Brooklyn is going to be terrible- We really could get a top 5 pick this year...

[Celtics18]

I wouldn't count on Brooklyn sucking.  They finished the season strong.  Brook Lopez and Thad Young made a difference.  I think our pick from them will end up in the 12-17 range.

This is exactly what I thought too. Then they traded Plumlee, KG left, Teletovic went down, Johnson got older and had his 5th straight season of decline.

I'm getting pretty bored of this topic, but i'll just briefly touch on this.

- Plumlee was irrelevant in the second half of the season.
- Swapping KG for Thad Young gave them a major positive Jolt
- Teletovic?  Lol
- Johnson... eh... still a solid player
- Lopez was beasting over the past three months of the season.  That makes a difference as a healthy Lopez is a force down low.

Agree to disagree.  Hope you guys end up right.

I hope you see the irony in saying 'lol' to Teletovic and Plumlee but somehow have faith in Bargani, Larkin and Willy Reed whilst the rest of the East gets considerably better? lol

Their starting PG is Jarrett Jack. Their back up is Larkin- not a typo.
Their starting SG is Johnson. Their back ups are Markel Brown and Wayne Ellingtion with some Karasev thrown in.
Their SF is Bogdanovic with Karasev and Quincy Miller.
Their PF is Thadeus with Bargani, Willy Reed and Thomas Robinson.
Their C is Lopez with Bargani and Willy Reed. That's not a typo. Bargani and Willy Reed.

That is arguably the poorest line up in the NBA or is definitely in the conversation and it's a bottom 5 defense.

They are going to be terrible. They are an injury away from being a genuine dumpster fire.

Brooklyn's 3 best players would probably be the 3 best players on the Celtics.  *shrug*

Brooklyns 5th best player would probably be the 12th best player on the Celtics.

You probably coulda said that about the Cavs team won the ECF last year.

Sure, but obviously the difference between the Cavs' best player and the Nets best player is fairly wide. 

[indeedproceed]

It's not crazy to think that the Nets might miss the playoffs, it's not crazy to think that that Nets could finish well inside the Lottery and that we'd get a top 5 pick next year.

But it's not realistic to think that the Nets will probably finish with a top 5 pick, anymore than its realistic to believe you'll win a scratch off ticket. It could happen, but it would require some improbable events.

[Eja117]

I'm just curious...who are the players in Brooklyn that are going to be better this year than last year? Which players on that team are going to legitimately improve as players?

I'm not seeing many. 

[indeedproceed]

I think that Thad Young with a full season starting next to Lopez has potential to be better. I think if they can find a system that maintains space while allowing Lopez and Young to work could be a pretty good regular season lineup due to Young's abilities.

Bogdanovic is a big question mark; can he be a starting NBA 3?

I think the notion that Jarret Jack could bring some more consistency to the point position isn't crazy.

Likely, best case scenario, they're comfortably in the 7th or 8th seed.

Likely worst case (barring major injury) they have the 10th worst record in the league.

The problem I have with the 'top 5 pick' hopes is that their basement if they stay healthy isn't that low. They've shown they can be a solidly mediocre, 38-40 type of team.

If they had their own pick, they'd be tanking like crazy. But they don't.

[celticsclay]

guys this is seriously getting ridiculous. I cant find a single sportsbook that has the nets at over 33 wins. If you really think they will 35-40 games go place a huge bet and rub the money in our face. Otherwise, you kind of just come off like a jerk. If i say I think the Patriots are going to make the playoffs i don't really need to give much of an explanation. Everyone expects and agrees they most likely will. On the opposite end of that, if I said I thought the Jets would make the playoffs i would need a hell of a lot of advanced statistics and reasoning to make an argument that was compelling against all other predictions and statistics. In the case of the nets backers here, you are the jets fans. Every sports site has the Nets bottom of the east. You feel differently, burden is on you. Dont call people homers for agreeing with the general consensus.

