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Don’t look now, but the Brooklyn Nets are right in the hunt for that final playoff spot in the East and a big reason for their improved season is a new D’Angelo Russell.

The Brooklyn Nets will have the cap money and draft capital to improve in the offseason, but with D’Angelo Russell getting better by the night, it makes their offseason less complicated.

Not to jump into the offseason, but this is a major storyline for this Nets team this year. The expectation is that they just survive this year and then use that to have a great offseason.

But, with the way D’Angelo Russell is playing, he has become a good monkey wrench that has been thrown into those plans.

We write this article with the man I like to call “D’Russ” for short, coming off of a 38 points outburst in a loss to the Sixers.

The Nets did happen to blow a big lead and lose that game, but that is a big-time stage for this Nets team. At home vs a division rival, in a primetime slot, that is as big as it gets right now.

That is why it was awesome to see Russell drop 38. The number was two short of his career high and a performance that was the best by a Net this year considering the circumstances.

But, this is not jumping for joy and signing cheery songs for one great game. He has been on an upward trend all season.

Aside from a five-point dud vs a Timberwolves team the Nets just cannot beat for some reason, Russell has been consistent.

He dropped 31 earlier this season, then right before a 17 point game in Dallas on November 21, he scored 20+ in three straight games.

Those stats might not jump off the page, but look at where Russell is supposed to be right now.

He was supposed to be the second overall picked that saved the Los Angeles Lakers. Then, seemingly overnight he became an injured bust on the Nets’ bench.

This was supposed to be the year for Russell. He is healthy, for starters. But, he is also trying to get himself paid. But, more importantly, he is the Nets’ guy.

The Nets traded for him, and from my observations the Nets want him to be where is currently at, looking like the guard of the future.

The biggest thing was the injury to Caris LeVert, although a massive, perhaps derailing blow to the Nets as a whole, it has helped Russell.

He has not been better since LeVert went down in Minnesota a few weeks ago, but he is now back in the limelight.

LeVert was looking like the guy. He was carrying the team on his back and leading the way looking like the most improved player and the star.

Russell has had a great year but was secondary to LeVert’s year.

Now, the spotlight is on Russell. This is his team and he needs to keep it up. The focus shifts entirely to him, and the Nets need to keep pace.

Russell can do a lot for the franchise by maintaining where he is at. He is a guy they give a contract to and build around.

The Nets are in a decent spot right now. They are better than they were last year and the talent is all coming together.

I’m not going to glorify Russell as the guy yet, he has work to do to fulfill that title.

Yeah, it would be better if he got his assists numbers up, but one step at a time.

But, he is scoring and the Nets are playing well. Thus, the title of this article.

Is D’Russ a star yet? No, not by most standards.

But has he used his sample size of about 20 games to show that he is close to emerging as one?

That answer is a resounding yes.

The Nets sit at 8-13. Right on the cusp of the eighth and last playoff spot.

Although the Nets will not go as far as Russell will take them quite yet, the part of the plan where Russell is the guy and the Nets get better along with him, is coming to fruition.

This is the biggest piece of the puzzle that is about to be placed. There have been much worse times to be a Nets fan.