The situation in Phoenix bears watching. With the coaching upheaval and the injury to Bledsoe, I think they could go on a losing streak that bumps Brooklyn from the 3rd to 4th.
Been saying that for a while. There is no guarantee that the Brooklyn pick will be in the TOP 3, or even in TOP 5. The situation in Phoenix is not good with Bledsoe out. They don't have a deep squad and the quality to make the playoffs, so they could easily go in a fire sale mode (if they didn't sign Ty Chandler for that long, or if he's younger, I would be on board to bring him to Boston).
The same could happen with Portland, Minny, Sactown, Utah, Milwaukee, Denver and New Orleans. There is still about fifty games to play until the end of the season and so much uncertainty. The Nets are not a bad team as Lakers and Sixers, and other mentioned teams are not that much better, just got some luck at this point in the season.
If I was Danny, I would consider trading the pick before trade deadline for a young, proven go to scorer (big or a SF).
Why do people keep assuming that the Nets will get better while other teams will get worse? A healthy Nets squad is good enough for the 3rd worst team in the NBA.
Well I don't know why people think that they are a lock to be a top 3 or top 5 worst team in the league.
As I stated before I think they are already better then lakers and sixers. The Phoenix are not getting in the playoffs thats for sure. They could easily trade Chandler, Morris, Tucker, Teletovic or others, and there goes your core. Thats 3 very bad teams who are worse then the nets with fifty games to play.
The same situation can happen in denver and utah. Utah is playing ok considering all circuimstances (injury to Exum, Gobbert and Burks). They have a thin squad and could easily go in other direction if things don't go in their direction.
Denver will trade their veterans and will go in tank mode that is for sure. They are not good right now and they will bot get better, at least not this season.
The main reason why I think Nets might surprise is thet they do not have incentive to suck. Ok they are not contenders but I think they will do everything to escape that bottom 3 unlike lal, phi and other teams who could change their tactics.
I'm not saying we should give up that pick for a middle class player but for a big dog.
that would be called panicking. avoid that. you're talking as though a very bad team like the Nets will improve. They're already playing at their peak. They have nowhere to go but down either through injuries (RHJ just down, Lopez is just a matter of time) or trading off what veteran assets they do have.
is it possible someone else who already has several more wins than Brooklyn go into an even bigger freefall? sure, but it's really unlikely. don't forget, those team you mentioned may make moves that make them worse but for the Nets to catch them, the Nets have to win games. Also, the East is the better conference this year so it's more than likely that with the Nets in the East, they're more likely to lose than those teams in the West where the competition is much weaker this year.
I don't think that's panicking because i'm suggesting something that could actually happen. For example look at it as we were in their place (God forbid), would we let down the ship and tank hard only to get them a better pick? No we would not and you could see that in this years second game when they beat us (after the whole garden chanted "thank you" and all that stuff). I've watched some of their games and they are playing hard. They are losing games by small margins not by 20 like lal or phi (soon phx).
All i'm saying if we could get a reasonable offer for our pick,we should carefully consider it. If you can get an young all star caliber player, you consider that option.
I'm not against keeping the pick but that is obviously a more uncertain option to have. This way we could turn him into proven franchise player who could help us win some games now. Plus, Danny had some success with drafting players but it was not great...
In terms of point differential they are the 3rd worst team in the NBA and the difference between them and Phoenix is just as big as the gap between them and LA in the other direction.
I dont see Utah tanking as they have a strong core in Gobert, Favors, Hayward. They also just picked Lyles and have Exum coming back next year.
Phoenix could feasibly blow it up, but they have a lot more talent than Brooklyn, will face an easier remaining schedule, and are already 3 games up on Brooklyn.
As for other teams, you have Portland, Minnesota, Milwakee, Denver, and New Orleans
New Orleans, on the virtue of Anthony Davis alone, surely will not outsuck the Nets.
Minnesota doesnt look like a tanker to me
Denver is a possibility
Portland is a possibility but I dont see them making any tanking moves.
Milwakee wont tank. Their core is completely based on young talent. If they make a tanking move big enough to drop them to nets level then it would mean trading a young player in their nucleus. Which is kinda the opposite of the point of tanking.
So I could see Phoenix, Denver and Portland making a run at the 3 spot, but ultimately I expect brooklyn to win the spot.
Topic: Official 2015-16 Brooklyn Nets Season Watch Thread (21-59, 3rd slot as of 4/12) (Read 705677 times)