The Nets’ ultimate 28-game stretch will begin on Thursday with a matchup in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Heart.
Brooklyn entered the All-Star break on a three-game profitable streak, is at the moment twelfth within the Jap Convention at 20-34, and now finds itself flirting with a spot within the Play-In Match underneath first-year head coach Jordi Fernandez.
Listed here are three issues to observe because the Nets’ 2024-25 common season winds down.
PLAY-IN PUSH?
The Nets had been within the midst of a brutal seven-game shedding streak this time final month. Hope was rapidly slipping away. A High 5 choose within the 2025 NBA Draft felt assured. And a great variety of followers had been content material with that destiny.
Nevertheless, Brooklyn is getting more healthy now. The group has boasted the No. 1 protection within the league since Jan. 22. D’Angelo Russell, Nic Claxton, Ziaire Williams and Day’Ron Sharpe have been taking part in a few of their greatest basketball in current weeks, whereas guys like Keon Johnson, Trendon Watford and Tosan Evbuomwan have confirmed to be a dependable supporting solid. And as a substitute of stressing over lottery odds and fantasizing about ping pong balls, the Nets are nearly in place to do the unthinkable: punch their ticket to the postseason.
Fernandez has this group taking part in exhausting regardless of accidents, absences and outdoors noise. Cam Thomas and Noah Clowney are anticipated to return shortly after the All-Star break, which ought to bolster the group’s struggling offense.
Brooklyn appears to be peaking on the proper time. It might probably nonetheless make one thing of this season, if that’s the trail it chooses to take. The Nets have the fifteenth hardest remaining schedule, per Tankathon. In the event that they get into the Play-In, something can occur.
THOMAS’ REINTEGRATION
Thomas hasn’t appeared in a recreation since Jan. 2. His impression on offense is evident. The Nets have an offensive score of 115.7 with him within the lineup and have an offensive score of 107.0 with out him. He was averaging a team-best 24.7 factors per recreation on 44.8%/37.5%/87.6% splits earlier than he was sidelined indefinitely due to a left hamstring pressure.
Whereas there’s no set date for when Thomas will return, he has continued to progress in particular person on-court exercises and is predicted to return shortly after the All-Star break. Scoring is his superpower. He brings a component to the Nets’ offense that has been lacking currently. His manufacturing will probably be wanted for a Play-In push.
REGRETS?
Normal supervisor Sean Marks was reportedly looking for two first-round picks in change for Cam Johnson on the commerce deadline. No group was keen to fulfill that asking worth, leaving Johnson rostered in Brooklyn for the rest of this season.
Will Brooklyn remorse not buying and selling Johnson at peak worth? He’s averaging 16.3 factors, 5.0 rebounds and a pair of.8 assists per recreation on 45.8%/34.6%/85.7% splits in 4 video games faraway from a six-game absence, which is ok, however down from his season averages of 19.1 factors, 4.2 rebounds and a pair of.9 assists on 48.8%/41.3%/89.4% splits.
Rust was anticipated after lacking six straight video games, but when Johnson’s averages proceed to slide for no matter purpose over the Nets’ ultimate 28 video games, then the place does that depart them getting into a pivotal offseason?
Johnson, quickly to be 29, is underneath contract for 2 extra years, so holding him round long run isn’t utterly out of the query. He is without doubt one of the premier snipers within the league. However peak Johnson was the participant we noticed forward of the All-Star break, and his worth tanks from right here, Brooklyn may remorse not transferring him sooner and finally lose him for nothing.
