The NBA playoffs have captured the collective minds of basketball fans everywhere. Following months of uncertainty and disappointment, the NBA Bubble has become a beacon of hope for sports fans everywhere who are clinging to any form of entertainment to get through these difficult times.
Damian Lillard, Luka Doncic, Lebron James, Anthony Davis, and James Harden make up just a few of the stars who are dominating league headlines right now with their heroic performances and lofty aspirations. But some teams have already been forced to cope with their elimination soon. The Brooklyn Nets, unfortunately, have landed in this category. The defending champion Raptors are proving to be too much to handle for the battered 7th seed. Even down 3–0, the future isn’t looking as bleak as a casual observer may think.
Let’s take a trip
July 2019. The Brooklyn Nets are coming off a 42–40 season that saw them capture the 6th seed in the east thanks to the leadership of their young star PG D’Angelo Russell. Although they seemed to have some promise with their current prospects, the NBA rumor mill ran rampant with talks of some of the league’s biggest names possibly landing in Brooklyn. Names like the disgruntled and injured Kevin Durant and the banished star PG Kyrie Irving swirled around, but nothing materialized for weeks.
After a short while, it was leaked that Irving would sign a 4-year deal with the Nets and subsequently Durant followed. Now with 2 of the most prominent names of this generation on the roster, a ring seemed inevitable. Fans knew Durant wasn’t going to suit up in 2019–20 due to a severe achilles tear but could at least take solace in knowing they’d get to see star point guard Kyrie Irving put on a show all year. In his debut, Irving pieced together a 50-point performance and Nets fans everywhere began to believe the hype. Unfortunately, Irving was only able to play 20 games all year due to a variety of shoulder and leg injuries.
Now in the bubble, the Nets have also had a rash of injuries and COVID opt-outs to endure, making this season pretty much a wash. Now that we are familiar with this team’s recent misfortunes, let’s examine why the Nets have the potential to get a ring next year.
This team is deep
This Nets team’s biggest asset is the guys who are playing in the bubble right now. So many role players have shown out with the cards stacked against them in 2020, and it could lead to something dangerous when you add their two injured stars to the mix. Guys like Caris LeVert have elevated themselves into borderline stars in some of this team’s biggest bubble moments. LeVert showed that if he is locked into the 3rd option in Brooklyn, it may be the best situation imaginable for the Nets.
Speaking of possible 3rd options, Spencer Dinwiddie has been that guy for Brooklyn at times. Coming off the best scoring and playmaking season of his career, Dinwiddie has shown a great ability to create for his teammates as well as get the shots he wants. An elite finisher and spot-up shooter, Dinwiddie should be the starting 2 for Brooklyn in 2021.
Now to the role players. Starting center Jarrett Allen has been an absolute force on the boards and defense as well. He brings an old school and gritty element to a starting lineup full of shooters and more perimeter-oriented players. Coming off the bench at center will be 3x All-NBA center DeAndre Jordan. Averaging 10 rebounds per contest in just 22 minutes last season, Jordan fills in perfectly for Allen when he rests. If they have to play teams who run the increasingly popular 2-center method, they can hold their own well.
Off the bench, they have some talent that has become apparent in the bubble. Garrett Temple is a solid shooter who just had the best scoring season of his veteran career. A UDFA this offseason, if Temple stays he’ll bring good shooting to the Nets’ second unit. Another 3-point specialist and finisher, Tyler Johnson has brought quality minutes off the bench for Brooklyn this season. Likely playing as a reserve next season, Taurean Prince always manages to make an impact in whatever amount of minutes he’s allotted. When KD returns and Prince heads to the bench, it will simply make the Nets that much deeper. Not to mention fan-favorite Chris Chiozza’s energy and former 3-point contest champ Joe Harris’ sharpshooting and you have a solid bench to compliment a ridiculous starting lineup.
Starting 5/Coaching
The likely starting lineup for the Nets will consist of Kyrie Irving at PG, Spencer Dinwiddie at SG, Caris LeVert at the 3, Kevin Durant at PF, and Jarrett Allen playing the 5. This lineup has the shooting to hold its own with any of the league’s best, as everyone but Jarrett Allen has hit 30% from 3. Allen will instead chip in by being a dominating force on the glass, cleaning up misses, and kicking it back out to his shooters.
Going against other east contenders, this Nets lineup is equipped to match up extremely well against them. Down 3–0 to Toronto right now, the scenario could play out far differently next year if these 2 squads meet. Not many forwards/wings are quite big enough to match up with perimeter defender OG Anunoby of Toronto, but KD is a huge exception. Having OG Anunoby focused on KD opens the floor up for guys like Caris LeVert who is simply too fast to be guarded by someone like Serge Ibaka. These 2 matchups would be enough for the Nets to get this series in 6, with the rest of their lineup matching up with Toronto just about evenly. The star power that the Nets were missing this year will be the reason they can win it all in 2021, put simply.
In terms of coaching, the Nets are still searching for their permanent replacement to former coach Kenny Atkinson, so this team’s playstyle could look far different in the future. There’s a possibility it won’t though, as interim coach Jacque Vaughn has been solid for Brooklyn in the bubble and will get serious consideration for the job. Any way you slice it, this team needs a refresh after a sad 118–190 record under Atkinson.
One candidate who stands out is former Cavs HC Tyronn Lue. Having coached Kyrie Irving in the past as well as one of the best teams in the last 20 years, Lue knows how to make talent mesh to win a ring. Serving as an assistant coach under Doc Rivers currently, he’s kept himself around talented basketball teams while he patiently waits for a head coaching gig. In doing so he has associated himself with one of the best defensive teams in the league, so he adds to his already impressive coaching repertoire as a defensive mind. He should be able to bring some valuable input to a team that already has the pieces to win.
Their size is undeniable, and the versatility they possess is akin to a team like the small-ball Rockets. The Nets get the best of both worlds in that sense and they should get out of the east next season. All they need to do is secure a good coach and the Larry O’Brien Trophy could reside in Brooklyn next season.
