Official 2015-16 Brooklyn Nets Season Watch Thread (21-59, 3rd slot as of 4/12)

[fairweatherfan]

I didn't realize the Rose Rule required you to *start* the All-Star game.  Thought getting on the team was enough.

That's dumb.

Yeah, that seems heavily tilted towards popular/big market players more than exceptionally talented ones.

[max215]

I didn't realize the Rose Rule required you to *start* the All-Star game.  Thought getting on the team was enough.

That's dumb.

It's why agents DESPISE the Rose Rule, and why I cannot see it existing (like it does today) in the next CBA.

[celticsclay]

I didn't realize the Rose Rule required you to *start* the All-Star game.  Thought getting on the team was enough.

That's dumb.

The New Orleans Hornets ownership stuffed the ballot box to keep him out!

[greece66]

We will be really lucky if the Nets finish in the bottom 5.

And yes, teams that have kept their draft pick and have no chance of entering the playoffs will tank...

Disagree. I can definitely see the Nets rising to 5, but who else is going to get down that far? Nuggets and Pelicans look too resilient to me, unless Anthony Davis were to be shut down or something.

If it was not for J.Jack's torn ACL things would be even worse - in a way we were p lucky in that game.

A five-six losses advantage does not mean much with 30+ games left to be played. I think the tanksters will catch up bcs they have motivation + in this draft the top 2-3 players are really set apart from the rest.


Anyway, even if we do get lucky, Nets will be nr 4 or 5, which means ca 35% of a top 3 pick.
This pick is great considering how little a price we paid to get it, but I do think fans are unrealistic about our prospects.

[Rondo9]

We will be really lucky if the Nets finish in the bottom 5.

And yes, teams that have kept their draft pick and have no chance of entering the playoffs will tank...

And the Nets will still stink along with them.

[trickybilly]

Hmm peli win to keep pressure on BKN or sacto win to keep pressure on dallas.. decisions decisions

[ReadyFor17]

We will be really lucky if the Nets finish in the bottom 5.

And yes, teams that have kept their draft pick and have no chance of entering the playoffs will tank...

And the Nets will still stink along with them.

Yep, tons of road games down the stretch and a bunch of games against EC teams jockeying for position. No incentive to go all out for wins, and it would probably be smart to dial it back a bit to preserve the team's only assets in Lopez, Young, and the injured RHJ (who is a big negative on offense anyway). Throwing McCullough into the mix for more than just garbage time minutes will hurt them as well because rookies suck, especially ones that haven't played basketball in two years.

Nets are easily a favorite to finish bottom 5.

[mef730]

Hmm peli win to keep pressure on BKN or sacto win to keep pressure on dallas.. decisions decisions

Pelican win, every day, twice on Saturday, three times on Sunday and four times on Thursday. A) That Brooklyn pick is more valuable than the Dallas pick. B) NO is one big AD injury away from achieving new greatness in the art of sucking.

We will be really lucky if the Nets finish in the bottom 5.

And yes, teams that have kept their draft pick and have no chance of entering the playoffs will tank...

And the Nets will still stink along with them.

Yep, tons of road games down the stretch and a bunch of games against EC teams jockeying for position. No incentive to go all out for wins, and it would probably be smart to dial it back a bit to preserve the team's only assets in Lopez, Young, and the injured RHJ (who is a big negative on offense anyway). Throwing McCullough into the mix for more than just garbage time minutes will hurt them as well because rookies suck, especially ones that haven't played basketball in two years.

Nets are easily a favorite to finish bottom 5.

Logically, I agree with you. But based on what I've seen this year, the Nets seem to have an odd way of winning games that they should not.

On the plus side, the Nets last four games of the year are Charlotte, Indiana, Washington and Toronto. I'm thinking that at least two of those teams, possibly three, are fighting for a playoff spot. Hopefully no opportunity to rest starters.

Mike

[KGs Knee]

We will be really lucky if the Nets finish in the bottom 5.

And yes, teams that have kept their draft pick and have no chance of entering the playoffs will tank...

I don't think luck has anything to do with it.  Brooklyn has been the 3rd worst team for half the season, and I see no reason to believe they will all of a sudden start playing better.  They've been getting worse, actually.

I realize people expect Brooklyn to keep fighting for wins, and they probably will.  But I don't think it matters, they are what their record says they are, a really bad basketball team.  I don't think they are capable of winning at any greater percentage than they have been.

Just looking at scoring differential, maybe Phoenix could sink below them, but I don't see anyone else being bad enough.  That leaves Brooklyn at #4.  Minnesota doesn't seem like they are interested in tanking, per se.  They already have a solid core in place, it's better for them to keep developing the young guys exactly as they have been.  I could actually see them picking up the pace towards the end of the season as other teams around them rest players more.  So I don't think Minnesota falls below Brooklyn.

I'd imagine 4th is the highest Brooklyn rises, and 3rd still looks like the most likely result.

[Emmette Bryant]

Looks like Dwight Howard almost went to the Nets this year.

http://hoopshype.com/2016/01/27/jj-redick-dwight-howard-told-us-he-was-headed-to-the-nets/

[gift]

Looks like Dwight Howard almost went to the Nets this year.

http://hoopshype.com/2016/01/27/jj-redick-dwight-howard-told-us-he-was-headed-to-the-nets/

This was in 2012.

[Kane3387]

Looks like Dwight Howard almost went to the Nets this year.

http://hoopshype.com/2016/01/27/jj-redick-dwight-howard-told-us-he-was-headed-to-the-nets/

Few years ago

[SCeltic34]

Dirk sat out against Golden State last night, so hopefully he's rested and ready to go against the Nets tomorrow.

Brooklyn then plays the Pelicans on Saturday.  Davis has been out since the 25th after suffering a concussion, and Tyreke Evans is battling knee tendinitis.  Hopefully both are healthy and will be available.  I'd hate to see another Brooklyn win because their opposition is missing their best players (e.g. when they beat Atlanta without Teague and the Knicks without Carmelo). 

[The One]

More bad news per ESPN, the Nets have had the most difficult schedule so far.

http://espn.go.com/nba/stats/rpi/_/sort/SOS

Things are going to get much easier for them...

[Boris Badenov]

More bad news per ESPN, the Nets have had the most difficult schedule so far.

http://espn.go.com/nba/stats/rpi/_/sort/SOS

Things are going to get much easier for them...

They're 2-13 since Jarrett Jack got hurt, and 10 of those games were at home.

There's reason for optimism, I think, particularly since any moves the Nets make this year will make the team worse. They can move mid-range talent in exchange for picks, but can't do the opposite. They won't try a short-term upgrade by taking on bloated contracts without a new GM either.