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

[Roy H.]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

[saltlover]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

I'm not too worried.  The Nets have been competing all year, and this is what they've got to show for it.

[Bucketgetter]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

No. There's not. Players on both teams will be trying equally as hard. Earl Watson wants to win just as much as Tony Brown. Given that the deadline has passed, the GM won't be trading away any veterans. No vets will be bought out either, as they won't be eligible for playoffs. There is no possibility of the Suns going into "full tank mode".

[Emmette Bryant]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

Of course they'll be in full tank mode.  But don't forget, every crappy team they are playing is in full tank mode. 

[Roy H.]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

No. There's not. Players on both teams will be trying equally as hard. Earl Watson wants to win just as much as Tony Brown. Given that the deadline has passed, the GM won't be trading away any veterans. No vets will be bought out either, as they won't be eligible for playoffs. There is no possibility of the Suns going into "full tank mode".

All coaches want to win. Yet, every year teams tank down the stretch. Of course it's a possibility.  If key players start getting rested or sat for injuries, there's little the coach or players can do.

[Bucketgetter]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

No. There's not. Players on both teams will be trying equally as hard. Earl Watson wants to win just as much as Tony Brown. Given that the deadline has passed, the GM won't be trading away any veterans. No vets will be bought out either, as they won't be eligible for playoffs. There is no possibility of the Suns going into "full tank mode".

All coaches want to win. Yet, every year teams tank down the stretch. Of course it's a possibility.

Actually, a coach who has a guaranteed contract after this year would be more inclined to lose the rest of this year and build towards next year. Earl Watson has no guarantees of being the Suns coach next year, especially if his team sucks the rest of the year. Like I said, given that the deadline has passed and bought out vets can no longer play with playoffs teams, no way Suns go into the "full tank mode" idea you made up.

[Bucketgetter]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

No. There's not. Players on both teams will be trying equally as hard. Earl Watson wants to win just as much as Tony Brown. Given that the deadline has passed, the GM won't be trading away any veterans. No vets will be bought out either, as they won't be eligible for playoffs. There is no possibility of the Suns going into "full tank mode".

All coaches want to win. Yet, every year teams tank down the stretch. Of course it's a possibility.  If key players start getting rested or sat for injuries, there's little the coach or players can do.

Ok? And Brooklyn sat both Lopez and Young for rest against the Timberwolves. Does that mean they are going into "full tank mode"?

[Roy H.]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

No. There's not. Players on both teams will be trying equally as hard. Earl Watson wants to win just as much as Tony Brown. Given that the deadline has passed, the GM won't be trading away any veterans. No vets will be bought out either, as they won't be eligible for playoffs. There is no possibility of the Suns going into "full tank mode".

All coaches want to win. Yet, every year teams tank down the stretch. Of course it's a possibility.  If key players start getting rested or sat for injuries, there's little the coach or players can do.

Ok? And Brooklyn sat both Lopez and Young for rest against the Timberwolves. Does that mean they are going into "full tank mode"?

If a team did it consistently down the stretch, and "shut down" minorly injured guys, then yes.  Teams in the lottery do that every season.  I'm surprised you've never noticed this.

Are you under the impression that franchises don't strategically lose to improve lottery position?

[Bucketgetter]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

No. There's not. Players on both teams will be trying equally as hard. Earl Watson wants to win just as much as Tony Brown. Given that the deadline has passed, the GM won't be trading away any veterans. No vets will be bought out either, as they won't be eligible for playoffs. There is no possibility of the Suns going into "full tank mode".

All coaches want to win. Yet, every year teams tank down the stretch. Of course it's a possibility.  If key players start getting rested or sat for injuries, there's little the coach or players can do.

Ok? And Brooklyn sat both Lopez and Young for rest against the Timberwolves. Does that mean they are going into "full tank mode"?

If a team did it consistently down the stretch, and "shut down" minorly injured guys, then yes.  Teams in the lottery do that every season.  I'm surprised you've never noticed this.

Are you under the impression that franchises don't strategically lose to improve lottery position?

Sigh, no, teams don't do that every season. Players get dinged up all the time, so yeah, obviously when you are out of the playoffs those guys won't be gutting it out like they would be if they were in the playoff chase. Clearly you can make moves to "strategically lose to improve your lottery position", but the deadlines for the moves have already passed. And arguing that the Suns will not play their slightly injured players more that the Nets will play their slightly injured players is foolish because the Nets already let Lopez and Young sit out against the Timberwolves, who were very close to the Nets in the standings.

