The Brooklyn Nets are putting their past concerns to bed.
When the Brooklyn Nets lost in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks, I couldn’t help but feel as if we had just seen the worst incarnation of this Brooklyn team that we’re going to see, possibly, over the next half-decade.
There are a few reasons why I believe that to be true. For one, it generally takes time for star players to learn how to play with each other. Especially ones who have had no experience of doing so in the past.
Naturally, it was going to take time for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to figure out how this was going to work for the duo in Brooklyn. Even more so when James Harden joined the team during the middle of the season.
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However, at least for the most part, that won’t be a problem for the team during the 2021-22 season.
Another issue for the team last season that won’t be one this season is the team’s depth. Last season, it was a big issue and that was well evident at times throughout the season in which Durant, Kyrie, or Harden, or any combination of the three, would miss time.
The Nets simply didn’t have enough depth, especially after the injury to Spencer Dinwiddie. Even though that got better as the season went on, with the Nets adding via the buyout market, Brooklyn was never confused as a “deep” team in the East.
That perception could very well change heading into this season.
You can’t question the offseason that the Brooklyn Nets have had
During the offseason, the Nets have done a great job of solidifying their depth despite losing Dinwiddie in free agency. Brooklyn drafted Cameron Thomas in the 2021 NBA Draft, who did show flashes of offensive prowess during his time in summer league.
Additionally, via free agency and trade, the Nets will be adding Patty Mills, Jevon Carter, James Johnson, Paul Millsap, and there’s a good chance that they also add LaMarcus Aldridge. I’m not exactly sure how many of those players will actually break the team’s rotation but that’s at least six players that will have an opportunity to battle for playing time heading into training camp.
Brooklyn has done a great job this season of solidifying their roster and all but eliminating every area of weakness that this team had just one season ago, in which they lost in seven games to the eventual NBA champions.
With the offseason that they’ve had, I don’t think there’s any question that the Nets should be the heavy favorite heading into this season. With the best big three in the league, along with putting together a strong collection of bench players, there may not be anything standing in the way of the Nets winning a championship this season.