[TheSundanceKid]

guys this is seriously getting ridiculous. I cant find a single sportsbook that has the nets at over 33 wins. If you really think they will 35-40 games go place a huge bet and rub the money in our face. Otherwise, you kind of just come off like a jerk. If i say I think the Patriots are going to make the playoffs i don't really need to give much of an explanation. Everyone expects and agrees they most likely will. On the opposite end of that, if I said I thought the Jets would make the playoffs i would need a hell of a lot of advanced statistics and reasoning to make an argument that was compelling against all other predictions and statistics. In the case of the nets backers here, you are the jets fans. Every sports site has the Nets bottom of the east. You feel differently, burden is on you. Dont call people homers for agreeing with the general consensus.

Well said, TP

[LarBrd33]

guys this is seriously getting ridiculous. I cant find a single sportsbook that has the nets at over 33 wins. If you really think they will 35-40 games go place a huge bet and rub the money in our face. Otherwise, you kind of just come off like a jerk. If i say I think the Patriots are going to make the playoffs i don't really need to give much of an explanation. Everyone expects and agrees they most likely will. On the opposite end of that, if I said I thought the Jets would make the playoffs i would need a hell of a lot of advanced statistics and reasoning to make an argument that was compelling against all other predictions and statistics. In the case of the nets backers here, you are the jets fans. Every sports site has the Nets bottom of the east. You feel differently, burden is on you. Dont call people homers for agreeing with the general consensus.

THis is year 4 of people expecting the Nets to bottom out.  People have been writing them off since KG and Pierce had a slow start.  Whatever.  There's no incentive for them to be bad.  You're more likely to see Boston change gears and tank than you are to see Brooklyn end up at the bottom of the standings.

[colincb]

guys this is seriously getting ridiculous. I cant find a single sportsbook that has the nets at over 33 wins. If you really think they will 35-40 games go place a huge bet and rub the money in our face. Otherwise, you kind of just come off like a jerk. If i say I think the Patriots are going to make the playoffs i don't really need to give much of an explanation. Everyone expects and agrees they most likely will. On the opposite end of that, if I said I thought the Jets would make the playoffs i would need a hell of a lot of advanced statistics and reasoning to make an argument that was compelling against all other predictions and statistics. In the case of the nets backers here, you are the jets fans. Every sports site has the Nets bottom of the east. You feel differently, burden is on you. Dont call people homers for agreeing with the general consensus.

THis is year 4 of people expecting the Nets to bottom out.  People have been writing them off since KG and Pierce had a slow start.  Whatever.  There's no incentive for them to be bad.  You're more likely to see Boston change gears and tank than you are to see Brooklyn end up at the bottom of the standings.

2012 49 wins
2013 44 wins
2014 38 wins
2015 ? wins

Seems to be a trend there. Lost one of their better players in DWill and jettisoned some other useful pieces to save money. The Russian has made a huge profit on paper if he wants to sell.

Why do they need an incentive to be bad?

[Rida]

I think that Thad Young with a full season starting next to Lopez has potential to be better. I think if they can find a system that maintains space while allowing Lopez and Young to work could be a pretty good regular season lineup due to Young's abilities.

Bogdanovic is a big question mark; can he be a starting NBA 3?

I think the notion that Jarret Jack could bring some more consistency to the point position isn't crazy.

Likely, best case scenario, they're comfortably in the 7th or 8th seed.

Likely worst case (barring major injury) they have the 10th worst record in the league.

The problem I have with the 'top 5 pick' hopes is that their basement if they stay healthy isn't that low. They've shown they can be a solidly mediocre, 38-40 type of team.

If they had their own pick, they'd be tanking like crazy. But they don't.

The nets will be awful next year. I don't think they will win 30 games next year. They have 2 good players in JJ and Brook Lopez, neither of whom stays healthy. JJ plays through pain and Lopez has had foot issues the last 3 seasons.

Their next best player is above average in Thad Young, the rest are rotational guys on most teams.

