Heading into the 2018/19 season, many expected the Nets to make another jump in the standings as a result of their players developing and the quality depth they added in the offseason. However, there were no expectations that at the halfway point of the season, the Nets would be sitting in the 7th spot in the Eastern Conference despite not having their best player available for the past two months.
The Nets are 21-23, which is even more impressive when you consider the fact that they were 8-18 in early December. Instead of focusing on getting the best draft pick possible, Kenny Atkinson continued to believe that his team could turn it around, and that’s exactly what they’ve done. Since December 6, the Nets own the league’s 12th-ranked offense and 15th-best defense.
D’Angelo Russell has made strides as a playmaker and scorer, Spencer Dinwiddie is a top candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, and Joe Harris has provided elite shooting and floor-spacing.
Keep in mind that a lot of this recent run by the Nets has come without Allen Crabbe and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, not to mention Caris LeVert. The Nets use their depth and bench to their advantage on a nightly basis, which allows them to stay afloat when injuries strike.
With that being said, many still expect teams like the Pistons and Hornets to improve moving forward, while the Wizards have found new life since John Wall went down for the season. Do the Nets have enough top-end talent to lead them to the playoffs? Or will their strong bench and depth be enough for them to sneak in? Vote in the poll below and share your thoughts in the comments!
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they’ll get in and get swept by Boston in the first round! haha just keeps going
You think the Nets will get up to the 4 seed?
Boston, Indy, Toronto, Philly, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Brooklyn, Miami will represent the East in the playoffs.
I know Detroit has looked pretty bad lately, but I think they still have a very good shot at the playoffs.
While I tend to be super down on the dysfunctional Washington Wizards, they’ve looked really good ever since Wall went down. I wouldn’t count them out yet either.
That said, they haven’t looked as good as Brooklyn. They’ve been playing some really impressive ball.
Switch the Nets and Heat and o agree.
I meant Detroit
In that order hey ? Boston and Indy in front of TO LOL
And Milwaukee !!
Not in that order
I dont think that Charlotte can hang with their current roster, they are shuffling backwards. I could see the Wizards and Nets beating them out towards the end of the season. Charlotte Needs to get rid of either Marvin, Batum or MKG. I like Batum but that salary is wayyy to high for him and it will disrupt their ability to build a roster around Kemba.
Your paragraph covered two opposing topics. Getting rid of their expensive players may be good roster-building, but it would not help them into the playoffs this year!
Due to their roster expenses, they were inflexible to change from last year and the same thing will happen next year! Even their W/L % is about the same.
I watched the Nets/Raptors game the other day… and while the Raptors eventually pulled away, the Nets were super impressive for the first quarter (until Toronto really knocked them off their game).
D’Angelo Russell looked like an all-star.
I really like what the Nets management (and coaching) has done with this team – especially considering that Boston had all of those high picks from Brooklyn.
I expect them to make the playoffs if they get back WHJ and LeVert back and don’t suffer more losses. I think they have more than enough talent to make the playoffs. Their issue is it’s all concentrated in the rookie contract players and younger vets (Dinwidde and Harris) who’ve never won anything.
They do have a lot of inexperience but they have guys like Carroll and Faried who’ve been to the playoffs before
Davis and Dudley too (Napier to a degree as well). But the talent (and the major minutes and roles) is in the young players. That group not only hasn’t been to the playoffs, they haven’t been close to a playoff chase. So it will be the first time they’ll face must win games, trap games and the like down the stretch. I think they have the talent and chemistry to overcome it, but we’ll see.
They have a good foundation with D’lo, Kurucs & Allen, all depend on this guys if they keep balling insanely as lately they will make the playoffs.