Kyrie Irving’s Nets Open 2019-20 Season With a Projected Win Total of 45.5

• Nets finished with 42 regular season wins in 2018-19
• Addition of Kyrie Irving enhances Brooklyn’s chances
• Last time franchise had more than 46 wins was 2014

The Brooklyn Nets went from being regular NBA basement dwellers to hitting the free agency jackpot this summer.

After landing point guard Kyrie Irving and power forward Kevin Durant in the offseason, the Nets have suddenly become legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference.

But will it be enough to post 46 or more regular season wins next season?

Sportsbooks have released their opening 2019-20 NBA win totals and has set a lofty over/under line of 45.5 projected victories for the Nets.

Brooklyn Nets Win Total Odds

*Odds taken 07/15/2019. For a full list of team win total odds, click the link in the table.

Nets in Tough in Deep Eastern Conference

Brooklyn accumulated 42 victories last regular season and clinched a playoff berth in the process.

This of course will be a different situation with Durant expected to miss an entire year recovering from an Achilles injury.

That puts the pressure on Irving to guide the Nets back to the post-season for a second straight year in what will be a very deep Eastern Conference.

OFFICIAL: The Nets have signed six-time NBA All-Star @KyrieIrving!

Welcome to Brooklyn, Kyrie ⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/WKkiM9uKjm

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) July 7, 2019

Other teams on the board projected at 45.5 regular season wins include the defending champion Toronto Raptors, as well as the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Los Angeles Clippers have the highest projected wins total at 55.5, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks at 54.5.

The Boston Celtics — the team Irving left to join the Nets this summer — opened at 48.5.

https://youtu.be/2MiOZQt703k

Offseason Additions

The additions to the Nets lineup far outweighs the losses as the club also signed big man DeAndre Jordan, guard Garrett Temple and forward Wilson Chandler to help round out the depth.

Two of the team’s biggest losses were guard D’Angelo Russell and center Ed Davis. However, the departures of DeMarre Carroll and forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson leaves some holes off the bench.

The Nets also pulled off a trade with the Atlanta Hawks for forward Taurean Prince, who will likely be a fill-in starter as Durant recovers from his injury.

Current Brooklyn Nets roster:

Kevin Durant (injured)
Kyrie Irving
Caris LeVert
DeAndre Jordan
Spencer Dinwiddie
Joe Harris
Taurean Prince
Jarrett Allen
Rodions Kurucs
Garrett Temple
Wilson Chandler
Dzanan Musa
Nicolas Claxton
Theo Pinson
Jaylen Hands

What’s our record? pic.twitter.com/kOcfOSEV2L

— Christopher Lavinio (@ChrisLavinio) July 11, 2019

Total Wins Projection

Reaching 46 wins to hit the over will be difficult for the Nets, even with Irving on the floor. Brooklyn’s 42 wins was the closest the franchise has got to 45.5 since the 2013-14 regular season when the Nets finished 44-38. The year prior, Brooklyn had 49 victories and finished fourth in the East.

By comparison, teams that hovered around the 46-48 win range a year ago included the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers — all of which made the playoffs as well.

The Nets will be a much-improved road team with Irving in the lineup. Brooklyn struggled away from the Barclays Center last season, finishing with a mediocre 19-22 record on the road compared to 23-18 on home court.

It will take at least a season for Irving to adjust to his new surroundings and without Durant along his side, it’s a safer bet to take the under on Brooklyn’s projected total wins of 45.5.

Pick: Under 45.5 wins (-110)