Jack has never been considered a starter, more of a 6th man.

Also factor in how the East are particularly the Atlantic division improved.

They are going to play 4 times a year against the Celtics, the improved play off team that is the Raptors, a healthy Knicks team with Melo and Brooks twin brother and Affalo.

Whoever doesn't think this pick will be at the worst top 7 needs their head examined.

[celticsclay]

guys this is seriously getting ridiculous. I cant find a single sportsbook that has the nets at over 33 wins. If you really think they will 35-40 games go place a huge bet and rub the money in our face. Otherwise, you kind of just come off like a jerk. If i say I think the Patriots are going to make the playoffs i don't really need to give much of an explanation. Everyone expects and agrees they most likely will. On the opposite end of that, if I said I thought the Jets would make the playoffs i would need a hell of a lot of advanced statistics and reasoning to make an argument that was compelling against all other predictions and statistics. In the case of the nets backers here, you are the jets fans. Every sports site has the Nets bottom of the east. You feel differently, burden is on you. Dont call people homers for agreeing with the general consensus.

THis is year 4 of people expecting the Nets to bottom out.  People have been writing them off since KG and Pierce had a slow start.  Whatever.  There's no incentive for them to be bad.  You're more likely to see Boston change gears and tank than you are to see Brooklyn end up at the bottom of the standings.

larbrd, you have been better later. This is regressing. The Nets expected win total, whether by Vegas or some other system you want to use (hollinger etc) has had them declining every year the for three years. Guess what they have declined the last two years in wins. This year would be their third. You are coming off like a child in all of this with your lazy rebuttals that dont explain why they will do better than people that are a heck of a lot smarter than you think they will. Seriously you should be loaded if you are this smart. Fly out to vegas and bet the over on the nets. See if you can find a book that will take your action on Bennett and Noel props while you are at it. In the meantime stop polluting this thread with your garbage.  (Maybe the fellowship of the miserable should fly out to vegas together and make a killings on their nets takes together. I know which 3 people that is.)

[chambers]

guys this is seriously getting ridiculous. I cant find a single sportsbook that has the nets at over 33 wins. If you really think they will 35-40 games go place a huge bet and rub the money in our face. Otherwise, you kind of just come off like a jerk. If i say I think the Patriots are going to make the playoffs i don't really need to give much of an explanation. Everyone expects and agrees they most likely will. On the opposite end of that, if I said I thought the Jets would make the playoffs i would need a hell of a lot of advanced statistics and reasoning to make an argument that was compelling against all other predictions and statistics. In the case of the nets backers here, you are the jets fans. Every sports site has the Nets bottom of the east. You feel differently, burden is on you. Dont call people homers for agreeing with the general consensus.

THis is year 4 of people expecting the Nets to bottom out.  People have been writing them off since KG and Pierce had a slow start.  Whatever.  There's no incentive for them to be bad.  You're more likely to see Boston change gears and tank than you are to see Brooklyn end up at the bottom of the standings.

Well they've gotten worse every year.
Box score geeks has them at minimum -6 wins under last seasons results.
You're talking about changing gears and tanking but there's no need to tank. They will simply suck with the current rotation.

Now it's possible that they get a free agent ...and they might make a push/struggle for the 8th seed. Dunno who's good enough to do that.
Thadeus Young certainly ain't moving the needle and their bench is pure puss.

[Moranis]

guys this is seriously getting ridiculous. I cant find a single sportsbook that has the nets at over 33 wins. If you really think they will 35-40 games go place a huge bet and rub the money in our face. Otherwise, you kind of just come off like a jerk. If i say I think the Patriots are going to make the playoffs i don't really need to give much of an explanation. Everyone expects and agrees they most likely will. On the opposite end of that, if I said I thought the Jets would make the playoffs i would need a hell of a lot of advanced statistics and reasoning to make an argument that was compelling against all other predictions and statistics. In the case of the nets backers here, you are the jets fans. Every sports site has the Nets bottom of the east. You feel differently, burden is on you. Dont call people homers for agreeing with the general consensus.

