NBA
The Brooklyn Nets Just Solidified Their NBA Finals Hopes by Adding Another All-Star to Their Big 3
Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies. When Jack isn't writing about sports, he's watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He's also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.
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The rich just keep on getting richer.
After adding James Harden via trade earlier this season to complete their Big 3, the Brooklyn Nets are bolstering their superteam even more. The Nets are reportedly preparing to sign Blake Griffin in free agency to add yet another former All-Star to their already stacked roster.
If the Nets weren’t already the favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals this season, they surely are now.
The Brooklyn Nets built a superteam for the 2021 NBA season
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For the last decade or so, the Nets haven’t been considered serious NBA title contenders. Brooklyn has snuck into the playoffs a few times in recent years, but the franchise hasn’t reached the Eastern Conference Finals since 2003.
But the Nets have gone from middle-of-the-pack playoff hopefuls to an Eastern Conference powerhouse in the blink of an eye. Brooklyn made the biggest splash in the 2019 offseason by signing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the same day. The Nets also added former All-Star DeAndre Jordan for some size around their two new superstars.
As if that wasn’t enough, Brooklyn entered the 2020-21 season on the prowl for another piece to complete their Big 3. That’s exactly what they got in January.
In a stunning midseason move, the Nets landed James Harden in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Rockets. Superteam assembled. Only one thing left to do — win a title.
Blake Griffin to sign with the Nets
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The Nets entered the 2021 All-Star break with a 24-13 record and occupying the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference behind the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite being the No. 2 seed, Brooklyn is still listed as the betting favorite to win the East at +150.
That number is about to drop even lower.
Blake Griffin, who was released by the Detroit Pistons over the weekend, is expected to sign with the Nets now that he’s cleared waivers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. The Big 3 just became a Big 4, and the entire NBA should be shaking in its boots.
Does Blake Griffin make the Nets a lock to make the NBA Finals?
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There’s no such thing as a guarantee in the NBA. Just ask the 73-9 Golden State Warriors from 2016.
But the Nets to win the Eastern Conference and reach the NBA Finals in 2021 might be as close as it gets. Once Kevin Durant returns from injury to join Kyrie Irving and James Harden in the starting lineup, the Nets will be virtually impossible to guard in the half court. Brooklyn is already averaging a league-best 121.1 points per game (which would be the highest in NBA history), and they haven’t even been healthy all season. Throw Blake Griffin in the mix and it’s just downright unfair.
Now, Griffin isn’t the player he used to be with the LA Clippers, but he’s still an upgrade to the Nets’ closing five-man lineup. Griffin averaged 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds this season for the Pistons as one of the team’s top scoring options. He’ll step in as the fourth or fifth scoring option for Brooklyn, freeing him up for advantageous matchups on the offensive end.
Griffin is outside of his prime, yes, but his versatility and offensive playmaking ability is a perfect fit for this Brooklyn team. At this point, it would be a shock if the Nets failed to reach the NBA Finals.
