Nets owner Prokhorov on 16-22 team: 'We have a chance to be a champion'

Perhaps the arbitrary change of the Gregorian calendar really did make a difference for the Brooklyn Nets.

Since the turn to 2014, the Nets are 6-1, enough to push their record to an almost-respectable-but-still-way-below-expectations 16-22. In the Eastern Conference, though, that's good for a tie for seventh in the conference, and they're somehow just three-and-a-half games back of home court in the first round.

With 44 games still to play, a lot can happen, and the improvement is appreciable - they've outscored opponents by an average of four points in that stretch, with wins over Oklahoma City, Golden State and Miami. They've beaten the 20-19 Hawks twice, too, and only a 16-point loss to Toronto on the night after a double-overtime game stands out as a poor performance.

Still, given the way they've started and the fact that Brook Lopez is out for the season (and who knows if Deron Williams' ankles will fully heal mid-season), not many would pick this team to go much further than the second round of the playoffs if asked today.

Except for owner Mikhail Prokhorov, of course, who still believes in his $102.2 million payroll (plus insane applicable luxury taxes, estimated at more than $80 million).

Following Brooklyn's victory in London over Atlanta on Thursday, Prokhorov said he's keeping the faith:

"I still think we have a chance to be a championship if, of course, stars align. I think we like sport because it is really unpredictable. So it’s unpredictable, but possible."
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"It’s a procedure, and now the team is playing much better. So, we’re on the right way."
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"So everything is OK, because of course we can’t make any excuse on injuries. And what I’m glad to see is our players stepping up in the situation. So, now everything is more or less okay."

The Russian billionaire also commented on criticism that he doesn't attend enough games in person. That part was pretty funny and not as delusional as his Championship hopes.

"But, frankly speaking, there’s a lot of criticism that I am not in Brooklyn, but I just have a question for you: Do you really think you need to be sitting in the arena to see a game? My friends, we are living in the 21st century. And, in spite of the fact I have no computer, I still have a subscription for the NBA games and for me, it’s like enough to even have a look on the stats so you can understand what is going on."

We hesitate to ever count a team out, especially before the trade deadline with an owner willing to spend egregiously. But, yeah...we wouldn't lay money, even at the 40-to-1 they're currently going off at.