Vegas sets the line where they get about 50% betting on either side, it has no real bearing on expected win/loss totals, just the betting lines.  Sometimes betting lines are accurate, some times they are not.

And for the record, most sites I looked at had the Nets from the 7th to 11th worst team, which historically would put them around 35 wins.

[celticsclay]

guys this is seriously getting ridiculous. I cant find a single sportsbook that has the nets at over 33 wins. If you really think they will 35-40 games go place a huge bet and rub the money in our face. Otherwise, you kind of just come off like a jerk. If i say I think the Patriots are going to make the playoffs i don't really need to give much of an explanation. Everyone expects and agrees they most likely will. On the opposite end of that, if I said I thought the Jets would make the playoffs i would need a hell of a lot of advanced statistics and reasoning to make an argument that was compelling against all other predictions and statistics. In the case of the nets backers here, you are the jets fans. Every sports site has the Nets bottom of the east. You feel differently, burden is on you. Dont call people homers for agreeing with the general consensus.

Vegas sets the line where they get about 50% betting on either side, it has no real bearing on expected win/loss totals, just the betting lines.  Sometimes betting lines are accurate, some times they are not.

And for the record, most sites I looked at had the Nets from the 7th to 11th worst team, which historically would put them around 35 wins.

Their lines are historically right on the nose whether you are looking at spreads, in game totals, or season win totals. Things can and do happen that cause them to be off. Even if I am going to take your comment on face value you are still making my argument for me. The general public (not celtic homer fans some have claimed, but the public as a whole) have them as the third worst win total in the east. They are set 3 games lower then the other "low playoff" teams. Also please show me a reputable linesmaker that has them as the 7th best team in the east

[LooseCannon]

If betting lines are massively inaccurate, the sharps will flock to those bets and pour money into them until the lines move.

[LarBrd33]

guys this is seriously getting ridiculous. I cant find a single sportsbook that has the nets at over 33 wins. If you really think they will 35-40 games go place a huge bet and rub the money in our face. Otherwise, you kind of just come off like a jerk. If i say I think the Patriots are going to make the playoffs i don't really need to give much of an explanation. Everyone expects and agrees they most likely will. On the opposite end of that, if I said I thought the Jets would make the playoffs i would need a hell of a lot of advanced statistics and reasoning to make an argument that was compelling against all other predictions and statistics. In the case of the nets backers here, you are the jets fans. Every sports site has the Nets bottom of the east. You feel differently, burden is on you. Dont call people homers for agreeing with the general consensus.

THis is year 4 of people expecting the Nets to bottom out.  People have been writing them off since KG and Pierce had a slow start.  Whatever.  There's no incentive for them to be bad.  You're more likely to see Boston change gears and tank than you are to see Brooklyn end up at the bottom of the standings.

larbrd, you have been better later. This is regressing. The Nets expected win total, whether by Vegas or some other system you want to use (hollinger etc) has had them declining every year the for three years. Guess what they have declined the last two years in wins. This year would be their third. You are coming off like a child in all of this with your lazy rebuttals that dont explain why they will do better than people that are a heck of a lot smarter than you think they will. Seriously you should be loaded if you are this smart. Fly out to vegas and bet the over on the nets. See if you can find a book that will take your action on Bennett and Noel props while you are at it. In the meantime stop polluting this thread with your garbage.  (Maybe the fellowship of the miserable should fly out to vegas together and make a killings on their nets takes together. I know which 3 people that is.)

Dumb arguments deserve lazy rebuttals. I love how people now retroactively pretend Deron Williams is some basketball God after years of exclaiming how bad he sucks.  I guess that dooms our Dallas pick. 

I'll continue to assume the perennial playoff team will remain in the playoff hunt as long as they are healthy.  Using advanced stats to explain why a team that got better towards the end of the last year will inexplicably bottom out seems silly.