CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An iconic New York champion as soon as mentioned you're what your report says you're. Proper now, the Nets’ report is decrying them as a dropping bunch. Their place within the standings is labeling them a play-in group.
Many NBA followers are mocking them as one of many league’s greatest disappointments.
They've an opportunity over the following month — hopefully two — to alter all that.
Regardless of being betting favorites to achieve the Finals, the Nets are caught in ninth place within the East with simply 17 video games left, in a tie with the Hawks and Hornets. They play eighth-place Charlotte on Tuesday in a recreation with large play-in ramifications.
In the meantime the following month or so can have ramifications not simply on the play-in, however on a roster that’s going to be very a lot in flux. And maybe on the efficiency group and even teaching employees as properly.
If this season goes sideways, there might be penalties and repercussions.
Inexperienced Steve Nash obtained the job over title-winning Ty Lue as a result of relationships with Kevin Durant and GM Sean Marks. Regardless of Kyrie Irving’s part-time standing, James Harden’s unhappiness and accidents that might put the efficiency group underneath hearth, Nash has held the Nets collectively by sheer positivity.
However will that be sufficient?
For his half, Nash has claimed he’s gotten nothing however help from Marks and group proprietor Joe Tsai. However the play-in can’t be the return on funding Tsai envisioned for this supposed superteam with its large luxury-tax invoice.
The Nets have sufficient expertise to win a title if they'll get it on courtroom; however they’re all however assured of being within the play-in, coming into Monday 5 ½ video games behind Cleveland for the final assured playoff spot. If the season ended Monday, they’d host the Hawks within the play-in, dealing with single-elimination with out Irving.
The groups with the highest six successful percentages in every convention are assured playoff spots, whereas seeds 7 by 10 go to a capricious play-in.
The 7-8 winner claims the No. 7 seed, whereas the loser hosts the 9-10 victor figuring out it can both be sure for the final playoff spot or the lottery.
And that 9-10 loser? An early trip and journey to the lottery. Nicely, not within the Nets’ case as a result of their choose goes to Houston within the Harden deal.
In layman’s phrases, groups Nos. 7 and eight play double-elimination, whereas Nos. 9 and 10 must win twice to outlive and advance. And with the sport at Barclays Middle, the unvaccinated Irving can be barred from enjoying (as he would if the Nets climb right into a 7-8 matchup versus Toronto, residence or away).
That is the scenario the Nets have discovered — no, put — themselves in.
The Nets want Irving and Ben Simmons; however Irving’s unwillingness to get vaccinated leaves him obtainable for simply six of the ultimate 17 video games, and solely one of many final eight.
Simmons remains to be nursing a sore again. Even when he’s cleared to observe by the top of this week and debuts March 18 versus Portland — or three days later towards Utah — that leaves Simmons simply 11 or 12 video games, and the brand new Huge 3 at most three collectively.
When Marks swapped Harden for Simmons, league personnel mentioned the transfer was as a lot about securing Brooklyn’s future. However how can a title run versus an embarrassing early ouster affect that future?
Durant, Simmons, Joe Harris, Seth Curry, Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe are the one Nets on assured offers subsequent season.
Andre Drummond, LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin, Goran Dragic, Bruce Brown and James Johnson are all unrestricted free brokers. Nic Claxton is a restricted free agent, whereas Irving and Patty Mills can decide out.
The Irving scenario might be wherever from tough to nightmarish. They’d anticipated him to ink a max extension this offseason, however he didn’t. They anticipated him to get vaccinated, however he hasn’t. And contract talks ceased again in October.
Whereas opting in might show the most effective for each — placing the pandemic and Irving’s absence up to now — it’s one in all a number of huge choices coming in what guarantees to be a pivotal (and worrying) few months in Brooklyn.
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