Instead of contesting for the worst record in the NBA, the net has the opportunity to head to the All-Star break battle for a berth in the play-in round.
Thanks to five wins in the last six games, including two straight wins, the Nets hosted Philadelphia at Barclays Center on Wednesday night, and had the chance to reach the highly disappointing half-game 76ers.
And as of Tuesday, the Net had finished 10th in the Eastern Conference and sat in just three games for the Bulls, with six of the next 10 games currently playing against the team outside the playoffs.
The net lacks even deeper than they did before buying Ben Simmons, but some of the team in the front of the East are confused.
First-year head coach Jordi Fernandez somehow acquired the team in the postseason distance despite preseason predictions. The net predicts that it will be the worst team in the league.
“What we care about here is when we're the next game and we're getting certain things done about development,” Fernandez said. “As you pointed out, we're three games from play-in. It's important, but you can't get lost. I want everyone to be competitive. We're all competing here. It's important to find new ways to be powerful and competitive.”
That wasn't a recent issue.
“We're pretty close now. The only thing we have to do is keep the course,” Fernandez said. “We just went [on] It was a seven-game winning streak and no one here thought we weren't good enough. We kept working, we kept working, we kept working. Some wins have come our way, and that's the mentality I want a guy to have. ”
Some players have the net maintained by Nick Claxton and Dayron Sharp.
“Three games later,” Claxton said. “So we still have a lot to do, but we know that if we keep ticking, we can get it.”
Claxton, listed as suspicious in Wednesday's game due to a sprain in his right ankle, caused a turnaround. From 9.7 points and 1.1 blocks per game in the first 40 games, to 12.7 points and 2.8 blocks in the last six.
Sharp is also rising in his production. He averaged 10 points and 1.2 blocks over his past six games after averaging 7.8 points and 0.5 blocks in his first 25 games.
More importantly, Sharp and Claxton are fixing what was recently a stellar defense.
“With all the deals and everything going on, we still found a way to get together,” Sharp said of how the team responded despite low expectations and roster movements. He spoke. “Like, [D’Angelo Russell] Probably just here [just] It's been over a month, but it feels like he's been here all year round. …We feel that there are a lot of people who know how to protect people and get along with them, just like he's the type of guy.
Russell averaged 5.9 assists in 15 games since arriving with the Lakers. He averaged 4.7 assists in 29 games before the deal that sent Finney Smith and Shake Milton to Los Angeles late last month.
This turnaround came after the net lost seven straight wins and 12 of 13 games.
Currently they are 10 games ahead of the wizard, and serious good fortune is needed for their hopes of winning the No. 1 pick in the draft (which is likely to be used in the Dukestar Cooper Flag).
Due to transaction deadlines in the rearview mirror, the internet will not be able to ship others. Sharp, Claxton and Cam Johnson were among those with doubts about their future in Brooklyn. Instead, they remain solid players in the net.
“Go out there and try to win every game,” Fernandez said of his team's mentality. “And once we get there, it's going to be a huge accomplishment. Now we're thinking about the next game.”
Dalic Whitehead was recalled from G League Long Island after scoring 20 points on Tuesday. The 2023 first round pick appeared in eight online games this season.
– Additional report by Brian Lewis.
