Brooklyn Nets Are Dark Horse To Win Eastern Conference
By Joseph Martinez
@JMartinezNBA
Getty Images
Of course everyone knows by now that the Brooklyn Nets positioned themselves in a win-now situation. Brooklyn showed that last season trading for two aging future Hall of Famers in Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. With all of those veteran players you’d need a nice experienced coach, right? Most teams would’ve gone that route, but the Nets certainly didn’t as they brought in a rookie head coach in Jason Kidd.
The Nets made the playoffs as the No. 6 seed last season where they were knocked out in the second round. Kidd left for the Milwaukee Bucks, Pierce left to the Washington Wizards and Shaun Livingston left to the Golden State Warriors. With all of that change, suddenly the Nets aren’t hyped up like they were last season, which they never should have been with two injury-prone superstars and two more aging stars.
This year it’s starting over with no expectations and no goals. Brooklyn just wants to play this season with no distractions. They finally brought in a veteran head coach who’s all about winning in Lionel Hollins. Some don’t even think the Nets will make the playoffs this season. That’s extra motivation for Brooklyn and less pressure on the team.
When you look at the other teams in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors and Wizards are the top tier with the Heat maybe on the bubble. If the Nets can stay healthy, I definitely could see them as 4-6 seed in the East. If Deron Williams stays healthy, he brings a whole other dynamic to this ball club and the same goes for Brook Lopez. But if those two struggle to stay healthy I guarantee you the Nets will miss the playoffs.
The Nets could be a dark horse in the Eastern Conference this season if they play their cards right.
Joseph Martinez is a Brooklyn Nets/NBA writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @BKN_Martinez08, find him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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