New Jersey Nets
Team of Note
1983-1984 New Jersey Nets
Record: 45-37Overall ranking: 445th, 1.172 points above average
New Jersey enjoyed a brief spurt as a reasonably competitive team during the early 1980s.
Larry Brown led the Nets to a 20-win improvement and a 44-38 record during the 1981-1982 season. New Jersey had a 47-29 mark late in the 1982-1983 season when Brown resigned abruptly – even by his standards – to take over the program at the University of Kansas.
The highlight of the Nets’ early 1980s run of success came during the 1984 playoffs. New Jersey finished the 1983-1984 regular season with a 45-37 record under first-year coach Stan Albeck. Few, however, thought the Nets had a chance of beating the defending NBA champion Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the postseason.
Surprise! New Jersey opened the best-of-five series with a pair of convincing wins in Philadelphia. The 76ers squared the series with a pair of taut wins in New Jersey. The Nets never wavered, though. They completed the shocking upset with a 101-98 victory in Philadelphia in the decisive Game 5.
No other team would eliminate a reigning NBA champion in the first round of the postseason until the Phoenix Suns defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the opening round of the 2000 playoffs.
New Jersey Nets From Top to Bottom
| All-time Ranking | W-L | Playoffs | ||
| 163 | 2002-03 | New Jersey Nets | 49-33 | NBA finalist |
| 210 | 2001-02 | New Jersey Nets | 52-30 | NBA finalist |
| 309 | 1982-83 | New Jersey Nets | 49-33 | East first round |
| 373 | 1993-94 | New Jersey Nets | 45-37 | East first round |
| 381 | 2003-04 | New Jersey Nets | 47-35 | East semifinals |
| 410 | 1997-98 | New Jersey Nets | 43-39 | East first round |
| 466 | 1983-84 | New Jersey Nets | 45-37 | East semifinals |
| 468 | 1992-93 | New Jersey Nets | 43-39 | East first round |
| 469 | 2005-06 | New Jersey Nets | 49-33 | East semifinals |
| 517 | 1981-82 | New Jersey Nets | 44-38 | East first round |
| 539 | 1984-85 | New Jersey Nets | 42-40 | East first round |
| 686 | 2006-07 | New Jersey Nets | 41-41 | East semifinals |
| 698 | 1979-80 | New Jersey Nets | 34-48 | |
| 707 | 1999-00 | New Jersey Nets | 31-51 | |
| 751 | 1985-86 | New Jersey Nets | 39-43 | East first round |
| 755 | 1991-92 | New Jersey Nets | 40-42 | East first round |
| 773 | 2004-05 | New Jersey Nets | 42-40 | East first round |
| 903 | 1994-95 | New Jersey Nets | 30-52 | |
| 922 | 1998-99 | New Jersey Nets | 16-34 | |
| 952 | 1996-97 | New Jersey Nets | 26-56 | |
| 954 | 1978-79 | New Jersey Nets | 37-45 | East first round |
| 963 | 1995-96 | New Jersey Nets | 30-52 | |
| 984 | 1990-91 | New Jersey Nets | 26-56 | |
| 986 | 1986-87 | New Jersey Nets | 24-58 | |
| 1014 | 2000-01 | New Jersey Nets | 26-56 | |
| 1020 | 1980-81 | New Jersey Nets | 24-58 | |
| 1037 | 1977-78 | New Jersey Nets | 24-58 | |
| 1047 | 1988-89 | New Jersey Nets | 26-56 | |
| 1074 | 1976-77 | New York Nets | 22-60 | |
| 1090 | 1987-88 | New Jersey Nets | 19-63 | |
| 1105 | 1989-90 | New Jersey Nets | 17-65 | |