When it rains it pours, and especially when you’re in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Nets came into their first game since Steve Nash’s firing…and blew multiple 10+ point leads to lose 108-99 to the Chicago Bulls as Kyrie Irving had a Nets’ career worst 4-point night.
There isn’t a team more comical in the NBA than the Brooklyn Nets at this point. Everything that can go wrong with this organization does go wrong in some unexpected, hilarious way. And it happened again last night.
Not only did the Nets blow multiple 10+ point leads to the Bulls as they collapsed in the 4th Quarter, but they also looked managed to look bafflingly awful while doing it.
Once again, the Nets relied on Kevin Durant’s all-time talent to win them this game, which he nearly did as he had a great night with 30 PTS, 9 REB, and 6 AST to give the Nets a lead for the first 3 quarters. But, he was ultimately unable to carry both the Nets and his teammates over the line as his partner-in-crime, Kyrie Irving, contributed nothing.
The pressures from Irving’s stupid social media antics seemed to really affect the former Celtic (sadly) and Cavalier as he scored his Nets’ career-low 4 PTS, had 6 REB, and 7 AST, while he went 0-6 from 3PT range and 2/12 from the field. Normally, I wouldn’t be rooting against any player as that would just be petty, but I’m made a special exception for Mr. Irving in this game.
Not only did he show an extreme level of arrogance and contempt for the ESPN reporter that rightfully questioned why he flippantly posted that antisemitic movie, but he also never been held to account for his corrosive actions during his time in Brooklyn. If there was ever a player who deserved to lay a huge egg in an important game, it was Kyrie Irving last night. I’m glad he delivered.
Anyway, I really should mention how impressive the Bulls performance was last night. And especially Zach LaVine.
They walked into a hostile, unpredictable environment, which hosts two of the best players in the world and came out relatively unscathed.
Even without a reborn Lonzo Ball (the Bulls starting PG), Chicago was able to post 108 points and went 40% from 3PT range and 43.8% from the field. The returning Zach LaVine (29 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST) really carried the Bulls to this win as he went off in the 4th for 20 points alone, which led the Bulls to overcoming the Brooklyn lead and winning this game and breaking their 2-game losing streak.
Regardless, this loss has sunken the Nets even further down the standings as they now sit in 13th place with a 2-6 record, which is just above the 2-6 Detroit Pistons and the 1-7 Orlando Magic. You don’t need me to say that when your team is being compared to the Pistons and the Magic, it’s a horrific team.
The Nets need huge change to get this roster to where it needs to be, though I’m not sure GM Sean Marks is the man to get them their as he reportedly wants to hire suspended Celtics ‘head coach’ Ime Udoka (he’s a HC in name only at this point) for the vacant spot. SMH.
The Nets NEVER learn.
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