To gear up for the NBA playoffs, the For the Win staff is sharing our favorite things about all of the teams that made the postseason. Up next, the Brooklyn Nets.

8 awesome things about other NBA playoff teams: Heat | Pacers | Raptors | Nets | Hawks | Warriors | Trail Blazers | Rockets

1. They took the New York crown from the Knicks this year

For as long as anyone can remember, the Nets have played second fiddle to the Knicks in the battle for New York’s basketball heart. That may still be true — but for one year, at least, the Nets are riding high into the playoffs and the Knicks are already starting their offseason. Yeah it took a massive, massive investment from a Russian billionaire to make it happen, but there isn’t just one main draw in New York anymore. That’s a good thing.

2. Mason Plumlee developed into a legitimate Rookie-of-the-Year candidate

They say last year’s draft was the weakest since 2000. Michael Carter-Williams started hot and then faded with the 76ers. Victor Oladipo turned into a strong defender and solid rotation guy, but it’s tough to imagine him as an All-Star. Both will miss out on playoffs.

But then there’s Plumlee. The big fella out of Duke got a shot when some injuries happened, and under coach Jason Kidd’s strict rules (he’s not allowed to shoot outside the paint), Plumlee has blossomed into a tough interior defender and solid post-up option. It may be a little rushed, but Plumlee is contributing now, and learning a lot from the older vets on the team.

Plus when the team wears their nickname jersey his says “Plums” which is perfect.

3. Joe Johnson turned into a late-game assassin

Actually, he’s always been a late-game assassin. Johnson has been kicked around a lot by writers and fans for his disappearing acts, his failure to take over games, his poor shot selection, on and on. But at the end of games, there aren’t many better people to have the ball in his hands. Last season, he went 9-11 from the field when the score was within 3 and there was less than 24 seconds on the clock, the best rate in the league.

This year, more of the same. He may have an on/off switch, but with Johnson and Paul Pierce on your team, you have two serious threats to score when the game is on the line.

4. Jason Kidd spilled a drink on purpose to get a free timeout

This was one of the funniest moments of the NBA season. The league punished him and it was totally cheating. But it was very funny all the same.

5. Kevin Garnett is still screaming gibberish at everyone

The angriest man in basketball is still angry.

6. Their owner Mikhail Prokhorov

Anytime you can have a Russian billionaire — whose top interests include extreme sports and hosting lavish yacht parties — own an NBA franchise, you need to appreciate it for all its worth.

Does anyone know how Prokhorov got all his money? Not really. Does anyone know how he convinced Andrei Kirilenko to sign with the Nets for a below-market contract? Not in the least. Could you tell me absolutely anything about this man and I would believe you? 100%.

7. Andrei Kirilenko’s mullet

Look at it. Take it in. It’s glorious.

8. Paul Pierce is back on the big stage

One of the greatest Celtics ever became a city hero when he finally won a title with the team in 2008. Even though he’s not wearing green anymore, it’s still awesome to see Pierce, now in his 16th NBA season, around in the postseason. He’s had to play a bit of power forward this year, but he’s still found a way to score the basketball and be a team leader for a team that desperately needed one.

It took the Nets a while to get going, but now that Kidd, Pierce, Johnson, Deron Williams and Garnett are meshing and incorporating role players well, this team could make a run.