The Nets Will Likely Not Be Able To Avoid The Play-In Tournament
The NBA adopted the play-in tournament format during the 2020 NBA Bubble and last season was the “first official season” that they utilized the play-in tournament for the 8-seeds through 10-seeds in both conferences.
Not only has the level of competition increased since the play-in tournament, but there seems to be a new level of excitement and, for some, worry about what the play-in tournament means.
Teams like the Hornets and Pelicans this season and definitely going to be grateful for the play-in tournament, as they have a chance to prove that they are a playoff team through it, but it is definitely worrisome for a team like the Nets, who entered the season with high championship aspirations.
Injuries have resulted in the Nets falling to where they are in the standings and likely having to play in this play-in format, but the play-in tournament has not been too generous to championship hopefuls the last two seasons.
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In fact, no team that has played in the play-in tournament has actually won a playoff series, spelling trouble for the Brooklyn Nets this season.
Currently 5.5 games behind the 6-seeded Cavaliers in the standings, it is possible for the Nets to make up ground quickly and avoid the play-in tournament altogether, but 7 of their final 17 games are against playoff-projected teams right now. They will also play the Hornets twice and the Hawks once, two teams currently fighting the Nets right now for play-in tournament position.
The good news for the Nets is that 10 of their remaining games on the year are home. The bad news is that Kyrie Irving still cannot play in Barclays Center, which is why the Nets would probably rather play on the road down the stretch.
The rest of the season is going to be very worrisome for the Brooklyn Nets, especially since they have almost no chance of getting out of the play-in tournament region of the standings. Not only would they have to win a vast majority of their final 17 games, but the Nets would also need a lot of help from other teams around the league, something they cannot control.
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Entering the season with high championship aspirations, the Nets are going to have to treat every single game they play the rest of the season as a high-level playoff game if they are going to have any shot whatsoever of reaching the playoffs and potentially going on a championship run. Kevin Durant can only do so much for this team, which is why he needs a “full-time” Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons by his side.
