The Brooklyn Nets were a trendy preseason pick to secure homecourt advantage in the Eastern Conference. The truly bold may have picked them as an Eastern Conference finalist on the back of Kevin Durant returning from injury. Yet the idea that the Nets would be the conference favorite with 20 games to go has to be logged as a surprise.
The Nets currently stand at 36-16 with a 0.5 game lead ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers for first in the Eastern Conference. After an early-season blockbuster trade for James Harden, they boast one of the greatest offensive trios in NBA history, up there with the Showtime Lakers and the more recent dynasty edition of the Golden State Warriors.
What is perhaps even crazier is that the Nets are rolling through the league with one hand behind their backs. Durant, Harden and Kyrie Irving have only played seven games together, and Durant returned just this week from two months rehabbing a hamstring injury. If they have been this successful apart, how incandescent will they be all together?
The Brooklyn Nets are setting up for a Finals run
As the postseason approaches, playoff seeds are settled into place and teams look to the final prize, the Nets have to be feeling good. In an inconsistent Eastern Conference, the Nets have a clear path to the NBA Finals, and once they arrive they are set up to win. Here are three reasons why the Brooklyn Nets will win the NBA title.