Choose Your Own Adventure, Playoff Edition

ecuhus1981 · Post #1 » by **ecuhus1981** » Wed May 5, 2021 7:48 am

66 games into the 2020 - 2021 season, the Brooklyn Nets know who they are. An offensively elite team, with a chance to leave a legacy as the most lethal in league history. They are also a team ranked 26th in defensive efficiency, and look disoriented, disinterested and unconnected reacting to simple plays at times. They are blessed with veteran camaraderie, and cursed by past-prime athleticism concerns. Our ceiling is still as high as everyone has claimed, but I think we can all agree now that the floor and basement of our potential aren't a rosy picture. We're going to need to focus on the things we can improve, and the path that lays out in front of us could make a big difference.

Hypothetically, if you could choose, which playoff path would you rather the Nets face? Why?

Papi_swav · Post #2 » by **Papi_swav** » Wed May 5, 2021 8:06 am

I would say #1 but I don't think so at this point. But also the Wizards and Knicks have played us very tough this year and are the kind of teams you would like to avoid in playoffs.

I'll go with #2. Boston doesn't scare me . MIL and PHIL are going to be toughh but we'll have to face them sometime and to be the best u have to beat the best. Embiid will probably be gassed by the ECF assuming we all make it.

Prokorov · Post #3 » by **Prokorov** » Wed May 5, 2021 5:24 pm

ecuhus1981 wrote:66 games into the 2020 - 2021 season, the Brooklyn Nets know who they are. An offensively elite team, with a chance to leave a legacy as the most lethal in league history. They are also a team ranked 26th in defensive efficiency, and look disoriented, disinterested and unconnected reacting to simple plays at times. They are blessed with veteran camaraderie, and cursed by past-prime athleticism concerns. Our ceiling is still as high as everyone has claimed, but I think we can all agree now that the floor and basement of our potential aren't a rosy picture. We're going to need to focus on the things we can improve, and the path that lays out in front of us could make a big difference.

Hypothetically, if you could choose, which playoff path would you rather the Nets face? Why?

Round 1 Knicks
Round 2 Bucks
Round 3 Philly
Round 4 Lakers or Clippers

I assume the knicks wont happen so if not then charlotte. Id prefer to avoid boston and miami, where nash would be the most outcoached. Despite the last 2 games i dont see the bucks giving us a good series with harden back. and even if he is out, i think we win in 6 still.

Philly is the team im least scared of outside of the hornets. if they play miami or boston they wont make it to us... but i hope they do. people envision philly/bucks as the best teams we;d face. they are also 2 of the teams i fear least. so it works out where i think its the easiest path plus shuts people up too.

and i always want to smash the knicks

MrDollarBills · Post #4 » by **MrDollarBills** » Wed May 5, 2021 8:26 pm

Who has confidence that this team is beating The Knicks or Miami right now? Not after what I saw last night.

ecuhus1981 · Post #5 » by **ecuhus1981** » Wed May 5, 2021 9:27 pm

MrDollarBills wrote:Who has confidence that this team is beating The Knicks or Miami right now? Not after what I saw last night.

Yeah, we do many things well but I would prefer to avoid the junkyard, grinder teams. That would exacerbate our weaknesses IMO, and I'm not sure our strengths would outweigh it.

As you say, last night was prima facia evidence, but Sunday's game was similar. Our guys are making tough, contested shots against Premier defenders in iso plays. Meanwhile, the other team is walking it up the court under no pressure, swinging the ball to multiple sides of the court without anyone heating up passing lanes, and calmly carving us up with screens and backdoor cuts for nearly automatic points. It's untenable.

I believe we can and will address it. But, the man in charge has to own it before we can truly change it, and he avoids responsibility for losses like the plague. This is how you lose locker rooms.

3pt_chucker · Post #6 » by **3pt_chucker** » Wed May 5, 2021 10:49 pm

For R1, We match up really well with the Celtics, so rather play them Round 1 than a frisky and hungry Washington team. That'd be a dog fight even if the Nets sweep.

Obviously Mil, then Philly is tough but I think we can beat the Celts in 5 (max) and gear up for those 2 series.

Mia and Wash will be dog fights, which I kinda want to avoid for a round 1 matchup especially with the team still trying to get fully healthy.

MrDollarBills · Post #7 » by **MrDollarBills** » Wed May 5, 2021 11:30 pm

ecuhus1981 wrote:
MrDollarBills wrote:Who has confidence that this team is beating The Knicks or Miami right now? Not after what I saw last night.

Yeah, we do many things well but I would prefer to avoid the junkyard, grinder teams. That would exacerbate our weaknesses IMO, and I'm not sure our strengths would outweigh it.

As you say, last night was prima facia evidence, but Sunday's game was similar. Our guys are making tough, contested shots against Premier defenders in iso plays. Meanwhile, the other team is walking it up the court under no pressure, swinging the ball to multiple sides of the court without anyone heating up passing lanes, and calmly carving us up with screens and backdoor cuts for nearly automatic points. It's untenable.

