if they’re going to win games.<\/p>\n Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/hr1tFE4s6gQ\/maxresdefault.jpg\")