The Nets became the third Eastern Conference team to clinch a playoff spot last night, and owner Mikhail Prokhorov issued a statement today suggesting that he's hoping for more from the team than just a postseason berth.
"Of course I'm pleased the Nets have made the playoffs, but I can't say I'm surprised," Prokhorov said in a press release. "We have a lot of talent which is really coming together now and starting to gel. I am confident that the team's best days on the court are still ahead."
Here are a few more notes from around the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks continue to keep an eye on the D-League in case the team needs to add injury replacements, as Mike Woodson tells Marc Berman of the New York Post (Sulia link). "We’re constantly looking at the D-League all the time,'' Woodson said. "We have to gauge where we are and see what happens with these (injured) guys. We still got time. That deadline is still down the road. We go to map out our guys and see where they are going to be physically in the next couple of weeks and then maybe make a decision."
- One D-League player that doesn't appear to be an option for the Knicks is Delonte West. Although New York was said to be monitoring West's D-League debut, the team has not discussed signing him, according to Nate Taylor of the New York Times (Twitter link). Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside wonders if West's performance with the Texas Legends so far was a turn-off for the Knicks.
- Andre Iguodala helped the Nuggets defeat his old team last night, and told John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer that he has no regrets or hard feelings about his time in Philadelphia or the trade that sent him to Denver. Iguodala also expressed hope that the player the Sixers acquired in that deal, Andrew Bynum, recovers quickly from knee surgery.
- In his latest piece for HoopsWorld, Lang Greene takes a look at players whose free agent stocks have been hurt by their performances in 2012/13. Greene's list includes a pair of Sixers: Bynum and Dorell Wright.