[Roy H.]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

No. There's not. Players on both teams will be trying equally as hard. Earl Watson wants to win just as much as Tony Brown. Given that the deadline has passed, the GM won't be trading away any veterans. No vets will be bought out either, as they won't be eligible for playoffs. There is no possibility of the Suns going into "full tank mode".

All coaches want to win. Yet, every year teams tank down the stretch. Of course it's a possibility.  If key players start getting rested or sat for injuries, there's little the coach or players can do.

Ok? And Brooklyn sat both Lopez and Young for rest against the Timberwolves. Does that mean they are going into "full tank mode"?

If a team did it consistently down the stretch, and "shut down" minorly injured guys, then yes.  Teams in the lottery do that every season.  I'm surprised you've never noticed this.

Are you under the impression that franchises don't strategically lose to improve lottery position?

Sigh, no, teams don't do that every season. Players get dinged up all the time, so yeah, obviously when you are out of the playoffs those guys won't be gutting it out like they would be if they were in the playoff chase. Clearly you can make moves to "strategically lose to improve your lottery position", but the deadlines for the moves have already passed. And arguing that the Suns will not play their slightly injured players more that the Nets will play their slightly injured players is foolish because the Nets already let Lopez and Young sit out against the Timberwolves, who were very close to the Nets in the standings.

Okay.  So, it seems like the only method of tanking you accept exists is the kind where teams trade away assets for pennies on the dollar, and you're you're unwilling to believe that teams "shut down" players for the purpose of losing games.

We'll agree to disagree.  You have a more pure view of NBA basketball than I do.

[Bucketgetter]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

No. There's not. Players on both teams will be trying equally as hard. Earl Watson wants to win just as much as Tony Brown. Given that the deadline has passed, the GM won't be trading away any veterans. No vets will be bought out either, as they won't be eligible for playoffs. There is no possibility of the Suns going into "full tank mode".

All coaches want to win. Yet, every year teams tank down the stretch. Of course it's a possibility.  If key players start getting rested or sat for injuries, there's little the coach or players can do.

Ok? And Brooklyn sat both Lopez and Young for rest against the Timberwolves. Does that mean they are going into "full tank mode"?

If a team did it consistently down the stretch, and "shut down" minorly injured guys, then yes.  Teams in the lottery do that every season.  I'm surprised you've never noticed this.

Are you under the impression that franchises don't strategically lose to improve lottery position?

Sigh, no, teams don't do that every season. Players get dinged up all the time, so yeah, obviously when you are out of the playoffs those guys won't be gutting it out like they would be if they were in the playoff chase. Clearly you can make moves to "strategically lose to improve your lottery position", but the deadlines for the moves have already passed. And arguing that the Suns will not play their slightly injured players more that the Nets will play their slightly injured players is foolish because the Nets already let Lopez and Young sit out against the Timberwolves, who were very close to the Nets in the standings.

Okay.  So, it seems like the only method of tanking you accept exists is the kind where teams trade away assets for pennies on the dollar, and you're you're unwilling to believe that teams "shut down" players for the purpose of losing games.

We'll agree to disagree.  You have a more pure view of NBA basketball than I do.

Using the Suns as an example, who forces the player to sit out?? You obviously have to agree, if Brandon Knight is healthy enough to play, he's going to want to play. Earl Watson clearly wants him to play as he is only the interim coach and needs to make an impression. So I understand the GM might want him to sit out so they can lose games, but what is he going to do? Force Knight to pretend to be injured? Tell Watson you're not allowed to play Knight because we need to lose?

[Denis998]

We lost the third seed in the East, but are now tied for third best odds at the lottery. Funny how the world works.

[Roy H.]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

No. There's not. Players on both teams will be trying equally as hard. Earl Watson wants to win just as much as Tony Brown. Given that the deadline has passed, the GM won't be trading away any veterans. No vets will be bought out either, as they won't be eligible for playoffs. There is no possibility of the Suns going into "full tank mode".

All coaches want to win. Yet, every year teams tank down the stretch. Of course it's a possibility.  If key players start getting rested or sat for injuries, there's little the coach or players can do.

Ok? And Brooklyn sat both Lopez and Young for rest against the Timberwolves. Does that mean they are going into "full tank mode"?

If a team did it consistently down the stretch, and "shut down" minorly injured guys, then yes.  Teams in the lottery do that every season.  I'm surprised you've never noticed this.

