Bold Predictions For The 2013-14 NBA Season

Jul 18, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; From left Paul Pierce , Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry during a press conference to introduce them as the newest members of the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

The Brooklyn Nets won’t get past the first round of the playoffs 

Nets GM Billy King has got people around the league both scratching and turning their heads this summer. The Jason Kidd hire is risky at best, grossly miscalculated at worse. Deron Williams taciturn attitude appears to be a problem that Brooklyn will have contend with, so on the surface bringing in vocal, veteran leadership with championship pedigree makes sense. However, both Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce still seem shellshocked about what went down in Boston. It will be interesting to see whether KG and Pierce can change their mindset from the end of an era in Boston to a brief yet realistic championship run in Brooklyn.

Back to Kidd for a second. Having a coach learn on the fly with a young team kind of almost makes sense. But Brooklyn is asking Kidd to manage the most veteran win-now team in the league. Kidd needs time to develop as a coach, it’s time that Brooklyn simply doesn’t have.

Recent history says that teams pieced together with All-Stars past their primes generally fall below expectations. Last year’s Lakers are the most recent example. Also, the 03-04 Lakers with Gary Payton and Karl Malone come to mind. Throw in Houston Rockets of the late 90s with Olajuwon, Drexler and Barkley.