After two lavish seasons of spending and expectations, the Nets enter their third year with tempered expectations, both in the organization and around the league, and recently released odds reflect it.
According to Bovada, the over-under for Nets wins was set at 41.5, ranking them seventh in the Eastern Conference, just ahead of the Atlanta Hawks (41) and New York Knicks (40.5).
The Nets have won 49 and 44 games in their first two seasons in Brooklyn, and likely have more variance than any team in the league. Their success hinges on Deron Williams’s ankles and Brook Lopez’s foot, as well as the team’s willingness and ability to integrate a new system instilled by Lionel Hollins.
The Nets show up in a few other places in the odds. 2011 draft-and-stash Croatian prospect Bojan Bogdanovic, who’s just made it over for his rookie season this year, runs 30-1 odds to win Rookie of the Year, tied for 11th among rookies and well behind favorite Jabari Parker, who will have more offensive responsibility on a young Milwaukee Bucks roster. Hollins is smack in the middle of NBA coaches, tied for 15th to win Coach of the Year with 35-1 odds, just behind former Nets coach Jason Kidd. Deron Williams also runs 40-1 odds to lead the league in assists, despite averaging just 6.1 assists per game last season, his lowest since becoming a full-time point guard after his rookie season.
