Beware of Brooklyn: Are the Nets the Favorites in the East?
We’re just a couple of games into the NBA season, but the Brooklyn Nets have already made a massive statement with wins over the Warriors and Celtics by an average margin of 27 points. The Nets rank 4th in offensive rating with 124 points per 100 possessions and 1st in defensive rating with just 94 points per 100 possessions allowed. Again, it’s still very early on, but Steve Nash’s Nets team looks like a real contender for the NBA Championship. But what makes this team so dangerous? And why are they surging so strongly right now?
It all starts with the dynamic duo of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Irving ranks fifth in the NBA so far with 31.5 points per game and has an absurd 62.2%/64.7%/100% shooting line so far. He is also averaging 6 assists and 5 rebounds per game. Irving has taken a ton of criticism from the national media and NBA fans alike for his toxic character and broken relationships with former NBA teams, but he’s making those individuals look silly so far. Durant, meanwhile, is averaging 25.5 points, 3 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. It would be shocking to see either of these guys miss the All-Star game with their reputation and impressive production thus far.
Many expected the Nets to play at a very high pace in the mold of Mike D’Antoni’s seven seconds or less offense, a system Steve Nash excelled in as a player. However, Brooklyn has attempted just 81.4 field goals per game, the fourth-fewest in the NBA. They haven’t needed to play at a fast pace to put up a ton of points, and their overall efficiency has been very impressive. They rank third in the NBA with a true shooting percentage of 63.4% and have the second-best free throw rate in basketball.
It hasn’t just been the Kyrie and KD show for the Nets. Caris LeVert dropped 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists against the Warriors in the first game of the season. Joe Harris has made 4 of 9 3-pointers and the newly paid sharpshooter makes a huge impact for this team with his ability to space the floor. Jarrett Allen and DeAndre Jordan provide a solid combination at the center while Spencer Dinwiddie and Landry Shamet can provide scoring off the bench, although they haven’t been particularly efficient thus far. As these ancillary players get more comfortable for Brooklyn, the team could only further improve.
There are still some reasons for trepidation for Nets fans. Kyrie Irving’s demeanor is subject to change on a whim, and he hasn’t had a satisfying relationship with any of his prior teams. Kevin Durant, meanwhile, is coming off a major injury and also hasn’t notoriously been a happy player on his previous teams. Steve Nash appears to be a players’ coach, and the vibes are good in Brooklyn at the moment, but when the going gets tough I’m not sure if Nash has the ability to instill desperation and fire in his guys. The East is wide open at the moment, and we’re only just starting what is a long NBA season. However, the Nets seem to just be scratching the surface of what is a real contender. Don’t be surprised if we’re talking about the Nets as one of the best teams in the NBA for the next several months.
