Anybody that has watched a Nets telecast for the last two decades knows that they get a treat in being able to listen to Ian Eagle. And among the unique parts of their broadcast is a halftime segment called “Wear Brooklyn at?” Nets fans submit pictures and a story of them wearing Nets gear all over the world.
Right now, though, as teams continue to prep for Orlando, we all have to ask ourselves one question. Where Brooklyn At?
Guys Not Traveling
The spelling above is not a typo. The question being asked is, where are all of the regulars? Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will not play. Wilson Chandler is out. Theo Pinson got waived. DeAndre Jordan will be staying home after his positive COVID-19 test, while Spencer Dinwiddie’s status is unclear after he also tested positive for the coronavirus.
Several rotational players not traveling will make things very interesting for Brooklyn. The team that we saw them use for the first “part” of the year will be very different from the product they put on the floor in Orlando.
Nicolas Claxton, their No. 3 big man, is also going to be out. So, there is no other big currently on the roster besides Jarrett Allen. If only they could play the Rockets in every game.
The Replacements
The Nets have signed two new players to join them when the season reboots so far: An old familiar face in Justin Anderson and former Suns guard Tyler Johnson. Both of these guys have played on winning teams before and will add valuable experience. Anderson started as a rookie for the Mavericks in the playoffs after Chandler Parsons was hurt in 2015.
Johnson was a part of a playoff berth with the Heat too, so these guys know what it takes to be contributing players on a team that needs to win crucial games. They will most likely sign an eligible big man to replace Jordan, as they will need to.
Whoever it is, they will need to step into a big role instantly. If Allen experiences foul trouble, it will make things very difficult for a new guy.
Expectations for the Nets?
Expectations for this team should be as low as can be. They still have a budding star in Caris LeVert, but that is seriously all they have going for them.
Joe Harris has improved tremendously over the last few years, but he’s better in a supporting role. If Dinwiddie doesn’t play, it will be the Chris Chiozza show.
Chiozza is somebody to keep an eye on. The under-6-foot guard proved his value in the final stretch of games before the stoppage. He’s a hard-worker that can knock down shots at an impressive clip. He is a less-flashy version of one-time Celtics megastar Isaiah Thomas.
This will be a big opportunity for Taurean Prince to prove his value to the organization. He is under contract for next year already, but his role is not at all clear. He can play either forward spot as is, but those positions will be more crowded in 2020-21.
The one incentive the Nets have to go 0-8 is that if they miss the playoffs, they keep their pick. It goes to Minnesota otherwise. The only issue? The Wizards are the only team that can knock them out. And they’re far behind.
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