I’ll be the first one to admit I may have written off the Nets too early. The Brooklyn Nets and their superstars have stopped being the biggest sideshow in the NBA and have actually focused on playing the game, resulting in them going on a 9-game winning streak.
This was always the thing about the Brooklyn Nets. The team has the talent to be one of the very best contenders in the NBA, but the antics and personal motivations of its superstars had always gone before their commitment to Brooklyn and its fans.
That’s why the Nets have failed to get out of the 2nd round of the playoffs in the Kyrie-KD era, why they constantly failed in the big moments, and why they started the season with a bad 9-11 record and sat outside the Play-In Round spots in the opening two months of the season.
Plus, with all of the drama surrounding Kevin Durant’s trade request, Ben Simmons extremely slow start in his return to basketball after a year, and the media whirlwind that Kyrie Irving caused with his posts that saw him get suspended for eight games, how could any not think the Nets were imploding before our very eyes? I know I did, and I know I said that this team should have been blown up there and then.
And I’ll still stand by that claim and its timing as I don’t think this iteration of the Nets is sustainable. But, like I said, there was always a massive caveat about this team as if they put aside their self-interests and worked together, they had more than enough talent to dominate the NBA. Fortunately for all Nets fans, that’s what they have done these past nine games.
The Nets power duo, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, have been nothing short of sensational in the stretch as they have come together to consistently put up 30-point games as they have blown away some of the best teams in the league, such as the Bucks, Cavs, and Pacers.
Kyrie Irving has been especially great as he’s shut up his haters and doubters in style with him averaging 30.0 PTS, 6.3 REB, 5.9 AST in the game he’s played during the Nets winning streak, clearly pushing him closer into another an All-Star level season. Now, many will probably believe that I am one of those doubters, which is not entirely false as I can’t forgive how he left the Celtics, but I will be the first one to say that a focused, healthy Irving is one of the best guards in the league.
Though, his commitment has always been his biggest liability as he’s rarely been available for the Nets in his four years with the franchise. Whether its suspensions from dumb posts, taking nights off due to “injuries” (i.e.: load management), being banned from not taking the COVID-19 vaccine, or actual injuries, Kyrie Irving has missed 140 games in his career with just the Nets, let alone the hundreds of games he’s missed in his time with the Cavs and the Celtics.
But, if Kyrie Irving can keep his head focused on the court, then he’ll be a massive contributor and reason why the Nets will make the playoffs this year after all.
The one person who won’t be a massive contributor will be Ben Simmons as he’s still not returned to his All-Star level performance with Brooklyn, seemingly leaving this current version of Simmons as the best he’ll ever get. And that’s a scary thought as he’s only averaging 8.2 PTS, 6.8 REB, 6.2 AST, and only 1.4 STL (all career lows).
We’ll have to see if the Nets (22-12) can get their 10th win in a row tonight against the cratering Hawks.
Images Source: Featured Image:
