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

[Smokeeye123]

Clearly their near win against golden state has shown me that, while they are bad. perhaps they aren't 1-9 level bad. We're going to need an injury if we want a top 3 pick outside of luck.

[snively]

Y'all need to calm down. The Nets, even if they're horrible, are still gonna win 14-24 more games this season. Some of you are gonna have a heart attack by the end of this year.

Of course they're going to win 14 or more games this season. But from a draft pick perspective, there's going to be a big difference between the Nets having 15 wins (top 3 choice) and them having 25 (somewhere around #6). I don't think too many people are predicting they're going to set the all-time worst record this season. But still, they're 1-9 and any playoff hopes seem like a long way away. If the team ends up 2-15 or something like that, there's zero hope of the playoffs for them.

The Nets have to make a choice (or may be forced by some of their players who don't want to lose anymore) on whether to start building for the future or keeping the core that they have.  That choice becomes exceptionally easy if they're 10 or more games under .500 at the All-Star break. There's no hope of the playoffs in that scenario and you can't sell tickets to fans with no hope. Even Philly has hope in having very young players. The Nets would have nothing - just the same guys getting older and worse - to offer their fans and their corporate sponsors. Thus they may have no choice but to trade off their best players simply to acquire picks for next year to start a rebuilding process that they can then sell their season-ticket holders and sponsors. Now if they were within striking distance of a playoff spot, then the Nets could continue the charade for a  while longer.

That's why this dismal start may be so important for how the pick turns out - the Nets hand may be forced and thus the Cs get the benefit of that forced youth movement.

I don't disagree with anything you say. But it seems like we expect the Nets to get blown out all season. They're going to be in a lot of games, especially now that we're starting to see teams play down to them and try to pull out a win at the last second. As someone said, the key is for them to lose the close ones. They've done that so far. Let's not pretend like they're going to turn it around if they win every 8th game, or if they play Golden State close until the end.

I don't think everyone expects the Nets to get blown out every game.  Strange things happen all the time in the regular season.  But for the 10-0 Warriors to lose at home (where they're practically unbeatable) to one of the worst teams in the league... that would have been a bit difficult to digest.

Once people realize that Celtics fans have as much (perhaps more) incentive and reason to emotionally invest in catastrophic Net failure as interim Celtic success, these wild reactions will make more sense.

I've found myself rooting for the Nets' opponents as hard as the C's in a game 7 situation.

[SHAQATTACK]

Y'all need to calm down. The Nets, even if they're horrible, are still gonna win 14-24 more games this season. Some of you are gonna have a heart attack by the end of this year.

Of course they're going to win 14 or more games this season. But from a draft pick perspective, there's going to be a big difference between the Nets having 15 wins (top 3 choice) and them having 25 (somewhere around #6). I don't think too many people are predicting they're going to set the all-time worst record this season. But still, they're 1-9 and any playoff hopes seem like a long way away. If the team ends up 2-15 or something like that, there's zero hope of the playoffs for them.

The Nets have to make a choice (or may be forced by some of their players who don't want to lose anymore) on whether to start building for the future or keeping the core that they have.  That choice becomes exceptionally easy if they're 10 or more games under .500 at the All-Star break. There's no hope of the playoffs in that scenario and you can't sell tickets to fans with no hope. Even Philly has hope in having very young players. The Nets would have nothing - just the same guys getting older and worse - to offer their fans and their corporate sponsors. Thus they may have no choice but to trade off their best players simply to acquire picks for next year to start a rebuilding process that they can then sell their season-ticket holders and sponsors. Now if they were within striking distance of a playoff spot, then the Nets could continue the charade for a  while longer.

That's why this dismal start may be so important for how the pick turns out - the Nets hand may be forced and thus the Cs get the benefit of that forced youth movement.

I don't disagree with anything you say. But it seems like we expect the Nets to get blown out all season. They're going to be in a lot of games, especially now that we're starting to see teams play down to them and try to pull out a win at the last second. As someone said, the key is for them to lose the close ones. They've done that so far. Let's not pretend like they're going to turn it around if they win every 8th game, or if they play Golden State close until the end.

I don't think everyone expects the Nets to get blown out every game.  Strange things happen all the time in the regular season.  But for the 10-0 Warriors to lose at home (where they're practically unbeatable) to one of the worst teams in the league... that would have been a bit difficult to digest.

Once people realize that Celtics fans have as much (perhaps more) incentive and reason to emotionally invest in catastrophic Net failure as interim Celtic success, these wild reactions will make more sense.

I've found myself rooting for the Nets' opponents as hard as the C's in a game 7 situation.

I can relate to this. ^

[snively]

Clearly their near win against golden state has shown me that, while they are bad. perhaps they aren't 1-9 level bad. We're going to need an injury if we want a top 3 pick outside of luck.

Have some faith, my good man.

This is what bad teams do - find ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

And remember the Nets are in a vacuum here. To make it out of the top 3 they need to be better than 3 other teams. Philly's almost a given (though the Nets do grade out worse according to BB-ref's SRS metric) but who else are you counting on? The Lakers team that beat them a week ago? The Kings team that beat them on Friday?  A Pelicans squad with an MVP caliber talent in Anthony Davis? A Minnesota team reinforced with veterans?

The bottom 3 is a lot less competitive so far this year. It's BK, LAL and Philly on an island all to themselves, IMO.

[positivitize]

The bottom 3 is a lot less competitive so far this year. It's BK, LAL and Philly on an island all to themselves, IMO.

Oh Captain, my Captain...

What gives with all the nautical language? Are you mixing your 'Tank' and 'Sinking Ship' metaphors? (or is it metonymy?)

[SHAQATTACK]

Nets at home next host the Hawks . 

Could be Nets next win.

[Rondo9]

You don't truly believe that do you? 

[Quetzalcoatl]

I get why some people aren't super happy with Celtics fans crowing every time the Nets lose, but at the same time, we're passionately debating the 2nd worst team in basketball's ability after losing by 8 to the best team 10 games into the season.  The NBA is the best sport to follow for this reason. 

[Granath]

Clearly their near win against golden state has shown me that, while they are bad. perhaps they aren't 1-9 level bad. We're going to need an injury if we want a top 3 pick outside of luck.

You are what your record says you are.

[snively]

The bottom 3 is a lot less competitive so far this year. It's BK, LAL and Philly on an island all to themselves, IMO.

Oh Captain, my Captain...

What gives with all the nautical language? Are you mixing your 'Tank' and 'Sinking Ship' metaphors? (or is it metonymy?)

The tank metaphor has to evolve to survive.

[LarBrd33]

Y'all need to calm down. The Nets, even if they're horrible, are still gonna win 14-24 more games this season. Some of you are gonna have a heart attack by the end of this year.

Of course they're going to win 14 or more games this season. But from a draft pick perspective, there's going to be a big difference between the Nets having 15 wins (top 3 choice) and them having 25 (somewhere around #6). I don't think too many people are predicting they're going to set the all-time worst record this season. But still, they're 1-9 and any playoff hopes seem like a long way away. If the team ends up 2-15 or something like that, there's zero hope of the playoffs for them.

The Nets have to make a choice (or may be forced by some of their players who don't want to lose anymore) on whether to start building for the future or keeping the core that they have.  That choice becomes exceptionally easy if they're 10 or more games under .500 at the All-Star break. There's no hope of the playoffs in that scenario and you can't sell tickets to fans with no hope. Even Philly has hope in having very young players. The Nets would have nothing - just the same guys getting older and worse - to offer their fans and their corporate sponsors. Thus they may have no choice but to trade off their best players simply to acquire picks for next year to start a rebuilding process that they can then sell their season-ticket holders and sponsors. Now if they were within striking distance of a playoff spot, then the Nets could continue the charade for a  while longer.

That's why this dismal start may be so important for how the pick turns out - the Nets hand may be forced and thus the Cs get the benefit of that forced youth movement.

I don't disagree with anything you say. But it seems like we expect the Nets to get blown out all season. They're going to be in a lot of games, especially now that we're starting to see teams play down to them and try to pull out a win at the last second. As someone said, the key is for them to lose the close ones. They've done that so far. Let's not pretend like they're going to turn it around if they win every 8th game, or if they play Golden State close until the end.

I don't think everyone expects the Nets to get blown out every game.  Strange things happen all the time in the regular season.  But for the 10-0 Warriors to lose at home (where they're practically unbeatable) to one of the worst teams in the league... that would have been a bit difficult to digest.

Once people realize that Celtics fans have as much (perhaps more) incentive and reason to emotionally invest in catastrophic Net failure as interim Celtic success, these wild reactions will make more sense.

I've found myself rooting for the Nets' opponents as hard as the C's in a game 7 situation.

You could almost go as far as to say that Nets losses matter more than Celtics wins.   We're not winning a title this year.  We're going to be a bit over .500.  We're playoff fodder at best.   Our players don't seem to have much trade value... not even our best asset, Marcus Smart, could fetch a top 3 pick this year when packaged with multiple 1st rounders.   It's unlikely that a superstar free agent will sign here.   So the draft remains our only real hope of acquiring a future star.   There's a remote possibility the Brooklyn pick nets us our real centerpiece.   It's possibly the most important aspect of this team's future.   

Despite this, I'm still not getting my hopes up.    Brooklyn has talent to win games in the Eastern Conference.  I still expect this will be bitterly disappointing for a lot of fans who are looking at this like it's a guaranteed top 5 pick.  The Nets have no incentive to tank.  They'll win some games eventually.

[Eddie20]

Y'all need to calm down. The Nets, even if they're horrible, are still gonna win 14-24 more games this season. Some of you are gonna have a heart attack by the end of this year.

Of course they're going to win 14 or more games this season. But from a draft pick perspective, there's going to be a big difference between the Nets having 15 wins (top 3 choice) and them having 25 (somewhere around #6). I don't think too many people are predicting they're going to set the all-time worst record this season. But still, they're 1-9 and any playoff hopes seem like a long way away. If the team ends up 2-15 or something like that, there's zero hope of the playoffs for them.

The Nets have to make a choice (or may be forced by some of their players who don't want to lose anymore) on whether to start building for the future or keeping the core that they have.  That choice becomes exceptionally easy if they're 10 or more games under .500 at the All-Star break. There's no hope of the playoffs in that scenario and you can't sell tickets to fans with no hope. Even Philly has hope in having very young players. The Nets would have nothing - just the same guys getting older and worse - to offer their fans and their corporate sponsors. Thus they may have no choice but to trade off their best players simply to acquire picks for next year to start a rebuilding process that they can then sell their season-ticket holders and sponsors. Now if they were within striking distance of a playoff spot, then the Nets could continue the charade for a  while longer.

That's why this dismal start may be so important for how the pick turns out - the Nets hand may be forced and thus the Cs get the benefit of that forced youth movement.

I don't disagree with anything you say. But it seems like we expect the Nets to get blown out all season. They're going to be in a lot of games, especially now that we're starting to see teams play down to them and try to pull out a win at the last second. As someone said, the key is for them to lose the close ones. They've done that so far. Let's not pretend like they're going to turn it around if they win every 8th game, or if they play Golden State close until the end.

I don't think everyone expects the Nets to get blown out every game.  Strange things happen all the time in the regular season.  But for the 10-0 Warriors to lose at home (where they're practically unbeatable) to one of the worst teams in the league... that would have been a bit difficult to digest.

Once people realize that Celtics fans have as much (perhaps more) incentive and reason to emotionally invest in catastrophic Net failure as interim Celtic success, these wild reactions will make more sense.

I've found myself rooting for the Nets' opponents as hard as the C's in a game 7 situation.

not even our best asset, Marcus Smart, could fetch a top 3 pick this year when packaged with multiple 1st rounders.   

You're the master of half truths...


@JakeLFischer) June 2
So Celtics trade offer was: Marcus Smart, Kelly Olynyk, No. 16, with no specific third player to Sixers for Nerlens Noel and No. 3.

[MBunge]

What's working against the Nets is they are clearly worse than last year while several teams in the East are clearly better.  Miami, New York, Orlando, Indiana and Detroit all look like sure things to win more games than last year.  Add in Boston being closer to the team that finished last season than the one that started it, and it's easy to see Brooklyn going from 8th in the East to 13th, with only Charlotte between them and 14.  Depending on what happens out West, 25 or so wins could have high odds of getting a top 5 pick.

On the other hand, that also means Boston could win 41-42 games and miss the playoffs themselves.

Mike

[SHAQATTACK]

Need to look at the nets last 15 games or so.  See how many games they have against teams that should destroy them with or without Lopez .  But .....if these team rest players .....the Nets could easily pull off a string of wins against OTHER tanking teams and teams resting players.

Important they loose all these game early to full power teams trying to gain ground playing their stars.


Up to Lopez where the Celtics pick may fall

[SCeltic34]

Kent Bazemore just injured his foot (sprained ankle) against the Jazz and had to be helped off the court.  Doesn't look like he'll be available against Brooklyn on Tuesday.

Jeff Teague is out against the Jazz as well with an ankle injury.  Hopefully he'll be ready to go.