‘Heat’ is on early for Nets in historic playoff push
Brooklyn hopes to validate historic campaign with series win over Chicago
The Brooklyn Nets don’t have to deal with defending NBA champion Miami unless they get past the Chicago Bulls in their best-of-seven opening round NBA playoff series, which kicks off Saturday night (8 p.m., ESPN) on the corners of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues.
But that doesn’t mean our borough’s first major pro sports franchise since the Dodgers abandoned us in 1957 won’t be feeling the “Heat” this weekend.
Despite a history-making campaign that saw them reach the postseason for the first time since 2007, open the sparkling new Barclays Center with a 49-win effort and break the franchise record for road victories, these new-look Nets can ill-afford to flame out in the opening round against the banged-up Bulls, who will still likely be without reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose.