The Brooklyn Nets have quite a challenging road ahead. Recently, a rough losing streak saw them drop to eighth in the Eastern Conference, with 12 of their last 15 games ending in defeat. However, thanks to a few talented reinforcements, things could finally be turning around for them.
From NBA odds to news headlines, the Nets appear to be primed for a comeback of note. Despite several setbacks working against them, they’re definitely not out of the competition yet. In fact, they may just end up in a far better position by the end of the season. With that in mind, below, you’ll find five factors that make the Nets a force to be reckoned with.
The debut of Goran Dragic
Although he’s yet to play a complete game for the Nets, the introduction of point guard wonderboy Goran Dragic has already lifted Nets fans’ spirits. In his Brooklyn debut, Dragic’s 14 minutes on the court led to him earning six points, three rebounds, and two assists. During that time, he made seven shot attempts, managing to land nearly half of them.
Up against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Nets fought a close back-and-forth battle for their most recent victory. Dragic’s contributions ended up making all the difference, as the Nets walked away with a 126-123 win. Clearly, despite his debut being relatively late in the game, Dragic has the potential to become an instrumental asset for the Nets.
After agreeing to a contract buy-out with the San Antonio Spurs, Dragic signed up with the Nets as a free agent this past February. The Slovenian point guard, nicknamed “The Dragon,” has played for five NBA teams in total. He was the NBA’s most improved player in 2014 and was named an NBA All-Star during his time with Miami Heat.
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Kevin Durant’s return
According to multiple sources, the long-awaited return of Kevin Durant may not be too far off in the future. Durant is undoubtedly one of the Nets’ top performers, but his MCL injury has caused no shortage of woe for the team. However, with two test workouts left in his recovery schedule, Durant could be back on the court as early as next week.
Averaging out at almost 30 points per game, Durant is a formidable small forward in all senses of the word. While the Nets have plenty enough talent to take on their toughest competition, the 33-year old clearly makes a difference to their offensive capability.
In terms of career performance, Durant is widely regarded as one of the best players, and the achievements are as numerous as they are diverse. He has been selected as an NBA All-Star 12 times, named to the 75th NBA Anniversary Team, and has won three Olympic gold medals throughout his prolific career.
Experience
Since their move from New Jersey to Brooklyn, the Nets have qualified for the playoffs on six separate occasions. They’ve made it as far as the Conference Semifinals twice, once in 2014 and then again in 2021.
Clearly, the Nets have what it takes to reach the top of the table by the end of the season. Make no mistake; it will take a lot of hard work to get to the top after falling to such a low position. However, the season is far from over, and there’s still plenty more to play for.
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Improved defense
One of the main criticisms the Nets have faced in the past is their lack of discipline when it comes to defense. Time and time again, their potent offense has been let down by a defense fraught with trouble. That dynamic seems to be shifting, though, as the Nets have made significant progress in bolstering their defense this season.
According to the Nets’ coach, Steve Nash, defensive rebounds are the team’s weak point. The statistics appear to match up with his statement, though the problem doesn’t seem as drastic as one might first assume. After all, the Nets rank fourth overall in defensive rebounds.
What the Nets have been lacking is a strong defense when it counts, rather than defense being an overall weakness. When the pressure hits, that experience we mentioned earlier could make all the difference in fielding a consistent, level-headed defense.
Young talent
The Nets have a wealth of talent to draw from, especially from their younger players. Prodigies like Cam Thomas have been making waves on both offense and defense, causing a lot of trouble for their opponents.
Aside from prolific youngsters, the Nets have also made improvements to their bench production. The advantages of having multiple talented players to choose from are hard to overstate, especially when you consider the fact that many of those players are perfectly comfortable playing either offense or defense.
