After seasons of 49 and 44 wins, the purely predictive ESPN’s Eastern Conference Forecast ranked the Brooklyn Nets to finish 8th in the conference with a 39-43 record, barely making the playoffs.
Do they have a point?
The same core as their 49-win 2013 expansion squad will anchor this 2015 Brooklyn team: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez. Of course 2 seasons of father time has its fickle effects amongst players, but if we’re looking to set a benchmark for the upcoming year, don’t stop any further than to look at the 2013 roster. Let’s look at how the Nets roster is constructed from then to now.
|
Position |
2013 |
2015 Role Replacement |
Stock |
|
G |
Deron Williams |
Deron Williams |
? |
|
G |
C.J. Watson |
Jarrett Jack |
Up |
|
G |
Tyshawn Taylor |
Marquis Teague |
Down |
|
G |
Joe Johnson |
Joe Johnson |
? |
|
G |
Keith Bogans |
Alan Anderson |
Up |
|
G |
MarShon Brooks |
Jorge Gutierrez |
Down |
|
F |
Gerald Wallace |
Andrei Kirilenko |
? |
|
F |
Jerry Stackhouse |
Bojan Bogdanovic |
Up |
|
F |
Josh Childress |
Markel Brown |
Up |
|
F |
Toko Shengelia |
Sergey Karasev |
Up |
|
F |
Reggie Evans |
Kevin Garnett |
Down |
|
F |
Kris Humphries |
Cory Jefferson |
Down |
|
F |
Mirza Teletovic |
Mirza Teletovic |
? |
|
C |
Brook Lopez |
Brook Lopez |
Up? |
|
C |
Andray Blatche |
Mason Plumlee |
Up? |
Other than a few question marks, it’s safe to say that in a broad sense, the Nets have improved since that year.
There are questions. Deron Williams received double ankle surgery back on May 27th. He has battled injuries since putting on a Nets jersey, but maybe this time will do the trick and he’ll return to Utah mode. (We hope.)
Brook Lopez is also coming off a surgery, a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot that cut his season short in December, but he has already proven that when he’s on the floor, he’s an All-Star-caliber center.
The NBA is a different monster than it was 2 seasons ago. Talent disseminated, youth entered, age set in. It’s a cycle. Competition certainly plays a huge factor in a team’s record, but when over two-thirds of their roster improves, is saying that team will lose 10 more games logical?
I think not. Much of the Brooklyn fan base is behind me on that one.
The Nets with Joe Johnson – Deron Williams – Brook Lopez 2 years ago had 49 WINS — with NO BENCH – 39-43 is a JOKE — #ESPNForecast
— Randy Weingard (@Tha_Randy_Man_) August 11, 2014
@ESPNNBA Hollins>Kidd. Lopez>Pierce
Healthy Dwill /Jack>>>Livingston no way #NETS only a 8th seed we got better this year #ESPNForecast
— Damier (@achosen11) August 11, 2014
@ESPNNBA a healthy bknets will definitely do
Damage in the east
— Alfred Epps (@mralfredepps) August 11, 2014
Bleacher Report’s Thomas Duffy predicts the Nets to finish 7th in the conference with a 46-36 record, which is closer to what fans would forecast. However, a 46-win 7th seed in the East is giving the conference more credit than it deserves, holding it to Western Conference standards. For comparison, last year’s 7th-seed, the Charlotte Bobcats, won just 43 games.
Only time will tell. What do you think?
