The Brooklyn Nets clinched a playoff berth Tuesday evening after defeating the Toronto Raptors 116-103 in Tampa, Florida. They’re the primary Japanese Convention crew to substantiate a spot within the NBA’s postseason.
Now, the Nets can slip no decrease than sixth within the Japanese Convention standings.
“It is nice,” first-year Nets coach Steve Nash stated of securing a spot within the playoffs. “I believe now we have our eyes on larger issues, but it surely’s a pleasant first step to clinch a berth. For this group, dealing with all we have confronted, to be on this place with 10 video games left could be very optimistic.”
Nets guard Joe Harris stated James Harden — who stays sidelined with a hamstring pressure — talked about clinching a postseason berth to a number of Nets gamers on Tuesday. Brooklyn massive man Jeff Green stated that after all the accidents the crew has been by — together with enjoying massive stretches with out Harden, Kevin Durant, Tyler Johnson and others — having a assured playoff spot is rewarding however not the crew’s last objective.
“It’s one thing that we will hold our hats on,” Inexperienced stated. “That is one thing we could be happy with, however we even have to comprehend that that is not the objective. … We have now to tackle the subsequent step, and that is specializing in what we have to accomplish within the playoffs to get to our final objective.”
The Nets (42-20) occupy the No. 1 seed within the Japanese Convention. The Philadelphia 76ers path the Nets by 1½ video games.
“We have now to be excited with a number of the issues that we have finished, however we won’t be content material and now we have to proceed to work,” Inexperienced stated.
The Nets have 10 video games remaining within the common season and are enjoying simply 4 of them at residence in Barclays Middle. Brooklyn has but to place collectively a major run with a totally wholesome roster.
Harden — who’s capturing and doing energy work — nonetheless has “a methods to go,” in line with Nash, earlier than he’ll return. Nash added that the crew may not get many — if any — video games with a full-strength roster earlier than the postseason. The Nets are additionally with out Nicolas Claxton, who has missed 5 video games whereas within the league’s COVID-19 security protocols.
The Nets’ Huge Three of Durant, Harden and Kyrie Irving nonetheless have performed simply seven video games collectively.
“I believe everybody’s in a optimistic temper,” Nash stated of the group. “And simply need to hold constructing, hold getting higher, hold bettering earlier than the playoffs begin, which is in a restricted period of time.”