Spenser Shanman focuses on the Brooklyn Nets as the team limps into the resumed season in Orlando, including which way to bet on their 1st game back.
Game 1: Orlando Magic vs Brooklyn Nets
Spread: Magic -6.0 The Pick: Nets +6.0
Game Summary: In the first game back, not many are expecting much from this Brooklyn team. Losing Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan, and Wilson Chandler, all players who were in the starting rotation as the season ended, has many casual observers believing this Nets team is due for an epic collapse in Orlando. The Nets will have a tough time matching up with Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic in the frontcourt due to their lack of depth at the Center and Power Forward position. While I have Orlando winning this game outright, I do believe the Nets will cover the +6 based on an epic performance by Caris LeVert, who will score 25+.
Final score: Magic 101- Nets 99 (L)
Game 2: Washington Wizards vs. Brooklyn Nets
Spread: TBD
Game Summary: The Nets take on the Washington Wizards in their second game in Orlando. The Nets will recover from a close loss against the Magic to win their second game back. While the Wizards may be the more desperate team, players like Joe Harris and TLC will step up and hit enough shots to push Brooklyn ahead in a close contest. Beal will do all he can for the Wizards in this game, but it won’t quite be enough.
Final Score: Nets 105 – Wizards 102 (W)
Game 3: Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Spread: TBD
Game Summary: The Milwaukee Bucks, who came into the suspended season with back to back losses, will absolutely demolish the Nets in this game. The Main reason? The Nets have absolutely no player on the roster than can defending Giannis. The length of the Bucks will hurt the Nets three-point shooting and Giannis will go for 35+ in this game.
Final Score: Bucks 110 – Nets 92 (L)
Game 4: Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics
Spread: TBD
Game Summary: The last time these two teams faced off against each other, the Nets were being dominated by Boston before Caris LeVert single handedly brought them back in the 4th to pull off one of the most impressive comeback wins in recent memory The Celtics will be itching to avenge that loss and come out hot in this game. Look for big games from Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker in this one. Celtics will win by double digits.
Final Score: Celtics 103 – Nets 93 (L)
Game 5: Sacramento Kings vs. Brooklyn Nets
Spread: TBD
Game Summary: The Kings are one of the more exciting, young teams in the league, but they will have to face a motivated Nets team in this one. Sacramento will have a tough time with Caris LeVert on the defensive side of the ball and the Nuts will disrupt Heild and Bogdanovich enough to outscore the Kings in this one. Brooklyn will have a tough time with De’Aaron Fox, who was averaging a career best 20 PPG and almost 7 APG before the season ended, but ultimately pull this game out in a close one.
Final Score: Nets 98 – Kings 94 (W)
Game 6: Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Spread: TBD
Game Summary: Similar to Milwaukee, the Nets will have a tough time slowing Kawhi Leonard down in this one. Montrezl Harrell will dominate the Nets on the glass and Lou Williams will have a big scoring day off the bench. The Clippers should cruise to a double digit victory, barring a fantastic shooting night from Brooklyn.
Final Score: Clippers 112 – Nets 100 (L)
Game 7: Brooklyn Nets vs. Orlando Magic
Spread: TBD
Game Summary: In their second game against Orlando, the Nets will win in a close game from big games from Jamal Crawford and Caris LeVert. Crawrford will be 6 games in by this point and due for a big scoring night. The Nets will contain the Magic bigs enough and get a huge night from their bench in this one.
Final Score: Nets 106 – Magic 99 (W)
Game 8: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Brooklyn Nets
Spread: TBD
Game Summary: In their final game before the playoffs, the Nets will face off against a team that may be playing for nothing, depending on where they are in the standings. Assuming the Trail Blazers are mathematically eliminated from the playoff race, they will rest their stars (Lillard & McCollum) and the Nets should win a close game against the Blazers B-team.
Final Score: Nets 115 – Blazers 110 (W)
Based on the results above, will the Brooklyn Nets make the playoffs?
On June 30th, the odds for the Nets to make the playoffs were -1150 and +700 for them to miss the playoffs. Even without all their missing players, including superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the smart money says bet the Nets. The Nets will finish the season at 34 – 38, thus securing a playoff berth over/not having a play-in tournament with the Washington Wizards, who will finish their season at 26 – 46. The Nets have enough firepower left on the roster, plus the additions of Jamal Crawford and Tyler Johnson, to finish what Kenny Atkinson started on their road to back to back playoff appearances.
HOW TO BET THE NETS WHEN THE PLAYOFFS START.
If the Raptors play the Nets in the first round of the playoffs, it may be much less competitive than Nets fans hope. The Raptors are 6-1 against the Nets in their last 7 games including 6 straight wins before their last meeting, in which the Nets won by 10 on February 12th. Only 3 of those games were decided by less than double digits. The Raptors should win the series in 5 games maximum, with most of the games being double digit wins.
If the Nets play the Bucks, they will likely face a similar result. While they have only played the Bucks once this year (and lost the game by 20) the Nets would be outmatched and outgunned in this series. The Bucks are motivated to win the East, coming off their loss in last year’s playoffs to the Kawhi Leonard lead Raptors, and will unfortunately walk through the Caris LeVert-lead Nets.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE BROOKLYN NETS
- July 22nd will be Brooklyn’s first scrimmage against New Orleans.
- July 25th is Brooklyn’s second scrimmage against San Antonio.
- July 27th is Brooklyn’s third and final scrimmage will be against the Jazz.
It has yet to be determined if these scrimmages will be televised on YES or not.
Please follow Spenser Shanman on Twitter @MrSah42.
