Nets exhibit tempered excitement over playoff berth

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In their first year in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Nets officially clinched a spot in the NBA playoffs Thursday night with a Philadelphia 76ers loss, and the Nets reacted with a sentiment that could be described as “act like you been there.”

“Of course I’m pleased the Nets have made the playoffs, but I can’t say I’m surprised,” Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said in a statement released to the media. Given how much he spent this summer to upgrade this team’s roster — committing roughly $330 million to player contracts — he shouldn’t be.

Deron Williams, who Prokhorov committed $98 million to this summer, was similarly nonplussed.

“It’s not time to celebrate,” Williams said. “I think it’s great for the organization, great for the fans. But … we expected to be here.”

Nets GM Billy King offered some excitement, telling the New York Post that the berth was “great for our fans and the organization,” but that the Nets still “need to continue getting better as a team.”

Read More: New York Post — Nets clinch playoff berth