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ESPN Power Rankings: Brooklyn Nets Get Recognition For ‘Still-Happening Flourish’

By Tyler Dencker

Apr 1, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson with center Brook Lopez (11) and guard Jeremy Lin (7) in the fourth quarter against Orlando Magic at Barclays Center. Nets win 121-111. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson with center Brook Lopez (11) and guard Jeremy Lin (7) in the fourth quarter against Orlando Magic at Barclays Center. Nets win 121-111. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Brooklyn Nets are on the rise again – this week, they’ve jumped to the 22nd spot in ESPN’s weekly power rankings.

Current Ranking: 22

Ranking Last Week: 23 (up one spot) 

Ever since the Nets escaped the grasps of the 30th ranking, they’ve only been trending up.

In this week’s ESPN power rankings by Marc Stein, the Nets jumped again, this time to the 22nd rank. This ranking is the second-best it’s been all season, and the highest since week four of the NBA season.

ICYMI: Last Week’s Rankings

While there is still exponential room for improvement, the Nets have to be happy about this rank with one week remaining. If you told anyone in February that the Nets would be where they are now, they’d call you crazy.

Stein’s commentary perfectly follows this logic, and for once, he actually gave the Nets credit.

"He writes: “June is still going to be plenty painful when Nets fans watch the Celtics happily take possession of Brooklyn’s pick right at or near the top of the board, but give the Nets this much: They’re finishing a long season with a still-happening flourish, winning four of six overall and going 11-11 since March 1.”"

MUST READ: NBN Roundtable — Thoughts With Season Winding Down

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Stein even compares Jeremy Lin to Joel Embiid in his analysis. He points out that the Nets are 13-19 with Lin, while the Philadelphia 76ers are similarly 13-18 with Embiid. Obviously, without those two guys, the records are much worse.

The Nets may only win 20 games this season, and they may not even crack the final top-20 rankings. But it’s these small victories, these small glimpses of the future, that give them all the hope in the world.

If one thing is for sure, the Nets earned it.

Big Movers: Atlanta Hawks (up six spots)

The Hawks may have struggled in the second half of the season, but they’ve certainly turned it on as of late. They’re on a three-game winning streak, but not just any three-game win-streak. They’ve defeated the Boston Celtics, and the Cleveland Cavaliers twice. Could a playoff run be in store?

Next: Looking at 2017 Free Agent Power Forwards

Big Losers: Charlotte Hornets (down five spots)

There was a chance that the Hornets could make the playoffs as recent as last week, but four straight losses eliminated them from contention. Not an optimistic end to the season for Charlotte.