Twenty-five games in, and the Brooklyn Nets are 17-8, first in the Eastern Conference. Nothing to worry about, right?
Yet upon closer examination, Brooklyn’s performance against above .500 teams is still troubling at just 7-7, with losses against the Miami Heat, the Golden State Warriors, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Phoenix Suns, and two against the Chicago Bulls.
Two performances, in particular, showcased how and where the Nets were falling short versus the elites: November 16 against Golden State, a 117-99 loss, and November 27 against Phoenix, also a 113-107 loss.