Monday, April 08, 2019

Brooklyn Nets: A Playoff Team Blooms in Brooklyn

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH


NO TANKING IN BROOKLYN
No Outside Help Needed
#WeGoHard

BROOKLYN NETS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH 

SUNDAY
Nets     108
Pacers   96
FINAL

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Punches Ticket To Post-Season; Triumph Over Bucks and Pacers on Back-To-Back Nights.

It's been five long seasons since the Brooklyn Nets last topped 40 wins.  

During the last four years, the Brooklyn Nets have gone from being a badly flawed playoff qualifier under Billy King, to completely stripping down the entire operation to the ground and rebuilding what is to date a young inexperienced playoff contender under Sean Marks.

Beware: part of being a fan means allowing emotions and expectations to change like the wind.  That said, I hear some declaring Sean Marks' three year rebuild complete.  The Nets turnaround has indeed been remarkable.  If they seem ahead of schedule, they have an effective executive plan, good coaching, and a united locker room to thank.  But I would argue the rebuild is nowhere near complete.  There's so much more which needs to be done.  Granted, their patient grassroots effort is indeed paying earlier than expected dividends.  By no means, however, should Sean Marks all of a sudden alter his blue print now.  I would implore him to continue forwarding his vision.  Be penny wise, draft smartly, and let pragmatism rule the day.

If emotions ruled the day, Kenny Atkinson would have been fired already.  I wonder how those fans and media calling for his head back in November feel about him now.  Upon snapping that near crippling eight game losing streak on Dec. 5, the team went on to post a 33-22 record as they head into Wednesday's season finale.  Sunday's victory over the Pacers improved the Nets record to 41-40 thus ensuring they'll finish the season no worse than par.  With a victory over Miami, Brooklyn would likewise post their first winning record in five seasons.

The Nets stretch run was more like an odyssey, as ten of their last 14 games have been on the road.  They're better for it, having emerged alive and quite well.  In the end, they eliminated any need for outside help by defeating the Bucks and Pacers on back-to-back nights.  They can expect a hero's welcome when they host the Miami Heat in the season finale at Barclays Center on Wednesday.






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