NBA Atlantic Division Preview: Can anyone bring down the Nets?

The 2021-22 NBA campaign is nearly upon us. To get you primed for the upcoming season, we’ll be running through season previews of each NBA division. Today, we begin with the highly competitive Atlantic Divison.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

2020-21 record: 49-23
Key Additions: Greg Monroe, Georges Niang
Key Departures: Ben Simmons(?)

For a No. 1 seed with significant roster continuity, the Philadelphia 76ers are facing immense uncertainty. They had a dominant regular-season run in 2021 on the back of the No. 3 overall defense, but were upset at home in Game 7 against the Atlanta Hawks in the second round, leading to fissures between All-Star forward Ben Simmons and the rest of the team.

As of right now, Philadelphia are running it back, but the elephant in the room is the looming showdown between Simmons and the team. While predicting a precise outcome to the drama would be foolhardy, one must consider Simmons functionally lost to the Sixers, whether he ultimately sits out or returns to the court and continues his protest with his play à la James Harden last season. 

BROOKLYN NETS

2020-21 record: 48-24
Key Additions: Patty Mills, Paul Milsap, LaMarcus Aldridge
Key Departures: DeAndre Jordan

The Brooklyn Nets enter the season not only as division favorites but as deserving favorites to win the 2021 NBA Championship. They sported the league’s best offense last year, and by some metrics, the best of all time. On top of that, their three ball-dominant stars blended together smoothly, they found a "good enough" defensive gear in the playoffs, and Steve Nash proved a masterful manager of personalities.

But after an earth-shattering report in Rolling Stone last week, and a less than reassuring Media Day, the status of Kyrie Irving must be considered somewhat in jeopardy due to his refusal to get vaccinated. Obviously, losing Irving, even temporarily, would be a blow. But the addition of Patty Mills gives the Nets some breathing room in their backcourt this season that they previously lacked.

NEW YORK KNICKS

2020-21 record: 41-31
Key Additions: Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier
Key Departures: Reggie Bullock

The New York Knicks surprised last season, catapulting out of the dregs of the NBA all the way to the fourth seed, as Tom Thibodeau installed an elite defense and got buy-in from the entire roster. And though they were trounced by the Hawks in the playoffs, it would have been easy to standpat or invest major draft capital at short-term upgrades.

Instead, the Knicks struck a middle path: betting on continuity while simultaneously addressing their weaknesses this offseason. After years of having no viable point guards, they now have Kemba Walker, Derrick Rose, and Immanuel Quickley all set to play major minutes. The Knicks have a plethora of players capable of getting their own shot, and if their defense holds, they’ll be a first-round threat.

BOSTON CELTICS

2020-21 record: 36-36
Key Additions: Al Horford, Josh Richardson, Dennis Schroder
Key Departures: Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier

This Boston Celtics team has the personnel to be a top-five defensive outfit, capable of playing big or small with either Al Horford or Robert Williams as the closing five, with a murderers row of Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Josh Richardson on the perimeter. Dennis Schroder shores up an annual offensive deficiency for the Celtics as a slasher who lives at the rim.

The team’s Achilles heel remains a dearth of passing up and down the roster. Horford might be the only plus passer of the starting or closing units, and the offense last season too often devolved into "your turn, my turn" with Brown and Tatum. The Boston Celtics will be banking on better health, team harmony, and new head coach Ime Udoka to squeeze enough offense out of this group and hopefully earn a top-six seed.

TORONTO RAPTORS

2020-21 record: 27-45
Key Additions: Scottie Barnes, Precious Achiuwa, Goran Dragic
Key Departures: Kyle Lowry, Aaron Baynes

With the 2019 title now a distant memory, the 2020-21 Toronto Raptors had a season from hell. Injuries, COVID 19-related absences, and playing in Tampa Bay all contributed to a year that Raptors fans are trying to forget. Sadly, it was also the swan song for team leader Kyle Lowry, who was traded to the Miami Heat this offseason.

This team is built to defend, but Lowry’s shooting, pace, and creativity on offense will all be sorely missed. How Toronto manufactures offense in the half court without him is the biggest question facing the team as they look at another season with dim playoff hopes.

Atlantic Division Prediction

The Nets have proven that even with their health concerns, they’re in a class all their own in the Atlantic Division.

PICK: Brooklyn Nets (-250)