The reason to be optimistic about the Nets’ chances of making the playoffs is because they still have the advantage of having the second-best schedule in the NBA.
The reason for the pessimism is that 10 of the next 11 games will be played on the road, and the Nets have the lowest winning percentage (.321) of any team still in the playoff hunt.
The make-or-break part of the schedule begins Thursday, but something has to give then. Either the schedule will be more difficult than expected (.456 winning percentage of remaining opponents), or playing on the road will not be as difficult.
The Nets begin a six-game road trip of the season against the Pistons. The Pistons are the first of three opponents (Hornets, Spurs) who have a record below .500 in at least 32 games.
“We’ve got to stay focused on our standards…and work even harder for the upcoming road trip,” interim coach Kevin Ollie said after Tuesday’s fourth-quarter come-from-behind victory over the 76ers. Because we’re still chasing.” “We’re chasing the guys before us. So we have to have that hunger.”
The Nets, who were 2 1/2 games out of last place in the play-in tournament entering Wednesday’s game, have made five more trips of three or more games this season.
They have only improved once in the past after winning, but this is the first time they have been in such a good mood with three wins in the past four games.
“It’s my job to get that masterpiece out of them every day,” Olly said. “It’s their job to bring out the masterpiece in each other. So I look at this and I believe in them. They’re winning at all costs and doing what we have to do to pay the price.” We’re going to keep doing what we have to do. We’re going to pay the bills by doubling down on details. No matter who’s in the game, we have the recipe to win the game.”
On Tuesday, the Nets showed a versatile recipe for starting power forward Dorian Finney-Smith as the backup center in an effective small-ball lineup in place of the injured Dayron Sharpe.
He recorded his second 20-point game of the season (first since Nov. 3) on the strength of 4-of-7 3-point shooting.
“Coach was telling us to move the ball from side to side,” Finney-Smith said. “And I was able to get some easy looks. Everyone was catching me cutting. My coach told me to cut more with the new set he was introducing. I asked for it.”
If the Nets can take advantage of favorable matchups against the Pistons and Hornets, the 10th-seeded Hawks will play the first of three games against potential playoff teams (Cavaliers, Magic, Pacers) on Sunday. You may be able to build a slightly more advantageous position.
“This is a clear example of all the growth and all the trials and tribulations that we’ve been through,” guard Lonnie Walker IV said after the win over the 76ers. “We came together as a team and stepped up and everyone did their job. That’s what you would expect after the last 25 or so games and trying to make the playoffs.”
The game against the Pelicans on March 19th at Barclays Center will be the Nets’ only home game between now and March 29th, ending the season with 11 of 14 home games (7-7). It will balance out the early game.
If the Nets don’t do their job in the first leg of a crucial game, a second four-game series will be meaningless. For reference, the Clippers played 11 consecutive road games from 2010 to 2011.
“We’re doing a good job of playing together,” guard Dennis Smith Jr. said. “We’re all sharing the cake. We’re all participating on offense and defense. It’s about us playing a real team game.”
Outside of Brooklyn, the Nets average about four fewer points on the road than at home (109.8 points), shoot worse from the floor (45.0%), have fewer rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, and commit fewer turnovers. is increasing.
No wonder their 9-19 road record is a deterrent for the playoffs.
“This is the fourth quarter of the season,” O’Ree said. “So we have to challenge each other.
“We can’t afford to miss any games and we have to take care of business.”
