Although there may be a question as to how well the Nets fare this season—some say they can win the Atlantic, some say they’re its fourth best team—nobody seems to be question the fact that the Nets should make the playoffs this season.

A big part of the reason why there is so much optimism merely one season after the club went just 22-44 last season is because of its new-found depth.

The Nets managed to acquire Joe Johnson without surrendering MarShon Brooks and the trade for Dwight Howard—which would have included Brook Lopez and countless other pieces—never materialized.

And the result is a team that is 10-deep and should be amongst the top teams in the conference.

Howard Beck of the New York Times echoes some of those sentiments in his latest piece for the New York Times. He focuses on Brook Lopez and how his still being a Net, to Lopez, is a bit of a blessing.

From The New York Times…

“…The arena’s long-awaited opening surely meant more to Lopez than any other Net. Drafted in 2008, he is the Nets’ longest-tenured player and the one who has endured the most to reach this point. The Nets won 92 games and lost 220 in Lopez’s first four seasons while burning through three head coaches, two general managers and two nondescript New Jersey arenas.”

No doubt, Lopez has endured a lot since he became a Net. With, this team might be able to become relevant in the Eastern Conference. And with Brooks as the team’s sixth man, the sky’s the limit for Brooklyn’s newest team.