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It’s taken some time, but the Brooklyn Nets are starting to reap the benefits of their hard work from behind the scenes. Over the last four years or so, the Nets weren’t highly spoken of, but an influx of talented prospects has changed the course of how NBA fans view the Eastern Conference side.
Admittedly, the Nets were a pretty terrible side until recently but their form this season seems to have outweighed all the previous negativity. To date, the Nets have a record of 38-37 and have a really strong chance of making the play-offs.
New ideologies
Coach Kenny Atkinson has been with the side for two-and-a-half years now, and he has certainly been pivotal in the upturn of fortunes at the Barclays Center. The former point guard has implemented new strategies and experimented with new ideas, and so far things are looking good for the Nets.
A change made to the club’s roster policy meant the Nets had to try and sign new talent that had previously been ignored or had gone under the radar somewhat. Spencer Dinwiddie is a prime example and he continues to play a major role in the team.
Something which is more noticeable than most about Atkinson is how he’s changed the Nets’ shot quality, which simply measures the likelihood of shots going in. Prior to Atkinson’s appointment, the Nets ranked 26th from 30th during the 2015/16 campaign but they are currently perched in the top-ten of the metric.
Nets have playoff potential
Despite losing to Oklahoma City Thunder last time out, the Nets are in a very good position to make the end of season play-offs. Atkinson has put a lot of emphasis on his guards and it’s certainly paying off. The likes of D’Angelo Russell and Shabazz Napier have both had strong campaigns to date with the former earning an All-Star spot.
Even after the long-term injury suffered by Caris LeVert, it hasn’t dampened the Nets’ spirits and they’ve continued to navigate their way up the table. Defensively, the Nets have improved massively and much of that owes to the brilliant performances of Jarrett Allen. The 20-year-old has carved out a fine reputation this season and has a bright future ahead of him.
Looking at the overall picture, it’s clear that the Nets’ recent good form is via sheer hard work and a structured defensive and offensive strategy. Coupled with the up-and-coming youngsters and hot prospects the Nets currently boast, the immediate outlook is the best it’s been in years.
Russell, Dinwiddie and Allen have been the Nets’ standout performers so far and the fact that Atkinson has found a remedy to let both Russell and Dinwiddie thrive together, the side have seen a vast improvement which will hold them in good stead as the business end of the season approaches.
Talk of the play-offs will be the burning agenda on the lips of Nets’ fans, and rightly so after a rather bleak period saw them become the butt of jokes amongst NBA followers.
Think the Nets can clinch a top-six spot? You can check out all the latest markets with NBA betting on Betfair.
