When the Brooklyn Nets signed Kevin Durant last offseason, they knew that this season would be a bit of a bridge season with their new star out with an injury. No one anticipated Brooklyn’s Bridge season to be quite what it has turned out to be. Not only have the Nets had an injured star with Durant, but they also have been without their other newly signed All-Star Kyrie Irving for much of the season. Now, as the season is set to start back up in the Orlando Bubble, the Nets are missing several more key players.
Brooklyn Nets
Today the Brooklyn Nets sit in seventh place of the Eastern Conference standings, and if the season ended today, the team would find itself in the playoffs. Although the team has surprised many with their play this season, the road got tougher just before entering the bubble. In addition, to their two newly signed All-Stars Durant and Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince, DeAndre Jordan, Nic Claxton, and Wilson Chandler all skipped the trip to Orlando.
A critical missing piece when the season resumes is Spencer Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie truly carried the Nets as their second-leading scorer and assist leader averaging 20.8 ppg and nearly 7 assists per game. After testing positive for COVID-19, the guard elected not to join the team for the rest of the season.
We have talked about who isn’t on the Nets active roster, let’s now talk about who is. That’s the question many have been asking. Who is left on the Brooklyn Nets? Enter Caris LeVert. LeVert, in March, was averaging 27.4 PPG, 6.0 APG, and 6.4 RPG, including a triple-double posted against the San Antonio Spurs, and should play many roles for the Nets when play resumes.
Key Additions
The Nets also made some key additions for their late postseason push. After failing to sign Tyler Johnson as a restricted free agent from Miami in the summer of 2016, the team got a second chance to sign the free-agent guard, and he impressed early on in the scrimmage games. Johnson scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting in his Nets debut against the Spurs on Saturday. He followed that performance with 11 points off the bench, converting on two of his three attempts from deep in Brooklyn’s loss to Utah on Monday.
Another signing was one that NBA fans have been clamoring for, after 468 days without playing an NBA game, Brooklyn brought back 3x Sixth Man of The Year award winner Jamal Crawford. Crawford brings the Nets some much-needed scoring depth, and as a veteran, can come in and play in this less than ordinary season.
Crawford is set to make his debut with the Nets in the first official game.
“It’s different being in shape and being in basketball shape,” said Crawford. “I think I’d be up to speed if it wasn’t for the pandemic, because I was on an NBA schedule still playing four times a week, 5-on-5 going against high-level guys. So that part kind of set the 5-on-5 part of it back, then it came back rather quickly being here with practice and practicing against the guys. I’ve been trying to get into a rhythm, a feeling.
Playoff Race
To retain their spot in the playoff race, the Nets will need key players such as Joe Harris, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert. Some players that roles will increase that may be able to surprise folks are Rodions Kuruc, who can score and stretch the floor as a big guy. The Nets are playing under interim head coach Jacque Vaughn and are one of the biggest question marks in the Orlando Bubble.
Brooklyn will likely give up their 7th seed in the Eastern Conference that they currently hold. The real mystery is if they can hold off the Washington Wizards, who currently sit five games behind the Nets. The Wizards also have some mystery with their players and the impact they will make. Ultimately you should expect to see the Nets narrowly clinch the eight seed and creep into the NBA playoffs, followed by a first-round exit.
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