Nets Fourth in Eastern Conference

After An Atrocious Season Last Year, the Nets Make it to the Playoffs With Fourth Seed in Eastern Conference

By Ali Koskoris

Last season, the New Jersey Nets, coached by Avery Johnson, went 22-44 and were 12^th in the Eastern Conference.  This season, the Brooklyn Nets have gone 42-31 under new head coach P.J. Carlesimo and are fourth in the Eastern Conference.

 

AP Photo/ David Zolubowski

In an incredible transformation, the Nets are actually a contender in the playoffs, after having one of the worst records in the NBA last season.  Maybe the turnaround has something to do with the new coach, the addition of Reggie Evans, or the new location—either way, the Nets are doing something right.

Recently the team has been a bit unpredictable, going 8-7 in the last month, but certain stars have been shining.  Deron Williams continues to lead his team, averaging 18.3 points a game and 7.7 assists.  In his last game he scored 21 and dished out 11 assists for a double-double in a loss to the Jazz.

Brook Lopez is averaging 19.2 points and 7 rebounds for Brooklyn.  Against the Jazz he scored 27 points and pulled down 7 rebounds.  In the Nets’ last win (against Portland) he scored 28.

New Nets player Evans has been making a huge difference on the boards.  In each of the last two games, he has pulled down 16 rebounds.  Against the Trail Blazers he pulled down a career high 26 rebounds, including 12 offensive rebounds.  Portland as a team only pulled down 13 offensive rebounds.  He also tied his career high in points with 22. 

Brooklyn is coming off of two losses heading into a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.  If the Nets pull it together, win, and continue to win, they will be in good condition for the playoffs. 

This could mean wonders for Carlesimo, who is currently the interim head coach after Johnson was fired partway through this season.  Brooklyn’s record and high level of play seems proof enough that not only is Carlesimo capable of coaching the Nets, but at coaching them well and leading them to the best season they have had since the 2005-06 season.  Maybe he will return next year and that ugly “interim” will be slashed.

Leading the Surge

With just 15 games remaining in the regular season, the Thunder are once again led by the dynamic duo of Durant and Westbrook.

By Kristina Callahan

AP Photo/ LM Otero

Spring is just days away and when the flowers begin to bloom in the Northeast, that means March Madness and the NBA Playoffs are in sight. In less than a month, the NBA will be finishing the regular season and will be days away from beginning the first round of the playoffs. The Thunder have already surpassed the 50-win mark and have two of the top six leading scorers in the NBA on their roster. Oklahoma City has already clinched a playoff spot and is just one game behind the Western Conference leaders, the Spurs.

Kevin Durant is already a three-time scoring champion. He’s currently leading the NBA in points per game as we speak with 28.3 and is shooting over 50 percent. Last night in a win against the Dallas Mavericks, the former Texas Longhorn scored 19 of his 31 points in the 4^th quarter but it was his teammates that may have won the game for the Thunder. Russell Westbrook finished the game with 35 points, which included the go-ahead jumper with 1 minute left. While it may be Durant that leads the league in scoring, Westbrook is sixth in the league with 23.4 points per game and is the Thunder’s leading scorer in the past 20 games.

With both Durant and Westbrook peaking at the right time, the Thunder are peaking at the right time. Last year, OKC fell in the Finals but they have that experience under their belts this year. If the duo keeps playing like they are, the young Durant and Westbrook may bring a reason to celebrate to Oklahoma City.