Are the Nets the fourth best team in the East?

[GrandKenyon6]

The Nets are currently in fifth place. They are 2-0 against the team in front of them, Atlanta (though they didn't have Josh Smith) and they are 1-0 against Detroit. Detroit is a mess and Atlanta has done nothing to separate themselves. Is the 4th seed for this team realistic? The Raptors and Sixers were supposed to contend this season, but both teams are horrible (not surprisingly). Is there any reason why the Nets can't get home court in the first round? There are no teams that are clearly better than them other than Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando.

 

[kdub]

Not sure if being 4th or 5th seed makes a difference with the Izod.

But in terms of pure team ability, then yeah, I'd say 4th best is definitely possible unless DET regroups themselves.

 

[Belarus]

wow, guys, for Christ's sake, stop all the talk about the playoffs and even more so about 4th seed and homecourt advantage. we're 19 games in 82-games season. unbelievable.

 

[reganomics813]

Looking at how well Devin plays on the road it's actually home court disadvantage at this point.

While it is a bit premature to be talking playoffs, there really aren't too many teams behind us in the standings that I feel are serious threats to bump us out out of the playoff picture as long as we can stay healthy.

 

[YiOF]

Way too early in the season to predict. a 3 game win or lose streak would make this a entirely different discussion.

 

[GrandKenyon6]

Yes, it's early, but looking at the structures of the teams behind us, there aren't many threats. The Wizards, Bobcats, Pacers, Knicks, Sixers, and Raptors are all horrible. Miami's roster is abysmal but Wade is unreal and can carry them. There are only three legitimately good teams in the East. I do not believe it is too early to speculate.

 

[AGGiE]

The Nets are currently in fifth place. They are 2-0 against the team in front of them, Atlanta (though they didn't have Josh Smith) and they are 1-0 against Detroit. Detroit is a mess and Atlanta has done nothing to separate themselves. Is the 4th seed for this team realistic? The Raptors and Sixers were supposed to contend this season, but both teams are horrible (not surprisingly). Is there any reason why the Nets can't get home court in the first round? There are no teams that are clearly better than them other than Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando.

Can we get AWAY Court Advantage instead?

 

[Dumpy]

This is also a team that has lost five games by a total of around 170,438 points.

The last two games, Yi and Simmons have done all that they need to do for this team to stay competitive. They need to do that consistently.

They've certainly meshed faster than anyone expected (among those that thought that they'd be any good at all), but it is still early. First, they could very easily have lost the two OT games, which would have left their record at 9-10. They've played teams that have had key players injured.

I still look at this as a team that is around .500. They still need to reduce their fouls. Brook has done a pretty good job recently not making dumb fouls (22 in his last 8 games and six in his last three). The big culprits recently have been Yi (19 fouls in last six games), Ryan Anderson (19 in his last four games), and of course Sean Williams (six fouls in his last 18 minutes on the court).

And of course they don't have a defensive stopper.

I'd love to see them finally accept that no big free agent is going to sign with them, and trade a bunch of their assets for an impact SF.

 

[xflavioVC15x]

First, they could very easily have lost the two OT games, which would have left their record at 9-10.

The also could have easily won against miami and twice against Indiana with Devin which would have left their record at 14-5

 

[Dark Defender]

I'd love to see them finally accept that no big free agent is going to sign with them, and trade a bunch of their assets for an impact SF.

That's not true.

I don't think were getting LeBron but a big time FA would sign here.

 

[Belarus]

That's not true.

I don't think were getting LeBron but a big time FA would sign here.

If Brooklyn is a no go - forget it. Who wants to play in the middle of a nowhere with home court disadvantage?

 

[BrooklynBound]

That's not true.

I don't think were getting LeBron but a big time FA would sign here.

Who's the biggest FA that left his team to sign here? Not a trade but a FA.

 

[Dark Defender]

Who's the biggest FA that left his team to sign here? Not a trade but a FA.

Different situation.

The Nets never had a solid team and cap room to work with, plus this is the salary cap era. I know teams are making moves for 2010 but as of now only a few teams will be far under the cap in two years. I still don't believe the Knicks will have a good enough team to attract anyone. Also, Brooklyn isn't dead.

 

[ly_yng]

There's the inevitable Rookie/Great wall coming for Brook, Ryan and Yi, not to mention the Wade effect on Harris almost definitely leading to some missed time.

I'm with Dumpy here - we've played some teams with key injuries/ejections, and there are a LOT of things that could go wrong. Lets see how we're playing after the All-Star break.

 

[Malorkayel]

Lets wait and see = no prediction, no comment.

At this rate, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that we'll be in the playoffs. Some people who bet the other way before the season started will "wait and see".

 

[lukewarmplay]

wow, guys, for Christ's sake, stop all the talk about the playoffs and even more so about 4th seed and homecourt advantage. we're 19 games in 82-games season. unbelievable.

You're asking fans of a team that is far outperforming what any (most) of us predicted, that's beating good, if not great, teams to not be excited?

Human nature- let me introduce you to it.

 

[JE]

The Nets are currently in fifth place. They are 2-0 against the team in front of them, Atlanta (though they didn't have Josh Smith) and they are 1-0 against Detroit. Detroit is a mess and Atlanta has done nothing to separate themselves. Is the 4th seed for this team realistic? The Raptors and Sixers were supposed to contend this season, but both teams are horrible (not surprisingly). Is there any reason why the Nets can't get home court in the first round? There are no teams that are clearly better than them other than Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando.

Who's to say that Toronto and Philly can't bounce back?

 

[Malorkayel]

Did you see the Toronto game today? OMG, the worse play/attempt ever to win the game. epic fail.
Basically they didn't have a play with 8 seconds left and down by 1 pt. They gave the ball to Bosh at 3pt line and told him to try and do something with it. Raptors lose, lolz. I feel sad for that team.

 

[ly_yng]

Did you see the Toronto game today? OMG, the worse play/attempt ever to win the game. epic fail.
Basically they didn't have a play with 8 seconds left and down by 1 pt. They gave the ball to Bosh at 3pt line and told him to try and do something with it. Raptors lose, lolz. I feel sad for that team.

Hey, at least they're not pretending they have a coach anymore. That's gotta be considered an improvement, right?

 

[isrus]

This is a long season, and it we're only 19 games in.

Things can change quickly, it just takes a winning/losing streak.

In closing, let's just wait and see and understand that just making the playoffs would be great.

 

[adisodes]

This is a long season, and it we're only 19 games in.

Things can change quickly, it just takes a winning/losing streak.

In closing, let's just wait and see and understand that just making the playoffs would be great.

Nothing short of a ring will satisfy me.

Lol jk, it'd be great just to make the playoffs, but I truly believe we can go as far as the big 3 took us, this season.

 

[nets1]

Well the nets do have the schedule of december in their favor. They really need to take advantage of it before the rookies may hit the wall.

 

[DevinNets34]

if Spurs and Rockets beat Hawks, then we will be the top4 !!

if we can beat the knicks, then we will have a better record than hawks and are also the top4 .