Are you under the impression that franchises don't strategically lose to improve lottery position?

Sigh, no, teams don't do that every season. Players get dinged up all the time, so yeah, obviously when you are out of the playoffs those guys won't be gutting it out like they would be if they were in the playoff chase. Clearly you can make moves to "strategically lose to improve your lottery position", but the deadlines for the moves have already passed. And arguing that the Suns will not play their slightly injured players more that the Nets will play their slightly injured players is foolish because the Nets already let Lopez and Young sit out against the Timberwolves, who were very close to the Nets in the standings.

Okay.  So, it seems like the only method of tanking you accept exists is the kind where teams trade away assets for pennies on the dollar, and you're you're unwilling to believe that teams "shut down" players for the purpose of losing games.

We'll agree to disagree.  You have a more pure view of NBA basketball than I do.

Using the Suns as an example, who forces the player to sit out?? You obviously have to agree, if Brandon Knight is healthy enough to play, he's going to want to play. Earl Watson clearly wants him to play as he is only the interim coach and needs to make an impression. So I understand the GM might want him to sit out so they can lose games, but what is he going to do? Force Knight to pretend to be injured? Tell Watson you're not allowed to play Knight because we need to lose?

It happens all the time.  Kevin Garnett is one of the most competitive players of all time.  The Twolves sat him the last six games of the '06 season and the last five games of the '07 season in an attempt to tank.  KG only missed one other game during the entirety of those two seasons.

[SCeltic34]

Brooklyn are tied for the second hardest schedule remaining of any Eastern conference team with an average opponent win percentage of 53%. Phoenix have the second easiest schedule of any Western team with an average opponent win percentage of 45%.

I think they'll finish 3rd worst.

I hope so. There's always the possibility of the Suns going into full tank mode, while the Nets try to compete.

No. There's not. Players on both teams will be trying equally as hard. Earl Watson wants to win just as much as Tony Brown. Given that the deadline has passed, the GM won't be trading away any veterans. No vets will be bought out either, as they won't be eligible for playoffs. There is no possibility of the Suns going into "full tank mode".

All coaches want to win. Yet, every year teams tank down the stretch. Of course it's a possibility.  If key players start getting rested or sat for injuries, there's little the coach or players can do.

Ok? And Brooklyn sat both Lopez and Young for rest against the Timberwolves. Does that mean they are going into "full tank mode"?

If a team did it consistently down the stretch, and "shut down" minorly injured guys, then yes.  Teams in the lottery do that every season.  I'm surprised you've never noticed this.

Are you under the impression that franchises don't strategically lose to improve lottery position?

Sigh, no, teams don't do that every season. Players get dinged up all the time, so yeah, obviously when you are out of the playoffs those guys won't be gutting it out like they would be if they were in the playoff chase. Clearly you can make moves to "strategically lose to improve your lottery position", but the deadlines for the moves have already passed. And arguing that the Suns will not play their slightly injured players more that the Nets will play their slightly injured players is foolish because the Nets already let Lopez and Young sit out against the Timberwolves, who were very close to the Nets in the standings.

It's very common.

Example:
http://www.nola.com/pelicans/index.ssf/2016/03/alvin_gentry_not_ruling_out_po.html

With 14 games remaining and the playoffs virtually out of reach, Gentry was asked if the franchise would be more inclined to consider shutting down Davis.

''I wouldn't say no to that,'' Gentry said. ''I think we got to be smart collectively, along with him. Like I said, I think we'll know a lot more after they talk to doctors today.''

AD has had a bunch of injuries this season, and suffered a hyperextended knee against the Blazers recently.  It's not a done deal yet that he'll sit out, nor is the injury probably season-ending.  But even if the injury turns out to be minor, it's definitely in the Pels' best interest to shut down AD anyway and do their best not to advance up the standings any further (i.e. pass Sacramento) for the long-term interests of the franchise.

If they were in an intense battle for a playoff spot like Boston is, the story might be a little different.

[GC003332]

Looking at the week ahead , if the Celtics get back on track against the 76ers and Magic the next two games , following the Raptors game they have got the Suns, I believe that if the C's still maintain a 3 game cushion over the 7th seed it would be in the best interests of the franchise to throw the game against the Suns, entering the Draft lottery with possibly the 3rd best odds is of greater long term importance than any seeding 3-6.
Time to go deep into the rotation for that game.
Whether they want to risk playing with Karma by doing so would be interesting.