Contenders or Pretenders? Figuring out where the Brooklyn Nets stand

Are the Nets a contender or a pretender?

So, are the Brooklyn Nets contenders or pretenders? At the moment, they’re definitely pretenders but have the tools to be contenders. As of right now, the biggest threats in the East are the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers. However, they won’t have to face all of those teams en route to the NBA Finals.

Of those three teams mentioned, the Philadelphia 76ers have the most firepower at full strength to match a healthy Nets team. That being said, the Milwaukee Bucks have a two-time MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led his team past the Nets in the 2021 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals and ultimately won both the championship and the NBA Finals MVP.

As a result, I would say the Bucks are the biggest threat to a healthy Nets team, but Simmons and Claxton both have the size, length, and mobility to make him work on the offensive end. That’s easier said than done, but despite the drama, the Nets are surprisingly well-equipped to challenge them.

Overall, a lot will depend on the Brooklyn Nets’ health, managing egos, and balancing rotations, but I believe they have what it takes to contend this season.