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5 Reasons the Brooklyn Nets won’t be the worst NBA team

By Jonathan Griggs

Apr 19, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) and center Brook Lopez (11) react after a basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Nets 99-92. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) and center Brook Lopez (11) react after a basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Nets 99-92. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 11, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Luis Scola (4) is pressured by Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Luis Scola (4) is pressured by Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

3.)  Downtown Brooklyn

The NBA has been evolving over the past several years and under former head coaches Avery Johnson, P.J. Carlesimo, and Lionel Hollins, the Nets felt as if they had a dial-up connection when the rest of the league was operating with high speed broadband. A slow, plodding offense relied too much on isolation play from players such as Brook Lopez or Joe Johnson and as a result the ball frequently stuck.

With new head coach, Kenny Atkinson, comes a new identity and offensive philosophy. If this preseason has been any indication, the 2016-17 Brooklyn Nets appear to be willing to live and die by the three-ball. In the six exhibition contests, the Nets hoisted up 33 attempts from beyond the arc on average and connected at a rate of 35.6 percent.

This system transformation was clearly in mind during free agency as general manager, Sean Marks, targeted sharp shooters you probably never heard of — namely Joe Harris and Justin Hamilton.

Under Atkinson, there figures to be more crisp ball movement this season and with the aforementioned Harris and Hamilton, as well as Bojan Bogdanovic, Jeremy Lin, Randy Foye, and Sean Kilpatrick, the Nets certainly have plenty of capable shooters. Even veteran free-agent forward Luis Scola showed improved range last season while playing for Toronto.

The Nets’ outside shooting might be enough to not only keep them in games, but also steal a few too.

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