The Nets lost 120-126 to the Celtics on the road today, suffering a four-game losing streak.
After today's game, the Nets' record has come to 32-33, and the winning percentage has fallen to 49.2%, which is the first time they have a winning percentage below 50% except at the beginning of the season. Before Durant's injury, the Nets were still over 60 percent, in the top of the Eastern Conference.
It is worth mentioning that since January 22, the Nets' record is only 3 wins and 17 losses, a winning percentage of 15%, while the Celtics have achieved 16 wins and 3 losses in the same period, with a winning rate of 84.2%. The Nets and Celtics have played each other three times this season, with the Nets winning 1-3 and only beating the Celtics 123-104 on Nov. 25 last year. In the middle of the two games, the Nets lost 35 points and 23 points respectively.
After today's game, the Nets are ninth in the East with 32 wins and 33 losses, the same record as the Eighth Hornets and the same win difference as the Tenth Eagles, only 2.5 wins ahead of the eleventh-placed Wizards. The Celtics continued to be fifth in the East with a 39-27 loss.
After Harden's trade was completed, the Nets had a terrible record of just 2-8, compared to 26-18 this season when Harden played for the Nets. When Harden didn't play this season and Irving played, the Nets had a record of just 1 win and 7 losses. Today's game is the 23rd game (regular season + playoffs) since Irving and Durant joined the Nets, and the Nets have only 10 wins and 13 losses. These data show that Harden is still very important to the Nets, but they have not been able to stay in Harden.
The Nets have played 65 regular season games this season, and the record has reached 32-33, with a winning percentage of less than 50%, ranking ninth in the East. It can be said that such a performance is very disparate and does not meet expectations at all. There is no precedent in NBA history of a team that has played 65 regular season games and still has a winning percentage of less than 50% to win the championship. From that point of view, the Nets have little hope of winning the championship this season.
Of course, the Lakers are the same, their current situation is worse than the Nets, although James slashed 50+ to help the Lakers end a 4-game losing streak, but the Lakers currently only have 28 wins and 35 losses, the win rate is only 44%, lower than the Nets, but they are in the ninth place like the Nets.
Judging by the Lakers and Nets' current rankings, their goal is no longer to win a championship, but to reach the playoffs. The Lakers and Nets may not be able to avoid the playoffs this season, or they may not miss the playoffs. As for whether or not you can win the championship, that's all a story.