NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 16: Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash instructs his team against the Dallas Mavericks during their game at Barclays Center on March 16, 2022 in New York City.
The Nets aren’t going to enter the NBA Playoffs with a high seed, but that doesn’t mean they can’t defy the odds and bring a title to fans in Brooklyn.
Heading into the regular season, conventional wisdom believed James Harden and Kevin Durant would pilot the Nets to one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference. It’s safe to say things haven’t gone according to plan for Steve Nash’s team.
The good news for Brooklyn fans is that their favorite team is still favored to find a way to sneak into the playoffs despite all the tumult. Dealing Harden to the 76ers shuffled the Nets’ deck considerably the deal’s centerpiece, Ben Simmons has yet to play a single minute for the team. Kyrie Irving’s inconsistent availability due to his decision not to become vaccinated against COVID-19 also served to rob the Nets of regular-season wins. Even so, Kevin Durant and company have managed to keep the franchise’s hopes of postseason glory alive.
When the playoffs begin the Nets need to shake off the malaise of their regular season drama and get down to business. Here are five reasons why they can manage that and bring home the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
5. Steve Nash can keep the Nets calm
Nash may not be the NBA’s most adept tactician, but he excels at massaging egos and keeping everyone on course. That’s crucial for a team that will enter the postseason with a lot of massive egos.
Having a head coach with zen-like qualities worked for the Bulls and Lakers with Phil Jackson at the helm. Nash can give Brooklyn the same sense of calm when times are tough.