I believe we can and will address it. But, the man in charge has to own it before we can truly change it, and he avoids responsibility for losses like the plague. This is how you lose locker rooms.

Playoffs start in 6 games. I don't see anything changing outside of Harden coming back and we just score 130 per game and win by 5 pts or less.

These last two games were an exposure. The Bucks are clearly a better team than we are in terms of team defense, rebounding, and coaching. Giannis outplayed Durant two games in a row.

We aren't winning a championship this season. Quote me on it. I can't objectively watch what I saw and say that this team shows the habits of a championship team. Constant 2nd chance opportunities gifted to the opponent. No resistance at the rim. God awful turnovers. What team has won a championship where they constantly fail in these areas?

Prokorov · Post #8 » by **Prokorov** » Thu May 6, 2021 2:23 pm

MrDollarBills wrote:Who has confidence that this team is beating The Knicks or Miami right now? Not after what I saw last night.

we sweep the Knicks in with at least 2 blowouts wins.

We beat miami in 6. they drastically outcoach us. dont want to see them or boston. give me knicks/bucks/philly all day

Prokorov · Post #9 » by **Prokorov** » Thu May 6, 2021 2:26 pm

MrDollarBills wrote:
ecuhus1981 wrote:
MrDollarBills wrote:Who has confidence that this team is beating The Knicks or Miami right now? Not after what I saw last night.

Yeah, we do many things well but I would prefer to avoid the junkyard, grinder teams. That would exacerbate our weaknesses IMO, and I'm not sure our strengths would outweigh it.

As you say, last night was prima facia evidence, but Sunday's game was similar. Our guys are making tough, contested shots against Premier defenders in iso plays. Meanwhile, the other team is walking it up the court under no pressure, swinging the ball to multiple sides of the court without anyone heating up passing lanes, and calmly carving us up with screens and backdoor cuts for nearly automatic points. It's untenable.

I believe we can and will address it. But, the man in charge has to own it before we can truly change it, and he avoids responsibility for losses like the plague. This is how you lose locker rooms.

Playoffs start in 6 games. I don't see anything changing outside of Harden coming back and we just score 130 per game and win by 5 pts or less.

These last two games were an exposure. The Bucks are clearly a better team than we are in terms of team defense, rebounding, and coaching. Giannis outplayed Durant two games in a row.

We aren't winning a championship this season. Quote me on it. I can't objectively watch what I saw and say that this team shows the habits of a championship team. Constant 2nd chance opportunities gifted to the opponent. No resistance at the rim. God awful turnovers. What team has won a championship where they constantly fail in these areas?

"i dont see anything changing" except adding a 2 time MVP and top 5 player for whom we ave a 24-7 record with, INCLUDING a win over the bucks. G back and watch that game. no one on milwaukee can guard james. Jrue was in his shorts all game and still got abused.

Harden leads our team in rebounding. he will 100% help there. he makes our role guys better. and we dont have to go 12 minutes with no superstar on the floor once he's back.

We may not win a title... if we dont it will be because someone gets hurt or nash throws it away in the finals or ECF.

but with harden we are huge favorites

Suwanee · Post #10 » by **Suwanee** » Sat May 8, 2021 3:32 am

As it stands, it’s option 3...

gigantes · Post #11 » by **gigantes** » Sat May 8, 2021 12:44 pm

Late reply, but I chose #1 just because it was still possible at the time, and having to face both MIL and PHI seems like a sunk ship at the moment. Of course I can also see problems playing both MIA and NYK (etc), but at least those two have more holes and uncertainties than the other two.

I also have to think that no team in the league has the potential to improve as dramatically as the Nets can as long as we can do the doggie paddle. It will be tight, but IMO there really is time to level up, perhaps multiple times.

Specifically, the team needs crucial games to work back our MVP (and maybe DWid), plus other players still recovering from recent injuries. Also, because building essential familiarity between the players is still one of the Nets' biggest shortcomings.

Obviously the team isn't championship material at the moment, but give them an extra 5 + 3*(4 to 7), i.e. 17 to 26 games, and the picture could change dramatically. That's a month to month-and-a-half of games, and we've all seen plenty of teams reach a different gear in that timespan. Really, I can't remember the last time I saw a team with such a painfully shaky floor, but such a vaulted ceiling.

HardenGoat · Post #12 » by **HardenGoat** » Sat May 8, 2021 3:47 pm

Suwanee wrote:As it stands, it’s option 3...

I think there’s a good chance we see Celtics first round. They have an easier schedule than Miami and face them twice. Destiny is theirs. Would rather see Heat face bucks first round.

Prokorov · Post #13 » by **Prokorov** » Sun May 9, 2021 5:37 am

HardenGoat wrote:
Suwanee wrote:As it stands, it’s option 3...

I think there’s a good chance we see Celtics first round. They have an easier schedule than Miami and face them twice. Destiny is theirs. Would rather see Heat face bucks first round.

If Boston/Miami split, and both win out from there, hawks will drop to 7