By Heading into this year’s NBA season no team had the hype that the Brooklyn Nets had. After recruiting Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant a few years ago, the team made another big splash mid-season last year acquiring James Harden. A hamstring injury plagued Harden’s first half-season with the team and flared up again to take him out in the second round of the playoffs. This season however the team was fully loaded going into the season. But, with injuries and Kyrie not getting vaccinated, Brooklyn’s Big 3 struggled to find time on the court together.
To make everything worse, Harden gave up on the team midseason and forced his way out of the organization. Brooklyn was prompted to trade the Beard before the trade deadline to the 76ers. This brought the total number of games the Big 3 actually played together to a meager 16 games. Now, with the dust partially settled, it is time for the team to crack down and figure it out. The Nets currently sit at a mediocre 34-33 and are positioned as the 8 seed. Which leaves the question, can Brooklyn climb out of the play-in and get to a locked playoff spot?
The Remaining Nets’ Season
There are 14 games left for the Nets in the NBA season. In games, the duo of KD and Kyrie have actually been able to play together they are 10-13. This past Thursday, they took down their old friend James and the 76ers in a drubbing to move that to 11-13. 11-13 still is not what you want to see.
The duo that sought each other out and planned to link up on a team, it usually goes more according to plan than this. Nonetheless, there can be no excuses for two top 20 players linking up and playing under .500 basketball. Now Thursday night’s performance shows what the duo is capable of and just dismantling a team that is regarded as one of the best in the Eastern Conference. But, you cannot disregard the whole sample size.
Remaining Situation
Of the 14 games left, 8 are against teams that would make the playoffs in some fashion. Those 8 teams include Milwaukee, Miami, Memphis, Utah, Dallas, and Cleveland. Teams that have been locked into top 6 seeds for most of the NBA season. The Nets will be tested and need more performances like Thursday to take down most of these teams. They also need to clean up against the lowly teams left on the schedule. They cannot afford to squander these easy-win opportunities against teams like Houston and Detroit.
The Nets are the 8 seed and are currently 2 games out of Toronto for the 7 spot. The problem is they are 5 games out of 6th for the coveted spot where you avoid the play-in tournament. They need to win every game they can and hope Toronto and Cleveland begin to falter. A lot to ask.
Ben Simmons Situation
There is no clear timetable when Simmons is able to return and debut for the Nets. The initial hope was it would be Thursday against Philly, but that seemed to be more of a pipe dream. His back may actually be a problem, and it is more than just reconditioning from not playing basketball for so long. There is no doubt he will make an immediate impact and improve this Nets team. You replace Bruce Brown with Ben Simmons and the Nets have a strong starting lineup. The belief is he can play some “point stretch center” and truly give Brooklyn a tough closing 5. The overall uncertainty of his situation is something to monitor and the team will need him if they want to complete these late-season heroics.
Nets’ Verdict
Prepare for the play-in tourney. It will take some short of magic to get over a 5 game difference in 14 games and catch a good Cavaliers basketball team. Simmons will help if he returns, but it is a considerable amount of ground to cover.
That said, this might be the scariest 7/8 of all time. The play-in should be no problem. Durant rises to the occasion as good as anybody in the league. You would hope Simmons gets back by then, but regardless just find some consistency with Durant, Kyrie, and the new guys. Finish strong and catch some momentum for the play-in.
The play-in will not be easy by any means. Charlotte, Atlanta, and Toronto have all played some really good basketball for stretches. On the other side of that, they would have to play one of the best teams in the East. As an NBA fan, a Miami/Milwaukee versus Brooklyn first-round matchup would be spectacular. I would love for Milwaukee versus Brooklyn round two since last year the Nets were maybe an inch away from a Durant 2 being a 3 pointer and sending the team to the Eastern Conference Finals. All in all, Brooklyn will most likely have to participate in the play-in, but I would not want to see them in the playoffs regardless of their seed.
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