#头条创作挑战赛#
The 2023-24 NBA season is about to begin, and every team is fighting for a championship. In the East, there's one team that's elusive, and that's the Brooklyn Nets. This team has gone through the turmoil and changes of last season, with some new faces and hopes, but also faces many questions and challenges. Can they break the circle of moderation and become the dark horses of the East?
Last season in retro
The Nets started last season and were seen as one of the strongest teams in the league. They have two superstars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, as well as a great cast player like Joe Harris, Patty Mills, and Edmund Sumner, among others.
In the first month, they were invincible in the league, and people had high hopes for them. However, misfortune ensued, and the two left the team one after another, leaving the Nets in trouble. Just when everyone thought the Nets were finished, an unexpected hero stepped forward: Mikal Bridges. He led a group of unknown players and played surprising performances that regained confidence and fighting spirit for the Nets.
In the end, with their excellent record in the first half of the season and the strong performance of the recruits, the Nets ended the regular season with 45-37, ranking sixth in the East, but were swept out by the 76ers in the first round of the playoffs.
Offseason action
The Brooklyn Nets are in a delicate position, neither completely rebuilding nor going all-in for the championship. They made some adjustments in the middle of last season, bringing in Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson to bring new energy and anticipation to the team. Although Bridges has only played a few short games, he has proven that he can be the next star of the NBA, breaking the label of being just a role player.
In the offseason, the Nets didn't make too many sensational moves, but continued to follow their own course. They renewed their contracts with Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney Smith, respectively, as the team's scorer and defensive specialist. They also brought in young and promising players such as Walker, Dalius Beazley, Noah Crawney and Armoni Brooks, which enhanced the depth and vitality of the team.
New season lineup
- Starters: Ben Simmons, Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Nick Claxton
- Replacements: Dennis Smith Jr., Looney Walker IV, Cam Thomas, Royce O'Neill, Darrick Whitehead, Dorian Finney Smith, Darius Beazley, Trenden Watford, Dironn Sharp, Noah Crawney, Armoni Brooks
The strength of this team is their variety and adaptability, and their players can play in almost two different positions, which allows them to cope with a variety of situations and opponents. Another advantage is their team spirit and sacrifice, their players have almost always risen from the trough, and they showed a selfless and struggling basketball last season, which has earned them the respect and affection of fans and the media. Their weakness may lie in their lack of star-level players, and while they have decent quality in every position in the East, they still have a certain gap compared to the top players in the league, which may cost them in certain key moments.
While this team doesn't have a true superstar, they have a lot of depth and length. Except for Dennis Smith, who is only 1.93 meters tall, the rest of the Nets players are tall. Predictably, most players will play multiple positions in Vaughn's infinite defensive system. Vaughn also hinted at changing tactics to improve the Nets' rebounding ability.
The Nets' guard position will be led by Spencer Dinwiddie and Bridges. Dinwiddie excelled last season, averaging 16.5 points and nine assists per game. He needs to continue this wonderful playmaking this season to help Bridges and Simmons play on the offensive end. As for Bridges, he will continue to build on his impressive performance in the second half of last season, when he averaged 26 points per game for the Nets and provided top-notch defense. With Bridges' ability on both ends and Dinwiddie's vision, the offensive end will remain fast and passionate.
The Nets also had decent guard depth, signing Dennis Smith Jr., who revived his career with the Charlotte Hornets last season, averaging nearly nine points and five assists per game. He will play as the primary backup point guard when Simmons is not on playmaking roles. And hidden deep in the bench is Cam Thomas. Whether he will get enough playing time remains to be seen. Cam Thomas was brilliant in his limited time last season, averaging 18.8 points per game in every 15-minute game during the regular season. While his scoring ability is unquestionable, Thomas is not good enough as a major ball handler and has some doubts when off the ball.
The Nets' forward position will be Johnson as small forward and Simmons as power forward. Johnson was offered a four-year, $94.5 million contract this offseason, and he will work hard to maintain his level. As for Simmons, he is once again an obvious mystery; He has reportedly fully recovered and is acting positively on the pitch. Simmons is eager to get back to All-Star level and is finally on the right track. After recovering from a full offseason, and lowering expectations, there's no reason Simmons can't be able to return and play with the dominance that many know he can do.
Finally, the Nets' expected starting center is defensive expert Nick Claxton. Claxton was arguably overlooked by the NBA's All-Defensive Team, as he was one of the NBA's best defenders last season and has the fourth-highest defensive victory contribution in the NBA. Coming off the bench was third-year center Dyron Sharp, who has had some ups and downs in his career but has spent most of his time in an insignificant role in the roster, although he has shown very good rebounding ability at times.
New season preview
The Brooklyn Nets' biggest advantage is their defense. They have a group of players who can defend in multiple positions. They can flexibly adjust to the opponent's lineup and play different defensive systems. They can also use their height and reach to put pressure on opponents' shots, grab rebounds and fast-break opportunities. Their defensive intensity and execution will be key to their victory in the game.
The biggest disadvantage for the Brooklyn Nets is their offense. They don't have a true superstar who can take responsibility in key moments. They also don't have a consistent scorer who can give the team firepower at all times. They need to rely on teamwork and smooth passing to create chances, but this is also vulnerable to interference and destruction by opponents. They also need to improve their shooting efficiency and free-throw percentage to avoid wasting scoring opportunities.
The Brooklyn Nets are a team with new faces and new hopes, and they no longer rely on two selfish superstars, but on a group of young and promising players. Their leader is Mikal Bridges, who showed his strength and potential in last year's playoffs. Their X-factor is Ben Simmons, who will be able to regain confidence and form after a disastrous season. Their biggest question is whether they have enough firepower and depth to compete with the strong teams in the east. Their biggest desire is to make the playoffs and create some problems for their opponents. Their biggest dream is to be a championship-contender team in the next few years.
Can they prove themselves this season and re-establish themselves among the top teams in the East? Or will it continue to sink into the quagmire of mediocrity? Let's wait and see!