All the gambling houses are claiming that Brooklyn will be the worst team in the NBA.
The Nets say they won't bet on that.
Many of them were upset that the over/under betting line was set at a league-worst 19.5 wins. And with training camp starting on Tuesday, the Nets could begin the work of proving that wrong.
“Yes, I think that's rude. Just because we have a lot of players that people don't know about doesn't mean we're only going to win 19 games,” Dayron Sharp said. “You can't put one foot out and one foot in. I'm trying to win as many games as possible and a lot of people will doubt us, but we're going to prove it.”
Dorian Finney-Smith added: We are playing with the church's money. ”
Multiple networks echoed this sentiment, saying that low expectations can be both liberating and motivating, encouraging an underdog mentality.
“On the one hand, you say we don't have expectations, then we just go out there and play our game without any of the stress that comes with it,” Cam Johnson said. spoke. “So for us, we can use that to our advantage. Use it as a chip on our shoulder, use it as a weight on our shoulder and just play our way.”
After trading Mikal Bridges and reacquiring the 2025 and 2026 picks from Houston, the Nets are expected to not only struggle, but also move more veterans.
“I was with Mikal when he moved, so I thought I might be touched, too,” Finney-Smith said. “But all I can do is be a professional. Stay in shape, be ready to play and be on your feet.” [are]”
The summer dual signing signaled a rebuild for Brooklyn. But don't say that to the Nets.
tissue tank. Players and coaches don't. While GM Sean Marks is concerned about lottery odds and Cooper Flagg, his players are focused on getting the W.
“I don't think of this as a rebuild. I'm looking to win, especially if Ben. [Simmons] I'm Ben [Simmons]I feel like we had a good chance to win some games,” Finney-Smith said. “So I’m just trying to do everything I can to take that two-foot step and try to get as many wins as possible.”
Some Nets internalized last-place projections, and it put a dent in their collective shoulders.
“I look at it as motivation,” Cam Thomas said. “Every time I see something like that or my mom talks to me about it, I always just laugh, but then I always make a mental note of it and prove everyone wrong. I try to…I use everything as motivation for myself and the team. So definitely have a laugh, but it's in the back of my mind as motivation.”
With everyone but Johnson having expiring contracts, how will older veterans like Simmons, Finney-Smith, Johnson and Bojan Bogdanovic get buy-in? Johnson and Finney-Smith have been the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason.
“They're really open and I appreciate that. A lot of times in this league, coaches don't tell you anything and they hide it, as if your name isn't all over the internet.” I’m just trying to do it,” Finney-Smith said. “[So] I'm grateful to them. ”
Bojan Bogdanovic (foot, wrist surgery) has started individual practice on the court, but not in contact or 5-on-5.
