Brooklyn Nets: 3 reasons reaching the 2019 NBA Playoffs isn't farfetched

Brooklyn Nets: 3 reasons reaching the playoffs isn’t farfetched

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 09: Spencer Dinwiddie #8, Jared Dudley #6, and Joe Harris #12 of the Brooklyn Nets react after a basket is made by Dinwiddie during the first quarter of the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center on January 9, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images /

3. The belly of the East

The Brooklyn Nets are currently sitting in the seventh seed in a weakened Eastern Conference. Despite dealing with injury, the young team has embraced the next man up mentality. Over the last few years, the level of competition in the East has declined.

Currently, the top five teams in the conference are at or above .500 (Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat). The remaining two teams are under the .500 mark (Nets, Charlotte Hornets).

This season, Brooklyn has defeated two of the top five teams in the Eastern Conference (Raptors and Sixers).

Here's how 2018-19 Eastern Conference teams rate compared to prior teams for each place in the standings, 1-15.

Find Western Conference teams and analysis here:https://t.co/7TtTmABQ71 pic.twitter.com/GsyigqzzlT
— Dan Feldman (@DanFeldmanNBA) January 10, 2019

Outside of defeating the 76ers and Raptors, the Nets have a 15-11 record against Eastern Conference teams. Wednesday’s victory over the Hawks gave Brooklyn its 21st win of the year, which placed them on track to win more games than last season (28).

The Nets have done a great job of competing in every game this season. The team is currently 16th in the league in points per game. Russell continues to prove the critics and Laker trolls wrong by leading this young team.

This year’s group moves the ball, plays defense and spreads the floor. Contrary to popular belief, they are also improving on defense and disrupting opponents with their length and rotations, not to mention Allen is holding down the paint and doesn’t mind risking being on a poster once in a while.

The decline in the East will help the Nets end a four-year playoff drought, as they’re currently in seventh place despite being a game under .500.

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