NBA Power Rankings week 14: OKC Thunder among the ‘road warriors’

Brooklyn Nets:

Offense: (105.5) 25th
Defense: (107.9) tied 13th
Net: (minus -2.4) 21st

Results Week 14: (1-3): Won vs. Pistons: 121-111, Lost vs. 76ers: 111-117, Lakers: 113-128, Knicks: 97-110
Games Week 15: (3 games) Weds vs. Pistons | Fri vs. Bulls | Sat at Wizards

Kyrie Irving was back playing this week until the news of Kobe Bryant sent him from Madison Square Gardens unable to play after learning of his friend’s untimely death. Without Irving in the mix, the Nets fell to the Knicks capping a week of three losses and a single victory.

Irving also sat out the match versus the 76ers but put up 20 and 45 points in the two matches he appeared in versus the Lakers and Pistons.

Brooklyn is clinging to the eighth seed as week 14 drew to a close and as noted up top they are among the seeded clubs who don’t possess a positive differential. Whether Irving plays or not this Nets team who displayed amazing chemistry and identity in the 2018-19 campaign has lost that edge and needs to figure it out quickly. A date with the Bucks in the first round is hardly something any team will covet.

Let’s see if the trade deadline results in Sean Marks making moves to appease Irving or whether he elects to ride out the storm of this season, await a healthy Kevin Durant to start the next campaign and observe the team dynamics then.