NBA Power Rankings week 11: OKC Thunder continues hot streak
Brooklyn Nets:
Offense: (106.3) 22nd
Defense: (107.8) 14th
Net: (minus 1.6) 17th
Games Week 11 (0-3): Lost to Wolves: 115-122, Mavericks: 111-123, Raptors: 102-121
Games Week 12 (4 games): Mon at Magic | Tues vs Thunder | Fri vs Heat | Sun vs Hawks
Losses to the Mavericks and Raptors were likely expected although Toronto is in far more injury trouble than the Nets which speaks to the compilation of the Nets.
If all their stars and key contributors are healthy than the current squad who has been playing becomes what it was meant to be — the supplementary strength behind those stars. In that scenario, Kyrie Irving (and eventually Kevin Durant) are the key cogs with players like Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris and Taurean Prince all filling in with tertiary scoring.
Without Irving, Durant, and LeVert the pressure for those supplemental talents to carry the primary weight increased. Initially, Dinwiddie filled the Nets needs but an increased strength of schedule featuring road games and top tier talent eventually took a toll.
At week 11 end, Caris LeVert returned and looked good in his initial outing although he’ll be on a minute restriction.
Kyrie Irving also spoke explaining why he elected for a cortisone shot instead of surgery but left more questions than answers regarding his return date
The Nets entered week 12 on a five-game losing streak and other than the Hawks no easy opponent in the queue.