By: Evan Kaplan
Welcome to part IV in our “Breaking Down the Schedule” series. For those of you who may not have followed the first three parts of our breakdown, here’s where we have the Nets after 60 games. Sebastian predicted a 9-11 start, Mark followed with an 8-12 prediction over the next 20 and Devin had the team going .500 with a 10-10 record in Games 41-60. So we at NAS have the Nets at 27-33 after the first 60 games.
Here’s a look at the final 22 games of the 2010-11 season and how the Nets will finish based upon their current roster.
March 04 vs. Toronto (The O2 Arena in London)
The Nets travel across the Atlantic to London, England to face off against the Raptors in the first of two games to begin the month of March. Toronto will have a down year with the tremendous turnover of their roster and the loss of Bosh, and with all of the travel and unusual playing circumstances for both teams, I think it’s safe to say they will split these two games. Nets win the first one. 28-33
March 05 vs. Toronto (The O2 Arena in London)
The second of two London games against the Raptors is a 3:00 Eastern Time Saturday matinee. The Nets have more talent than Toronto but you would think jet lag and the time difference could be a factor in the second game of a back-to-back. The more I think about these two games, the more I envision a split. Toronto takes the finale overseas. 28-34
March 09 vs. Golden State
After a much-needed 3 days of rest, the Nets will take their home floor to face the Warriors in the 1st of a 4-game home stand. It will be a shootout with Golden State just like their previous meeting, but the rest and being back at home helps the Nets outlast the Warriors in a game played in the 100s. 29-34
March 11 vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Derrick Favors and the Nets frontcourt were able to hold down Blake Griffin and Co. in mid-November at the Staples Center to get a nice road win. In the rematch in Jersey, Griffin is much improved and gets the better of Favors. But Brook Lopez dominates against Chris Kaman and the Nets make it consecutive wins at home. 30-34
March 14 vs. Boston
Aside from one weird late February game in 2010, the Nets have been flat out dominated by the Celtics over the last 3 years. The Big Three is getting up there in age and the Nets will not get blown out at home, but they won’t win either. Boston makes it a clean 4-game sweep in 2010-11 and takes this one. Nets lose. 30-35
March 17 vs. Chicago
The Bulls were the 8-seed in 2009-10 and they should be much improved this season led by Rose and Boozer. It’s St. Patrick’s Day so look for them to come out in some kind of crazy green uniforms (as they’ve done in the past). But Devin Harris plays Rose even and the Nets end their last extended home stand of the season with a W. 31-35
March 18 @ Milwaukee
Brandon Jennings torched the Nets in the first two matchups and with the team traveling to Milwaukee for the second game of a back-to-back, it won’t be any different this time. Only the top teams in the NBA win their first game of a road trip after an extended home stand. The Nets are not in this class yet. They lose convincingly. 31-36
March 20 @ Washington
It’s the rubber-match between the Nets and Wizards and I have a feeling that Nets fans will be wishing the team won the 2010 Draft Lottery after this one. New Jersey keeps it competitive, but John Wall is making his push for Rookie of the Year as the season winds down, and he puts up a triple-double on D. Harris and the Nets. 31-37
March 21 vs. Indiana
Another back-to-back but this time the Nets are coming home to face the mediocre Pacers. Danny Granger goes for 28 to lead Indiana, but Harris bests Collison and Troy Murphy pours in 17 off the bench (Favors is in the starting lineup by this point in the season). Nets win. 32-37
March 23 @ Cleveland
The Nets won the first three against the Cavs and while it may be a bit bold, I think they make it a clean sweep here. By this time, Antawn Jamison has been traded again, Mo Williams is complaining on a daily basis and Anderson Varejao has completely checked out. Nets win by double digits in front of 12,000 at Quicken Loans Arena. 33-37
March 25 @ Orlando
Brook got the better of Superman in a December matchup at the Rock and he plays well again this time. But despite 22 and 12 from the Nets’ center, the rest of the team fails to show up. Magic exert their will as they try to wrap up the Southeast and make it a rough night for New Jersey. Nets lose. 33-38
March 26 @ Atlanta
