Cleveland is a better matchup for the Nets
If the NBA playoffs started today, the Nets would face the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. The Hawks’ all-around talent and chemistry makes them a less-ideal match-up for Brooklyn. Personally, I think that the Nets have a better chance to win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This season, the Cavaliers have won three of their four match-ups against the Nets, but the games have been relatively close in all the match-ups between the two teams.
With the addition of Thaddeus Young and a healthy Brook Lopez, the Nets can give the Cavaliers match-up problems across the board. Young’s flexibility to play multiple positions has allowed Brooklyn to play a smaller line-up. Additionally, Brook Lopez has been playing at another level in the past few weeks and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
Although the Cavaliers have a plethora of talent in their starting lineup, their bench play has been slacking, averaging only 24 points a game. The Nets on the other hand, are ranked in the top half of the league in bench scoring.
So far this season, the Nets have done an excellent job limiting Kevin Love to only 13 points a game. Although stopping LeBron James & Co. may not be easy, its not impossible.
Do you think the Nets could beat the Cavaliers in a seven-game series? Let us know in the comments below.
What readers said at the time
3 replies came in under this piece in 2015, and they are kept here as they were written — the readers’ words, not ours, spelling and all. The thread is closed; the desk does not take new comments.
jerry2514 April 2015
Check again. If the playoffs started today, the Nets would be out of the playoffs.
Nets will pray they can play ATL, but the only way that will happen is if IND loses one of the next 2 games, and Nets beat ORL tomorrow.Ravi Shah14 April 2015
When the article was written, this was not the case. The Nets still have the greatest odds to make the playoffs of the three teams. With Wall determined to beat the Pacers, there is a good chance the Pacers lose.
Ravi Shah14 April 2015
Unfortunately for the Nets, their playoff hopes no longer is in their hands. Hopefully the Nets can make it into the playoffs now.