Best Bet: Brooklyn Nets Make the Playoffs (-250)
Worst Bet: Nets to Win NBA Championship (+2500)
The Brooklyn Nets were one of the biggest surprises of the 2018-19 season, as they proved doubters wrong en route to a playoff birth behind all-star DeAngelo Russell as well as the strong performances of Joe Harris, Caris LeVert, and Spencer Dinwiddie. The Nets went 42-40 and qualified for the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Their playoff trip was quite short however as they were bounced in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers in five games. The Nets were able to end their three-year playoff drought, making the playoffs for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign.
Now the 2019-20 season could look even better for Brooklyn with free-agent acquisitions Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, and Kevin Durant. The Nets obviously made a huge splash in the offseason. Russell is no longer in Brooklyn, but the future looks bright for this group.
The Nets had many possibilities in the 2019 NBA Draft but ended up selecting Nicolas Claxton from the University of Georgia in the second round. They also picked up Jaylen Hands in a trade on draft night. Taurean Prince, Garrett Temple, and Wilson Chandler give the Nets some strong new role players to come of the bench.
The Durant Achilles injury will limit the team this season, but once he is back and fully healthy this team will be a legitimate threat in the East.
Nets Win Total: O/U 44.5 Wins
The ceiling might be very high for this Nets team, as they have built themselves into a contender. Kyrie Irving paired with Kevin Durant is to die for, but the injury to Durant will make Nets fans water at the mouth for months waiting for this duo to take the floor together. Add in Jordan and you have built yourself a strong group of three. Joe Harris and Caris Levert make for a good starting five.
That’s in the long run, but to start the year the line-up sadly won’t include Durant. They will have to turn elsewhere until he is ready. Once he is this team will be one to watch, but to start the year at least, not as much. They should be in the hunt in the East for much of the season. Once they get Durant on the floor, no question this team will have a shot to win the Atlantic Division. The Nets jumped from 28 wins two seasons ago to 42 wins last season, with one all-star in the line-up. Even if Durant doesn’t play this year they should still have enough talent to clear this number. The Nets at over 44.5 wins have value.
Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes -250, No +210
The Nets returned to the Playoffs last season after missing for three-straight seasons. It wasn’t a very long trip, but the team proved they could get there. They were able to earn the sixth spot and didn’t look too terrible losing in five games against the 76ers. It also marked the Nets’ first winning season since 2013-14. The Nets made a lot of noise winning game one in Philadelphia but couldn’t muster the energy to win any more after that.
This team has even more talent on it and could be in for a big year. Is it too weird to say that Brooklyn should be considered a favorite to make the playoffs this season? The question that remains is can they jump ahead of fellow division teams like Toronto or Boston. Regardless this team looks destined to make the postseason.
Odds To Win the Atlantic Division: +450
Here’s where it all depends on if this team can stay healthy. We already know Durant will miss most if not all of the season. Can Irving and Jordan get the team to a level that they can compete with division favorite Philadelphia?
The Nets, if everything goes right, will be in play for the Atlantic Division crown. The only team that looks to be standing in their way is the 76ers. Lots of retooling in Boston, and Toronto though they are the defending World Champions, saw all that momentum and energy come screeching to a halt when Kawhi Leonard left for Los Angeles. This should be the most interesting division battle in the Eastern Conference this season. Philly is the favorite, but the rest of the teams other than the Knicks could easily jump up and take the crown away. It’s Bold, but the Nets aren’t a bad play here.
Odds To Win the Eastern Conference: +800
Like the division race, the Eastern Conference Championship hunt has five-to-six teams that have valid arguments about being the best. Toronto took the league by storm winning the NBA Championship in 2019, and the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo stole the show by winning the league MVP. Durant is now in the Eastern Conference as well and that will shake it up even more once he returns from his injury.
The only two teams that stand in the way from Brooklyn taking over this conference are the Bucks and the 76ers. Both are built to win championships. Both came upon the short-end of the stick last season as they were both sent packing by eventual champion Toronto. I don’t think the Nets can quite dethrone the Bucks from the number one seed, but they should at least be in the conversation for a shot at winning the East. It’s a bit of a longshot but the Nets have the tools.
Odds To Win NBA Championship: +2500
Like said above the Nets have the tools to be an outstanding team, it’s just can they coexist. That is what ultimately stymied the Warriors last season, that along with a few terrible injuries, but the Nets have to coexist as a unit to dethrone the new-look West, especially teams in the Pacific Division, which may now be the hardest division in the NBA. The Nets have value for the Eastern Conference Championship, but not quite to this level. Avoid the Nets here, too many other good teams to compete with.
