The NBA is back! Just like your favorite superhero story, the league brings fun, entertainment, and a lot of uncanny subplots to unpack. That’s why NBA.com Philippines decided to preview the new season comic-book style. We pick out fantastic characters that will take the stage and new amazing arcs to watch out for. Bang! Pow! Boom! Let’s go!
What’s their superpower?
By now, the Brooklyn Nets’ superpower–its vibes–has dwindled each time a superstar walked out the door. The glossy promise of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and head coach Steve Nash has turned bleak in a span of a year, replaced with something entirely different and gritty.
Their strength now lies in their defense, with Ben Simmons making a comeback, Mikal Bridges embracing his new role as Brooklyn royalty, and Nic Claxton stepping into the paint as sole protector.
What’s their kryptonite?
Their weakness now lies in their offense. Sure, Bridges can somehow string together a bunch of 30-plus point games and Spencer Dinwiddie may or may not find his shot on any given night, but other than a couple of mid-tier guys who can shoot the ball, there’s really no one who can–in the KD, Kyrie, and Harden territory–”get buckets.”
Losing a couple of shooters in Joe Harris, Patty Mills, Seth Curry, and Yuta Watanabe will really hurt the Nets’ offense. Newcomers Dennis Smith Jr. and Lonnie Walker IV will try to bring the spark off the bench, but spark doesn’t always translate to points, much less wins.
Who is their biggest hero?
It still has to be Mikal Bridges. Simmons’ return to the lineup will only help alleviate some of the attention from Bridges, who is not only a reliable two-way player but also owns one of the best nicknames right now in the league: Brooklyn Bridges.
Bridges is also one of the most sturdy players in the past couple of seasons–never prone to injuries, never missing games. He’s too sturdy, he got to play 83 games last season.
Who is their biggest villain?
Each time the Nets will suit up in their City Edition jerseys, they’re the villains.
How does their story play out?
There’s no pressure at all on the Nets to finish out this season at the top of the East, that ship sailed when the Big 3 went their separate ways. While the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Philadelphia 76ers are battling it out at the top, Brooklyn will probably be hovering over play-in territory, barely hanging on for playoff relevancy.
It’s been a while since the Nets played the role of underdogs, and this squad’s composition of gritty defenders and scrappy wings will certainly embrace that. Long gone are the days of just vibing–the Nets are on a long climb back to the top. This time, free of all the off-court distractions.
