76ers: Ranking the team’s biggest threats in the Atlantic Division this year
By Joe Paige
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets finished the regular season as the 6th seed, and would face Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs last year. The Sixers took care of business and swept Brooklyn handily, but many remember this series not for what Philadelphia did, but rather for Mikal Bridges’ coming out party.
After getting traded from the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant, Bridges would arrive to a Nets team looking to restart after finally deciding to squander their super-team era. Bridges quickly began playing like we’d never see him play before.
In Phoenix, playing alongside All-Stars such as Chris Paul and Devin Booker, Bridges had been delegated to a 3-and-D wing who’s primary role was just to catch-and-shoot corner three’s.
Now on a newly reconstructed Nets team, that practically had been put together in just a matter of weeks, Bridges would be given the freedom to blossom into a completely different player than we’re used to seeing.
Philly’s had Brooklyn’s number for a while now
If you’re having a challenge looking for the last time the Brooklyn Nets got a win against Philadelphia, that’s because you’ll have to go back the 2021-2022 season. However, this is an entirely new Brooklyn team this time, with what should be an entirely new play style and strategy.
Fortunately, Nick Nurse is notorious for throwing out different looks and always making adjustments. His creativity could be pivotal when matching up against teams as flexible as Brooklyn could be. Hopefully Philly can capture the same success this season against this team that they’ve been able to achieve so far.