Brooklyn Nets Predictions

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Last Year’s Record: 22-44
Key Losses: Anthony Morrow, DeShawn Stevenson, Johan Petro, Jordan Williams, Jordan Farmar, Gerald Green, Shelden Williams, Damion James
Key Additions: Joe Johnson, C.J. Watson, Reggie Evans, Mirza Teletovic, Andray Blatche, Josh Childress, Jerry Stackhouse, Tyshawn Taylor, Tornike Shengelia

Player Outlooks

Centers

Brook Lopez

Lopez only played in five games last season due to two separate injuries. A lot of people look at how he can score 20 ppg and don’t realize he hurts this team by his unwillingness to rebound and his poor play defensively. For the Nets to be a serious contender in the Eastern Conference he has to improve in those two areas.

Forwards

Kris Humphries

The Nets are expecting another big year out of their starting power forward. Humpries turned in his best season yet, averaging a double-double with 13.8 ppg and 11.0 rpg. He was also effective protecting the basket with just over a block/game. He really showed big improvements in his midrange jumper and he has the potential to be even more effective offensively with better players around him. While he does a solid job of rebounding and blocking shots, his overall defense still needs to improve.

Gerald Wallace

The Nets added Wallace at the trade deadline last year and he could in up being a perfect fit as a do-it-all role player. He thrives in transition and should get plenty of easy looks playing alongside Williams. Wallace does an excellent job of drawing fouls and converting those into points, as he hit 80% from the charity line last year. He isn’t a great shooter from the outside, but shouldn’t have to take a lot of shots from long distance. He is an above-average rebounder at his position and solid defensively. His athleticism and energy are what makes him so dangerous, but he has struggled to put out max effort on a consistent basis and is on the wrong side of 30.

Reggie Evans

Evans doesn’t do a whole lot outside of rebounding the basketball, but he is so good at his one skill he continues to get playing time wherever he ends up. He does a fantastic job on the offensive glass, but can struggle to convert those into points. Evans averaged just 4.5 points for every 40 minutes he played, which was the 3rd worst of active players.

Josh Childress

It wasn’t that long ago that Childress was considered one of the top reserves in the league, as he averaged double-digits in each of his first four season playing for Atlanta. However, he was a complete non-factor in his two years with the Suns. He is one of the worst defenders in the league which could make it hard for him to get much playing time in Brooklyn.

Andray Blatche

The Nets are hoping that a change of scenery will rejuvenate Blatche. He showed up out of shape in Washington last year and was eventually held out of action due to conditioning. He averaged 16.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in 64 games (63 starts) during the 2010-11 season. While this will be his 8th year in the league, he is just 25-years-old. For him to play an effective role with the Nets, he has to shoot better than the 29.9% he posted on 2-pointers outside of 10-feet last year.

Mirza Teletovic

Here is a free-agent signing that could end up paying huge dividends for Brooklyn. Teletovic is a floor-spacing big man who can light it up from long distance. He led the Euroleague in scoring last year by hitting over 43.1% from behind the arc. He will have to adjust to the longer distance in the NBA. If he can do that and continue to hit around 40%, he will play a key role off the bench.

Guards

Deron Williams

The Nets are hoping that Williams will be able to focus less on scoring this season with an improved roster. For the first time in four years, Williams failed to average double-digit assists (8.7 apg). The supporting cast should allow him to get back to the pick-and-roll that made him one of the elite point guards in the NBA. Williams defensive numbers took a big hit last year, but a lot of that had to do with a lack of effort due to playing on such a poor team.

Joe Johnson

Johnson failed to deliver in Atlanta as the primary star on a roster full of above-average talent. While he remains one of the league’s top small guards, the pressure is no longer on him to be the go-to-guy in the clutch now that he is playing alongside Williams. Johnson shot the ball extremely well from all over the floor in his final season with the Hawks and I could see him improving now that he is once again playing alongside an elite point guard.

C.J. Watson

Watson played a key role in Chicago last year, as he ended up starting 25 games in place of Derrick Rose. He wound up having to do a little too much for his talent level, but a lot of that was because the Bulls didn’t have much scoring-options without Rose on the floor. He is much better suited as a role player coming off the bench, where he can focus more on setting himself up for quality 3-point shots. He hit an impressive 39.3% from behind the arc last year.

Marshon Brooks

Brooks had his ups and downs in his rookie season last year. He is an excellent one-on-one player who can be extremely difficult to stop when his outside shot is falling. However, he needs to become more of a team player if he wants to play a key role with the Nets this year. If he can learn to get others involved, he could end up being one of the better players in the NBA. He should continue to grow as a shooter and a defender as he gains more experience.

Tyshawn Taylor

The Nets took Taylor in the second round of the draft. He likely won’t get a ton a minutes in a crowded backcourt, but his defense could end up earning him more playing time as the season goes on.

Jerry Stackhouse

Even though he no longer has that quick first step and the fact the he turns 38 in November, Stackhouse could end up giving the Nets some valuable minutes off the bench. He averaged 15.8 points for every 40 minutes he played last year with Atlanta, but at this point in his career he is primarily a jump shooter.

Keith Bogans

Bogans started all 82 games on a Chicago team that finished with 62 wins during the 2010-’11 campaign, but ended up playing in just five games with the Nets last year. He has the potential to play a key role if needed, but he doesn’t provide a whole lot outside of his ability to play tough physical defense and shoot the wide-open 3-point shot.

Team Outlook

The Nets appear to beaded back to the postseason with the big additions they have made to this roster, but they lack depth and there are huge concerns with this team on the defensive side of the ball. They figure to put up a ton of points on the offensive end, but whether or not they can contend with the elite teams in the East will come down to the effort they give on defense. With that said, I have the Nets picked to finish 2nd in the Atlantic Division with the potential to be much better.

Odds to Win the NBA Finals:  28/1

Odds to Win the Eastern Conference:  12/1

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