The Brooklyn Nets turned the corner quicker than expected in their 3rd full season under general manager Sean Marks and coach Kenny Atkinson.
The 2018-19 Brooklyn Nets season has come to a close and will be remembered as a turning point in the Sean Marks-Kenny Atkinson era.
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Brooklyn made the playoffs for the first time in four years after finishing with a 42-40 record.
The turnaround was even more improbable considering how the season started for Brooklyn. A gruesome leg injury, halting the breakout season of Caris LeVert, sent the Nets into a tailspin.
Brooklyn lost eight straight games on their way to an 8-18 start. It had all the makings of another lost season with many fans calling for the tank.
However, that was never an option to Marks and Atkinson. The general manager and the head coach knew what their team was capable of, they just needed something to bring it all together.
With the team at a crossroads, veteran Jared Dudley called for a players-only film session, pointing out various areas where each player could improve. Following the meeting, Brooklyn would win 19 of their next 24 games and become one of the hottest stories in the NBA.
The most important component of the turnaround was the stellar play of fourth-year guard D’Angelo Russell. With LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie both sidelined for extended periods, Russell carried the Nets into the playoff picture.
The floor general improved in every aspect of his game, most importantly his three-point shooting, defense, and late game decision making on his way to his first all-star selection.
When healthy, Dinwiddie led one of the best second units in the league, continuing to develop his game and earning Sixth Man of the Year consideration.
Dinwiddie flourished offensively using his rare combination of explosiveness and size to get to the basket. Brooklyn rewarded the third-year Net with a three-year, $34 million extension in early December.
Joe Harris continued to improve, emerging as the top 3-point shooter in the league.
Second-round pick Rodions Kurucs burst onto the scene, moving into a prominent role as a spark plug in Brooklyn’s lineup.
A brutal schedule down the stretch threatened the Nets’ playoff hopes, but they would win six of their last 10 games to clinch the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Despite winning Game 1 of the series, Brooklyn was clearly outmatched against Philadelphia in the first round. The Nets struggled defensively, allowing 127.5 points per game in four straight losses.
Atkinson’s squad also struggled to space the floor with Harris and DeMarre Carroll failing to find consistency from 3.
Brooklyn was competitive at times, but in the end, Philadelphia’s starting lineup featuring Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid overpowered the Nets on both ends of the floor.
A 14-win improvement and playoff berth make this season a success. The Nets gained respect around the league with their gritty, unselfish style of play. A team only a star away from contention, Brooklyn’s front office will hope free agents took notice.
With the season in the books, we hand out superlatives and analyze key pieces of Brooklyn’s success and struggles.