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The 2022-23 NBA season is only a few weeks old, but the Brooklyn Nets are already in a state of free fall. Brooklyn is 2-5 through seven games, Ben Simmons looks concerningly rusty after missing a full season of action and is now injured, and, on Tuesday afternoon, the team fired head coach Steve Nash.

It’s hard to imagine a bumpier start to the season for the Nets, but sportsbooks seem to believe they’re in a better place today after parting ways with Nash. Immediately after news of the firing broke, Brooklyn’s odds of winning the NBA title in 2023 actually improved. Wait, what?

Steve Nash fired by Brooklyn Nets

Steve Nash and Kevin Durant look on during a game.
Steve Nash and Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets look on during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans | Sarah Stier/Getty Images

It’s been quite a tumultuous year for the Nets. Last season, Kevin Durant requested a trade just one day after Kyrie Irving signed his player option to return to the team. Brooklyn wasn’t able to find a trade partner before the deadline, so Durant reluctantly returned for a playoff run just to get swept in the first round by the Boston Celtics.

In the midst of all that, the Nets sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Simmons. The point guard didn’t play a single game the rest of the season, and he’s been a liability on the offensive end since returning last month.

Through seven games this season, the Nets are 2-5 and look discombobulated on both ends of the floor. Brooklyn currently ranks 30th in the NBA in points allowed per game (120.2) and 27th in scoring margin (-6.4).

On Tuesday afternoon, the Nets decided to make a change by firing Nash not even a month into the season. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN first reported the news in a tweet. Assistant coach Jacque Vaughn will serve as interim coach for the time being.

Nets’ championship odds improve after Nash firing

Whenever an NBA team decides to fire their head coach this early in a season, it doesn’t paint an optimistic picture for the rest of the season. But for the Nets, it might be the opposite.

Shortly after the firing, FanDuel moved the Nets from +1500 to +1300 to win the NBA title. There are only two Eastern Conference teams, the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks, ahead of Brooklyn on the odds board.

No matter where the Nets’ championship odds end up, a new coach isn’t going to be able to fix their problems. Don’t put your hard-earned money anywhere near the Nets this season.

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Staff Writer

Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

When Jack isn’t writing about sports, he’s watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He’s also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.