NBA Bubble Power Rankings Preview: Catch up time

No team has been hit harder by the pandemic than the Brooklyn Nets. Looking back at the team on the court back in March, Kyrie Irving (shoulder), Spencer Dinwiddie (COVID-19), Wilson Chandler (personal reasons), Taurean Prince (COVID-19), Nicholas Claxton (shoulder) and DeAndre Jordan (COVID-19) are not with the team in the bubble.

Theo Pinson was waived to create an additional roster spot as the team scrambled to fill out the roster to try to hold on to their playoff spot. The team signed Tyler Johnson, Jamal Crawford, Michael Beasley and Donta Hall to fill out the roster. Before they could get the team together Beasley also tested positive and will no longer be joining the team.

This was always going to be something of a transition year for the franchise. With Kevin Durant out for the year, Brooklyn was always looking ahead to next season. Now it will be a proving ground for the players who have made the trip down. Even the coach is looking to earn his spot.

Jacque Vaughn has only gotten the chance to coach two games for the team but came away with two wins against the Bulls and Lakers. The team insists the interim coach is in the mix to keep the job going into next season so getting the most out of the limited roster he has will be his obvious goal.

The team has long targeted Tyler Johnson, going back to the summer of 2016 when they signed him to a massive offer sheet Miami ultimately matched. He is one of many veterans trying to show that he still belongs in the league and Orlando will be his first step in making his way back. Some may say the same about Crawford, but that might be more nostalgia than reality.

Jarrett Allen and Rodions Kurucs have seen their time in the spotlight come and go. Both young big men look to step into the starting lineup for the depleted roster. While this could be an audition to stay with the Nets or moved in a trade for a star, both will be looking to make the most of it. Do not sleep on Donta Hall, an undrafted rookie who made the All-NBA G League Second Team this year.

All that being said, the focus will be on Caris LeVert. The former Michigan Wolverine has had an inconsistent career due to injuries but he has all the makings of a future All-Star. As a second or third option on most nights, LeVert averaged 17.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He has also improved to 38.1 percent from distance this season. This is LeVert’s team in the bubble. While the team will likely not go far, it will be fun to see what the young Nets can do.

Even as they have been invited to the bubble and are only four games out of the hunt at present, this looks to be the end of the line for the San Antonio Spurs playoff run that has exceeded two decades. LaMarcus Aldridge (shoulder) and Trey Lyles (appendicitis) will not be available for the Spurs, leaving an already thin team even thinner.

It is always hard to rule out a team coached by Gregg Popovich, but this looks to be their final stand. Dejounte Murray, Jakob Poeltl and Derrick White will be the young guys getting the most run alongside veterans Patty Mills, DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay.

The team added Tyler Zeller, who hasn’t played NBA minutes since April 10, 2019. Playoff success is just is not in the cards for the Spurs this year.

All negativity aside, props to Patty Mills for donating the rest of his salary this season to organizations for change. He is standing for what is right and pushing for change. He will not be the only person we point out doing this but the applause is deserved nonetheless.