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Sean Marks: Brooklyn Nets to Prioritize Progress

By Tj Porreca

Feb 19, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets new general manager Sean Marks speaks to the media during a press conference before a game against the New York Knicks at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets new general manager Sean Marks speaks to the media during a press conference before a game against the New York Knicks at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Brooklyn Nets are in the midst of ushering in a new era. Sean Marks is embarking on his first full season as general manager, and Kenny Atkinson is the new head coach. As a regime, the Nets will prioritize progress.

We are just over one month away from the NBA’s regular season tipping off. The Brooklyn Nets will face off against the Boston Celtics on October 26. It will mark the first season that Kenny Atkinson and Sean Marks have worked together to try to steer the Nets’ ship in the right direction.

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It’s no secret that the 2016-17 season could be tough for the Nets. They have added some pieces, most notably Jeremy Lin, but the team has a lot of unknowns. Who will emerge in the backcourt to go along with Lin? Will Bojan Bogdanović get a majority of the run, or will Sean Kilpatrick see a raise in playing time? Health is another factor for the Nets. When will first round pick Caris LeVert, who has battled a foot injury, be ready to contribute?

These are questions that will ideally be answered in training camp or early in the season. However, Nets’ management is making it clear that the focus for the season won’t necessarily be on wins and losses.

Instead of focusing on the team’s record, Marks told ESPN that the team will instead prioritize progress as a unit.

Preseason predictions pertaining to the Nets from various publications have not been kind to Brooklyn. Many project the Nets’ win total will be in the 20’s. If the team struggles to mesh, or even worse, suffers a key injury, those predictions could come true or even end up seeming generous. But regardless of the record, this will be a bridge year for the Nets.

If the Nets were to win, say, 35 games, that wouldn’t be good enough for the playoffs, but it would be a step forward. But the new regime isn’t going to beat themselves up if the loss total is in the 60’s. Overall, the Nets are counting on Lin and Brook Lopez, and they are also counting on the development of some of their younger players.

If LeVert, Isaiah Whitehead, and others can prove to be key contributors — even if it’s later in the season — the Nets would consider that solid progress, which is what they are shooting for.

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The Brooklyn Nets may not make the playoffs this year, but that doesn’t mean the season will be a waste by any means. At some point, the younger players may get a chance to play and gain valuable experience. Until then, though, they have multiple veterans they can learn from, such as Lin, Lopez, Luis Scola, Trevor Booker, and Randy Foye.