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Brooklyn Nets: 3 reasons they will win the 2020-21 NBA title

By Josh Cornelissen

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 09: Kyrie Irving #11 and James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on February 09, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 09: Kyrie Irving #11 and James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on February 09, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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LaMarcus Aldridge, Brooklyn Nets
LaMarcus Aldridge, Brooklyn Nets. Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images /

3. First time for this group, but tons of postseason experience

Last season the Brooklyn Nets qualified for the postseason while playing in the NBA Bubble at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. With Kevin Durant yet to make his Brooklyn debut while rehabbing from an Achilles tear, Kyrie Irving sitting the Bubble out and James Harden playing with a red jersey in another conference, the rotation looked vastly different from what it does now.

Of the Nets’ expected full-health rotation, only Joe Harris played in last year’s playoffs, appearing in just two games. The experience of last year’s playoff “run” will not have any bearing on the current roster’s postseason preparation. That shouldn’t matter, however, given the sheer amount of playoff experience permeating the roster.

Kevin Durant leads the way with 139 career postseason games, fifth-most among players actively seeing minutes in the NBA, including four trips to the NBA Finals. James Harden also ranks in the top 10 with 128. postseason games. Kyrie Irving has 61 games, three trips to the Finals, a title and an all-time iconic shot to his name.

The depth pieces behind them have postseason experience as well. Newly signed stretch-big LaMarcus Aldridge has played in 72 career postseason games. Blake Griffin has appeared in 53, while his former “Lob City” partner DeAndre Jordan has been in 57. Jeff Green has 72 appearances of his own. Even Landry Shamet totaled 19 games in the first two seasons of his career, with the aforementioned Harris logging 13 across six seasons. Bruce Brown brings up the rear with four appearances.

In total that’s 618 postseason appearances in their expected playoff rotation, with only Nic Claxton among potential rotation players without postseason experience. This group needs to “go to war” together, if you can pardon the phrase, but they have all battled themselves on various teams.

The website FiveThirtyEight has written that teams laden with overall postseason experience tend to outperform their regular season performance. To that end, the Nets should be even more confident of performing once the playoffs roll around. They have all been there before, and that experience could boost them all the way to the title.

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