Indiana, Chicago and Atlanta are the teams that have a shot at the Nets. Maybe Phoenix, simply because they're in the west. SAC got better in the offseason. LAL should be better than the Nets.
The only thing we have working against us is that the Nets have no reason to tank. The first four above do.
We're looking good.
Mike
As has been pointed out many times, the nets had no reason to tank last year, or the year before. But they still stunk.
Yup, I'm well aware. They still stink.
I'm less concerned about the Nets stinking. I'm more concerned, though, about the cluster of teams at the bottom and how close it could be. I agree with you, it has not been an issue in the past. This year, I think it will be more narrow.
As the 2018 draft stands now, the first pick will be great, but there are a bunch of players at the top. If Bagley reclassifies, we have a potential superstar which could further encourage tanking.
Is it a big deal? Probably not. Does it fall under the category of something that could potentially work against us? Yup.
Mike