Nets out to prove disrespectful betting line wrong

The gambling houses all say Brooklyn is going to be the worst team in the NBA. The Nets say don’t bet on it. Many of them took offense at having a league-worst 19.5 wins set as their over/under betting line.And with training camp tipping off on Tuesday, the Nets can start the work of proving it wrong. “Yes, I find it disrespectful.

Just because we’ve got a lot of guys that people don’t know doesn’t mean we’re going to win just 19 games,” Day’Ron Sharpe said.“You can’t be one foot out and one foot in.

I’m trying to win as many games as possible and a lot of people are going to doubt us and we’re gonna show them.” Dorian Finney-Smith added, “No expectations, man.We’re playing with the church’s money.” More than one Net echoed that sentiment, of the low expectations simultaneously being used as motivation while also being liberating, fostering an underdog mentality. “On one hand, you say we have low expectations: then we just get to come out and play how we play without all that added stress that can come with that,” Cam Johnson said.

“So, for us, we can use it to our advantage.Use it as a chip on our shoulder and use it as a weight off of our shoulder to go and just play how we do.” After trading Mikal Bridges and reacquiring their own 2025 and ’26 picks from Houston, the Nets are expected to not only struggle but move more veterans. “I was with Mikal when he got moved.

So, I thought there’s a chance I may be moved,” Finney-Smith said.“But all I can do is be a professional: Come in shape, come in ready to play and be where my feet [are].” The dual summer deals signaled a rebuild in Brooklyn.

But don’t tell the Nets that. Organizations tank.Players and coaches don’t.

While GM Sean Marks can worry about lottery odds and Cooper Flagg, the players are focused on getting Ws.  Sign up for Inside the Nets by Brian Lewis, exclusively on Sports+.Please provide a valid email add...