The N.B.A. playoffs this year have an exciting cast. There is Stephen Curry and the supercharged Warriors; the veterans on the Spurs; the Pelicans and the playoff debutant Anthony Davis; and LeBron James in his return to Cleveland.
And then there are the Nets. Brooklyn grabbed the last playoff spot on Wednesday night after posting a record of just 38-44. That earned them a seven-game series against the Atlanta Hawks, who finished 22 games better, at 60-22.
A losing team in the N.B.A. playoffs is not all that uncommon. There is even another one this year, the Boston Celtics, who finished 40-42 and earned the seventh seed and a series against the Cavs.