The Nets have struggled big-time with the Hawks over the last few years and despite getting a win over them earlier this season, playing at Atlanta in the second of a back-to-back is not a good situation. The Hawks play their style and tempo and run-and-gun the Nets out of the building. It’s a laugher that could send the team into an extended rough patch. 33-39
March 29 vs. Houston
Nobody on the Rockets’ roster jumps out at you but don’t they just always seem to be one of those teams that win 40-50 games? Courtney Lee enjoys seeing his old ‘mates to the tune of a 23-point performance. The Nets have a major hangover after the tough trip in the Southeast and lose three in a row for the first time in over a month. 33-40
March 30 @ New York
The second and final trip to MSG this season is not a good one for the Nets. New Jersey is a better team than the Knicks and they play well in front of The Garden crowd, but Gallinari hits a couple of huge late 3’s and the Nets unfortunately make it four losses in a row as they fall, 95-88. 33-41
April 01 @ Philadelphia
April Fools’ Day is a perfect time for the Nets to snap out of their funk and they do so with a big effort down the Jersey Turnpike. Anthony Morrow breaks out of a major shooting slump and Derrick Favors outshines Evan Turner in a matchup of top 3 picks. Just like with Cleveland, the Nets make it a perfect 4 for 4 against Philly this season. 34-41
April 03 vs. Miami
The Heat may have things wrapped up as the East’s top seed by this point but with still 10 days left in the season, their big stars aren’t resting just yet. T-Will and Travis Outlaw do a respectable job on D-Wade and LeBron, but its Chris Bosh who dominates in this one. He gives Derrick Favors an initiation to the power forward position (Favors only played sparingly in the teams’ first two games very early in the season) to the tune of 28 points and 15 boards. Nets lose. 34-42
April 05 vs. Minnesota
This one isn’t close and it’s the Nets who are having the fun. Wes Johnson is impressive for the T-Wolves but that’s all they’ve got on this night and the Nets dominate at every other position. Lopez has his way with the lowly centers on Minnesota’s roster and the team enjoys their biggest home win of the season, 112-81. 35-42
April 06 @ Detroit
In a matchup of two teams with very similar records, the Pistons finally get the better of the Nets for the first time this season. Favors shines down low as he did in February but it’s the shooting guard slot that costs the Nets in this one. The UConn connection of Ben Gordon and Rip Hamilton combine for nearly 50 and their hot shooting propels Motor City. Nets lose. 35-43
April 08 vs. New York
In the last big game at home this season, the Nets come up with a monster effort against the cross-town rivals. The newcomers have produced all year for the Nets, but tonight it’s two of the “old-timers” who run the show as Harris and Lopez are unstoppable. Devin puts in 21 points and dishes out 9 assists and Brook goes for 32 and 14 boards as the Nets roll, 98-85. 36-43
April 10 @ Toronto
The Nets are more talented than the Raptors and therefore I cannot see them losing 3 out of 4 to them this season. Toronto is well out of the playoff race while the Nets still have slim hopes for the 8-seed. A total team effort leads them North of the Border. Nets win. 37-43
April 11 vs. Charlotte
The Bobcats are battling for playoff seeding but the Nets don’t let their fans leave with a loss in the home finale at the Rock. Travis Outlaw closes an inconsistent season with a strong defensive game against Gerald Wallace, and chips in with 18 on the offensive end. It’s a back-and-forth game and the Nets are able to push the lead out a bit in the final minutes after a series of great low-post plays by Lopez and Murphy. Nets win, 93-88. 38-43
April 13 @ Chicago
Chicago needs this game to secure the 4-seed and the Nets don’t give up without a fight. After the Bulls get out to a double-digit lead in the second quarter, the Nets come roaring back to tie it at 94 with less than 2 minutes left. But Derrick Rose and Boozer execute a series of perfect pick-and-rolls to give the Bulls a 4-point win. Nets lose. 38-44
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So, I have the Nets going an even 11-11 through their final 22 games of the season, which puts them at 38-44 on the season. Just for some history, only once since the 2004-05 season has a team with less than 39 wins made the playoffs in the East (2007-08 Hawks had 37). While the Nets probably will just miss out on the playoffs in 2010-11, they will be much improved and have a lot to build on for the future.
