The Brooklyn Nets finished with the NBA’s worst record at 20-62 last season. The previous season, they went 21-61.Not only have the Nets suffered in the win-loss column, but they have been tragically hurt year-after-year by the effects of their trade for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett with the Boston Celtics. They didn’t hold the rights to the first-overall pick in this year’s draft due to that trade and also won’t hold the rights to next year’s first-round selection either, which has the potential to be another high pick.Nonetheless, one member of the Nets is optimistic about their chances this season.Jeremy Lin, who has taken on a leadership role in Brooklyn, believes the team has the talent to make the playoffs.“I still feel like we can make the playoffs,” Lin said while making a speech in Shanghai, via Nets Daily. “I know everyone will laugh, but that’s no problem. If I believe we can make the playoffs, this is most important.... Hopefully we can perform exceptionally well. Everyone thinks we’ll suck, so I feel like we don’t have a lot of pressure.”Despite losing longtime Net Brook Lopez in a trade with the Lakers, Lin is excited about the team’s new additions. This summer, the Nets acquired point guard D’Angelo Russell from the Lakers, DeMarre Carroll from the Toronto Raptors and Allen Crabbe from the Portland Trail Blazers.“I’m really satisfied (with the Nets offseason additions). Of course, I’ll miss Brook Lopez. We were good friends and we paired well together. They already traded him away, but I feel like we’ll be a stronger team this year," Lin said.In particular, Lin is excited about playing alongside Russell, who should thrive within Brooklyn’s motion offense.

“Of course he can play at the 1, can play at the 2, but will probably first start at the 2,” said Lin of his new teammate. “In our (motion) offense, 1, 2, 3, are all interchangeable. All positions has to be able to pass, play pick and roll. I don’t think it’ll affect me too much because I need others to drive, to attack, to pass, can’t just rely on me. So I hope we’ll be able to pair well together like me and Kemba did.”

But, at the end of the day, the most important thing for Lin is to remain happy, even if the team doesn’t end up winning.

“I think the most important thing for me is to be really happy. Everyday when I play ball, I want to be really happy playing,” he admitted. “Of course I want to win a lot of games. I’m not really concerned with my own stats. I feel like if we perform really well and win a lot of games, these things will take care of themselves.”

Judging by the offseason acquisitions, the Nets should at least be slightly improved from their embarrassing record last year. Given the state of the conference as a whole, the Nets could realistically finish under .500 and still capture the eighth seed, which would shock the NBA community given their play in recent years.