Tactics

Kenny Atkinson has been head coach of the Brooklyn Nets since 2016, and took them to the playoffs for the first time in his tenure last season. Atkinson employs a style that he himself describes as “the modern NBA”: an offensive emphasis on three-point shooting (D’Angelo Russell was key in this regard last year, a mantle now taken up by Irving and Durant). This will likely continue into this campaign with the arrival of the more-than-capable-shooter Irving, but now the Nets can attack the inside and get layup baskets through the guards effective and direct dribbling. Atkinson likes versatile big men that can spread the team out, and the addition of DeAndre Jordan when the Nets already have Jarrett Allen highlights this. They could both be utilised to limit inside scoring and protect the rim on defense, but Atkinson usually encourages such opposition offense. He aims to minimise the number of perimeter points conceded by the Nets, and so expect the likes of Irving and LeVert to close down dangerous shooters quickly and usher them inside.

Predicted 2019-20 Record: 46-36

Once again, I know what you’re wondering. How can a team that’s added Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant only improve by four measly wins? As I mentioned earlier, Durant - who is the best scorer in the game right now - might not play this season. Irving proved during his ill-fated stint in Boston that he cannot lead a team as well as he would like. Let’s also give D’Angelo Russell - now of Golden State - the credit he deserves for playing out his mind to take Brooklyn to the playoffs last season. DeAndre Jordan is a good addition, but the Nets already had the effective Jarrett Allen and so Jordan wasn’t really a tremendously significant positional upgrade. I will say this: I expect Brooklyn to make the playoffs (I have them as the fourth seed), and if they get KD back in time for the critical postseason, the Nets will be a real threat to make a deep run.