16. Brooklyn Nets (30-29)
The Brooklyn Nets have been largely been the talk of the Eastern Conference this season. They went from being one the jokes of the NBA to being a top 6 seed in the East and a shoe-in to make a return to the playoffs.
Brooklyn is being fueled by their unique group of young studs, with D’Angelo Russell – who is a first-time all-star this season – leading the way. It’s certainly a great sign for this team moving forward, but could make extension talks all the more complicated between both sides this summer.
I don’t think anyone expects the Nets to pull off any surprises in the playoffs this season, but there’s no question that this team will bring some excitement to the city if they make the playoffs.