Feb 11, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges (1) and center Nic Claxton (33) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The NBA Playoffs are only two weeks away and the Nets remain a scrappy bunch, in decent position to avoid the Play-In Tournament. While the 76ers appear to be their likeliest opponent, there are still games to be played and the standings aren’t set in stone.
Here are Brooklyn’s potential first-round matchups and how they measure up to each one.
Philadelphia 76ers
These two teams are likely to revisit their 2019 meeting in the first round, now with radically different rosters and some added history. James Harden faces the Nets just over a year removed from playing for them, barring Philadelphia moving 2.5 games in either direction or Brooklyn slipping into the Play-In Tournament.
The 76ers are 3-0 in the season series with one game remaining, but only one of those wins coming against the post-Kevin Durant Nets, by just three points. Still, there are some things to glean from the regular season.
First, there’s no real answer for Joel Embiid. The potential MVP put up numbers against the Nets this season, especially in his lone match-up with their latest iteration.
As quick and lengthy as the new lineup is, they’re short in some of the size Durant brought to the frontcourt. They’ll have to really collapse on the big man and hope the other Sixers can’t make them pay.
Nic Claxton doesn’t have the strength to deal with Embiid one-on-one, despite his otherwise tremendous defensive season. He’ll have to do his best to make the star work.
The biggest question for Brooklyn in the playoffs is how they’re going to generate offense. It’s been up and down to say the least, ranked in the bottom third of the league since the trade deadline.
The Nets quite simply need someone to step up their offensive creation to beat anybody, let alone a top tier contender like the Sixers, in a series. Spencer Dinwiddie hasn’t been on point in his second go-around in Brooklyn, he’d…
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Author : SNY
Publish date : 2023-04-01 14:14:25
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