Brooklyn Nets’ lottery odds ascend as D’Angelo Russell’s excels and other takeaways

Following Wednesday night’s incredibly short-handed loss to the Phoenix Suns, the Brooklyn Nets sit at 14-31, and firmly on the downturn, riding a 4-17 stretch without an exit sign in sight.

This is all part of the plan.

Though another challenger has (unwillingly) entered the race in the Philadelphia 76ers, the Nets are gaining ground on their opponents, the fun and pragmatic way to frame all this losing they’re doing. Life is all about perspective, and the most important perspective is that the Nets are just 2.5 games away from having the second-worst record in the league.

Currently, Brooklyn is neck-and-neck with the Portland Trail Blazers at the 6/7 spot of best lotto odds. A Blazers win…