Brooklyn Nets: Kenny Atkinson will be facing his biggest coaching challenge

As the Brooklyn Nets enter the final few games of the regular season, Head Coach Kenny Atkinson will be the center of attention.

It has been a banner season so far for Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Kenny Atkinson. The culture of losing that floated over the franchise since his arrival has begun to subside as the team fight’s late into the season for a playoff spot in the eastern conference.

Atkinson has approached each game in the same manner as his impact is shown heavily in the development of young players. The Nets are a team filled with plenty of young talent that was either selected by the team or cast away early from other franchises.

The emergence of a player like D’Angelo Russell becoming an All-Star this season after being dealt away early from the Los Angeles Lakers is signature proof in Atkinson’s program. The hidden gems of Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie have kept the team versatile and unsuspecting on most nights as both players were barely receiving minutes on past teams.

Atkinson praised the relationship he has with team ownership during a recent interview for allowing him to grow the young squad into playoff contenders:

"“From Day 1 to right now, from the seven-game losing streak (this season) to the 20-win season (in 2016-17), I think there was an understanding of what this project is about and the necessary building blocks we put in place, I think the patience of ownership has been outstanding.”"

The Nets are currently sitting a game below .500 with a record of 39-40 barely holding onto a playoff position. Their final three games are against playoff contenders in the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers and a home finale against the Miami Heat that could determine the eighth seed.

As good as the Nets have been this season Atkinson will still be under the microscope as the playoffs are still not secure. Brooklyn is 3-7 in their last 10 games and needs to possibly win two of the last three contests to qualify.

The Nets don’t have many veterans with deep playoffs experience so they will lean heavily on the guidance of their head coach. Atkinson will be receiving his much-deserved contract extension but will need to prove he is truly coach of the year material by finishing off the regular season in winning fashion.

Making the playoffs with this team would be a massive step for a franchise who might be finally behind some of the darkest days we have ever seen. While much of where they are is because of Kenny Atkinson, he needs to be spot on if they want to officially get there.