Oddsmakers expect Nets to go sub-.500 during seeding games

On June 30, 2019, Kevin Durant announced he was heading to Brooklyn to play for the Nets. Kyrie Irving joined his friend in this venture, getting the chance to play for his childhood team in the process. The duo also brought DeAndre Jordan along with them.

One year later, Durant continues to rehab from his right Achilles surgery, Irving is working his way back from right shoulder surgery and Jordan is the latest NBA player to test positive for COVID-19.

With the NBA set to resume the 2019-20 season at Disney World in Florida, at the end of July, the Nets have to prepare to play without their three major 2019 free agent acquisitions. Furthermore, Nic Claxton (left shoulder) is out and Wilson Chandler elected to opt-out of the Disney bubble. And Spencer Dinwiddie, who tested positive for COVID-19 like Jordan, may not play either.

So when BetOnline released its win total over/unders for seeding games on Tuesday, it wasn’t a shocker to see the sportsbook doesn’t have high expectations for Brooklyn. BetOnline has set the Nets’ over/under set at three wins.

Losing both Jordan and Chandler is a big hit, but Dinwiddie could prove to be too much for the Nets. The point guard was the team’s leading scorer before the league’s hiatus and willed Brooklyn past opponents on more than one occasion in 2019-20.

If Dinwiddie is done, Caris LeVert will have to carry the load on the offensive end, with consistent contributions from Joe Harris, Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince. Also, Chris Chiozza and newly acquired Tyler Johnson would have to help run the offense if LeVert is the only other healthy ball-handler.