pessimism is reflected in the first full power rankings of the season. John Schuhmann ranks the Nets at 28th. He offers that "Williams' supporting cast is pretty awful without Brook Lopez and that the Nets' schedule is toughest early". Marc Stein goes worst case scenario noting that if things get worse, Deron Williams could leave "So, yeah, it's panic time already".
The Nets last week featured a win over the Celtics and a loss to the Wizards so it is indeed fitting that they stay exactly where they were at the beginning of the week...in all four power rankings.
The Nets have lost five straight, including two games with Deron Williams at the point. Not a problem. Marc Stein moves the Nets up four places to #23, while John Schuhmann keeps them at #25.
The Nets won two out of three last week, including a nice win over the Hornets and a road win over the Bobcats but their loss at home to the Amare-less Knicks hurt them...or maybe it's just the anticipation of how they will do against the best teams in the West and East this week.
"Muddling along" might be a good way to describe the Nets right now. They never get bad enough to make you think all is lost, but never get good enough to give you hope. For every win over the Jazz or Nuggets, there are two losses to the Pacers.
If you needed one more indication of how bad things are (really, you don't), the power ranking pundits have one for you. The Nets are headed for the bottom of the barrel, with two of the four top pundits dropping them to #29, their worst showing since late last season when you may recall they won 12 games.
In the next few days ( or weeks), as many as 14 NBA players will board planes for new destinations (or not), shuffling the power structure of three teams (or none). So John Schuhmann, Marc Stein and John Hollinger have a tough job sorting out who will be where in the power rankings.
The Nets beat the Hawks and Grizzlies last week, but they remain stuck in the 24/25 slot in all the major power rankings. Call it waiting for Melo, writes Marc Stein.
That would be the combination of Devin Harris and DEE-Fense. As John Schuhmann and Marc Stein point out, if the Nets are going to win anything, they're will have to rely on both unless of course they get a Christmas present from Denver.
John Schuhmann has mercy on the Nets in this week's power rankings. In spite of a week of losses --and sevens straight-- Schuhmann actually jumps them one place, to #25. Of the Nets, he writes, "Sunday's strong effort against the Lakers is evidence that they haven't let go of the rope." Marc Stein thinks the same.
