Inside The Nets

Brooklyn Nets Rise to 16th in The Athletic's NBA Power Rankings

Despite a challenging start plagued by injuries, the Brooklyn Nets have climbed to 16th place in The Athletic's Power Rankings.

Peter Sunjic

© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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The Brooklyn Nets just got a record barely over .500 as they have been ravaged by injuries to start the 2023/24 season. 

Despite grappling with injuries, the Nets have admirably stayed afloat. Following their victory against the Orlando Magic, they now hold a 6-5 record, a commendable achievement considering the numerous injuries affecting nearly every member of their starting lineup. 

Coach Jacque Vaughn has managed to maintain good results by instilling a next-man-up mentality. With all that in mind, after being ranked 18th in The Athletic’s Zach Harper’s Power Rankings, the Nets rose to 16th after 10 games.

“The Nets are barely top 20 in defensive rating, and that’s confusing because so much of their main personnel should be defensive monsters,” Zach Harper said on The Athletic. “It probably gets fixed with Claxton’s presence. In his two games, they’re barely giving up 100 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor.”

Jacque Vaughn’s impact on the team

Coach Vaughn has made his team play well with a focus on playing in transition. Ben Simmons spearheads this offense but the rest of the Nets have followed suit as they keep running even without Simmons. This was evidenced by the Nets’ 31 fastbreak points against the Orlando Magic.

Anyone watching the Nets can see they are still in positive spirits despite the injuries because the bench will step up. In the absence of Nic Claxton, Ben Simmons, and Cameron Thomas, individuals such as Trendon Watford, Armoni Brooks, and Lonnie Walker IV have notably risen to the occasion and performed effectively.

There is potential for the Nets to get even better

With Thomas and Simmons still out, the Nets have not yet met their full potential. Getting them back will be huge for Brooklyn as they will finally have an elite playmaker leading the offense in Simmons while Thomas will be the primary scoring threat capable of dropping 25+ points every given night.

Anticipate that Harper will adjust Brooklyn's ranking beyond 18th in the future, as the team is poised to perform strongly in the Eastern Conference when fully healthy. Coach Vaughn's adept implementation of a cohesive system, effectively integrating all players, has garnered positive responses and bodes well for the team's future success.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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