Brooklyn Nets slip in Power Rankings

The Nets are in the middle of the pack in this week's Power Rankings, with the consensus being about No. 17. As he did last week, Tim Bontemps had the Nets highest, at No. 13 and Jason Patt of SB Nation the lowest at No. 19. Not much of a range.

This week offers the Nets some opportunities, playing the Spurs and Pistons after beating the 76ers. No matter what, they're above the Knicks. And another area where they top their fellow New Yorkers. Despite MSG's celebrity scheming, the Nets this week attracted Jay-Z, Beyonce', Seattle Seahawks star Russell Wilson and former President Bill Clinton to Barclays Center.

John Schuhmann, NBA.com (16)

The Nets' small, long and skilled lineup looked pretty good until it ran into OKC's small, long and skilled lineup on Friday. Their charge toward the No. 3 spot in the East has hit a roadblock with a three-game losing streak, though they would probably have beat the Raptors without Deron Williams' turnover, came close to being just the third team to win in Indiana, and have a soft schedule coming up.

Marc Stein, ESPN (13)

The Raptors' Titanic Division lead is back up to four games. But I say that Jason Kidd, even after the pain of last week's two one-point crushers against Toronto (home) and Indiana (road) sandwiched around a Kevin Durant-inflicted hammering, is still about to be named coach of the month.

Marc J. Spears, Yahoo! Sports (18)

The Nets went 10-3 in January, including a season-high five-game win streak. Brooklyn has slumped of late with three straight losses.

Jason Patt, SB Nation (19)

The Nets were seconds away from getting to one game under .500. Now they've lost three straight and are five games under .500. And yes, I still don't get the Johnson All-Star selection.

Matt Moore, CBS Sports (12)

This was a "Here's the difference between 'better' and 'contender'" week for them. The difference was more than they expected.

Kurt Helin, NBC Sports (16)

Three tough games last week against the Raptors, Thunder and Pacers, and Brooklyn got three losses. That said, the Spurs are the only team on the schedule with a record above .500 before the All-Star break, so we may see a few more wins string together.

Adi Joseph, Sam Amick, USA Today (17)

Winning streaks turn to losing streaks when you hit the Raptors, Thunder and Pacers.

Matt Dollinger, Sports Illustrated (17)

Three tough losses for the Nets last week, who suffered one-point defeats to the Raptors and Pacers and were handed their lunch by the Kevin Durant Machine.

Brian Kamenetzky, Sheridan Hoops (17)

Impressive five-game win streak included victories over OKC, Atlanta, Golden State, and Miami. Now back in the E.C.’s top 8, within spitting distance of home court in Round 1. Unbelievable.

Tim Bontemps, New York Post (13)

Tough 0-3 week for the Nets, who gave away a game to Toronto, didn’t show up against Oklahoma City and then lost another close one Saturday at Indiana.

Mitch Lawrence, New York Daily News (15) Friday

How are the Nets going to defend Kevin Durant tonight and all of those athletic players the Thunder is going to come at them with? And how will all their old guys handle the back end of this brutal back-to-back, when they have to face the Pacers on Saturday out in Indy?