NBA: Way-too-early prediction of the 16 playoff teams for the 2020-21 season

2. Brooklyn Nets

Along with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Brooklyn Nets will be the other prohibitive favorite in the Eastern Conference. And a big reason why is the expected return of both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Kyrie played sparingly in 2019-20, but Durant will be making his Nets debut with the team since signing with them via free agency last summer.

Even without a healthy Durant and Kyrie during the 2019-20 campaign, the Nets still managed to make the playoffs. As long as the team can mesh quickly, the expectations for Brooklyn will be sky-high. The ceiling for this team is an NBA Championship. What makes this team so special is their low floor.

If Kevin Durant is even 90 percent of his former self, the Nets are going to be a big problem in the Eastern Conference. Health permitting, I’d be extremely surprised if the Nets didn’t finish the 2020-21 NBA season as a top two or three team in the Eastern Conference.