Brooklyn Nets: 66-1 |

Since they watched Jason Kidd bypass town for Milwaukee and Paul Pierce join the upstart Washington Wizards, the Brooklyn Nets lost characters from their seat and starting lineup this summer. Those losses will change Brooklyn’s makeup considerably, but maybe not . Kidd is replaced by lionel Hollins, and his seven seasons of head coaching experience must mesh nicely with the Nets’ veteran roster. At the exact same time, Beckley Mason, at a piece for ESPN.com, raised some interesting questions about the reputation Hollins assembled with the Memphis Grizzlies.
“Is what Tony Allen does really something you can tutor?” he asked. “Is the way Marc Gasol moves 7’0″ and 260 pounds to stymie a point protector something everyone can learn?”
We’re about to learn.
We will also discover whether rookie import Bojan Bogdanovic can replicate Pierce’s generation . And we find out if the time with Team USA in the FIBA Basketball World Cup of Mason Plumlee will result in a sophomore effort Brook Lopez must conquer still another setback with his surgically repaired foot, and Kevin Garnett has to prove he’s got. But with Joe Johnson and Deron Williams in Jarrett Jack and the backcourt replacing Shaun Livingston Brooklyn remains a squad that is savvy using a reasonable amount of ability though most of it is nearing its expiration date.
The playoffs are a sensible goal for the Nets, and a top-four seed is not from the question, if the Williams can stay healthy alongside Lopez.