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Through 18 games, the Brooklyn Nets sit atop the Eastern Conference at 13-5. The much improved East has a fierce middle-class it didn't have in years past. It's probably too early to make a definitive ranking but it's more fun to try now before it's all more clear.
Quick note on this list. This is not a traditional power ranking where we might ask “who would win if the playoffs started today on a neutral terrain?” What we're focusing on here is predicting who will be will be the top threats to the Nets come playoff time.
Ranking the top 5 Eastern Conference threats to the Brooklyn Nets
5) Chicago Bulls
Most fans began to accept that Zach LaVine was the franchise player the Bulls have sought last season when he averaged the 7th most (27.4) points per game in 2021. And by most measures, he's been that. The two-time Slam Dunk champion is averaging 25.9 points, 5.4 boards, 3.7 assists, shooting a deadly 39 percent from downtown on over seven attempts per outing. And he's doing it all with a ligament strain in his off-hand.
But the craziest part of all, he hasn't even been the Bulls' runaway alpha that we might have expected. New acquisition DeMar DeRozan is averaging 26.3 points per game and getting to the free throw line 7.8 times per night, giving the Bulls a lethal one-two punch. Lonzo Ball has played an unselfish 3-and-D role to round out Chicago's wing attack, Alex Caruso has developed into one of the most harassing ball-hawks in the league, and Nikola Vucevic poses matchup challenges for opposing front-courts like the Nets almost every time he takes the floor.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan certainly has an early-season Coach of the Year case to be made through 18 games as they're in third place, surprising many prognosticators.
4) Sixers
It's almost easier to make the case against the Sixers here than it is for them. Ben Simmons is not yet mentally ready to play and wants a trade that doesn't seem to be on the horizon. In fact, there are some reports swirling that Philadelphia might have their sights set on a sign-and-trade sending Simmons to the Nets for James Harden next summer. Death, taxes, and Daryl Morey trying to trade for The Beard. Scenarios like that, hoarding Simmons through the NBA trade deadline, could mean the Sixers play all year without a max-salaried All-Star. And that would probably bump them off of this list altogether. But then again, Simmons could return to their lineup or be traded for on-court enforcements.
They've been playing with a skeleton crew following a rash of injuries and COVID cases and are still 10-8, led by inspired play from 21-year-old phenom Tyrese Maxey.
So why are the Sixers here over some teams without all of this baggage? Basically, because the prerequisite to winning a championship is having an MVP candidate and they have one who also doubles as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate whenever healthy.
If Joel Embiid is healthy and back in the lineup it should vault them ahead of several other Eastern Conference teams, maybe even the Nets. If they can swing a Ben Simmons trade, that would enhance their title odds all the more.
For now, Philadelphia is like a volatile stock and they'll likely wind up higher or lower on this list depending on the Simmons situation and we're not sure which way it will go at this point. Fourth feels like a comfy hedge.
3) Atlanta Hawks
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This selection might be a bit controversial given how the season has shaken out so far but Atlanta could be a threat to the Nets. Nate McMillan's team is just 9-9, and at one point (before their recent five-game winning streak) they were an unsightly 4-9. How then do we justify this when ten Eastern Conference teams have a better seed in the standings?!
The answer is more that we're not quite sold yet on some of the other teams and the Hawks should continue to improve. We've seen a hot start from the Wizards, but Bradley Beal is shooting below 28 percent from downtown. What happens when opposing teams figure out their stifling defense a bit?
Joel Embiid (out with COVID) is reportedly still dealing with knee soreness and that may go back to an injury he suffered last season. The Boston Celtics have two All-Stars so that gives them a better case here than the New York Knicks or Charlotte Hornets, but thing haven't been very smooth in Bean Town.
The Hawks have a clear franchise player and are built to enhance what Trae Young (23 years-old) does best. There's a good chance they can regain the form they had when they made the Conference Finals last season.
Then you remember that De'Andre Hunter former 4th overall pick is only 23, Cam Reddish (10th overall pick) is 22, John Collins (19th overall pick) is 24, Kevin Huerter (19th overall pick) is 23, and Onyeka Okongwu (6th overall pick) can't even legally drink a Brooklyn East IPA yet.
If some of their young draft capital make progress, (or if they consolidate a couple of these young guys via trade) there is a real ceiling in play here for the Hawks. Their age and inexperience, like Philly, makes them a volatile stock here. They could fly south for the winter. Or one or two of their young guys could breakout and propel them to become a top threat and contend with the Nets.
2) Heat
You could make the case that the Miami Heat deserve to be the top threat to the Nets here. The Heat (and their annoying culture narratives) came into Barclays Center when the teams met and exerted their will, playing some bully ball and crushing the Nets on the glass. They won that game 106-93 in large part because they won the rebounding battle (62-42).
They have the high end star power in Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Kyle Lowry. Now Herro (who had a down season a year ago) is playing the most consistent basketball of his young career. He's 19th overall in scoring with 22 ppg, a couple slots higher than Damian Lillard and James Harden.
Butler's brilliance coupled with Lowry's presence and Herro's emergence makes Miami a bigger threat than expected. Home court could be a factor down the road here. They could do it, but it would be tough for the Nets to take their talents to South Beach and steal a game seven. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Heat overtake the Nets in the standings at some point.
1) Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks throttled the Brooklyn Nets in the first game of the season. It feels like a long time ago now and the Bucks appear less impressive since. They've only had their big three Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday in the starting lineup on six of their 18 games. Brook Lopez has only played a single game this year, leaving Bucks fans to wonder if they need to sign another big.
As mortal as Milwaukee looks, it should encourage Nets fans that there is a path to a title here. Without Kyrie Irving around there is no unbeatable super team in the league. And that goes for the Bucks here also.
That said, Giannis might be the best player in the league, at least of all of the people not named Kevin Durant. But their team is well-rounded and has continuity from a season ago. The scary thing is that the Bucks may have room to grow in terms of building chemistry with Jrue Holiday who has only been there one season. The defending champions have a good case that they should be the odds on favorites to repeat. So they represent the biggest threat right now to Brooklyn down the road.
