Kyrie Irving’s recent overtures to Kevin Durant give the Nets’ championship hopes an unexpected boost. The Nets traded their two top players, essentially giving up on this season and starting over with a new team next year in order for them to have hope of signing both Kyrie and KD for the 2019-2020 NBA season. This would be another monumental example of how one player can affect an entire organization’s outlook on life
Kyrie Irving’s recent overtures to Kevin Durant give the Nets’ championship hopes an unexpected boost. The Nets have been in rebuild mode for a few seasons now, and with Kyrie as their new point guard, they are looking like a team that will be able to compete in the near future.
Kyrie Irving isn’t playing while Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets are atop the Eastern Conference rankings. However, this might change in the near future.
According to previous accounts, Irving was comfortable and pleased with his choice to sit out due to his unwillingness to get the COVID-19 vaccination. However, it looks like Durant is assisting Uncle Drew in scratching his basketball itch, which might reenergize Brooklyn as a top NBA championship candidate.
Because of his recent conversation with Kevin Durant, the Nets have’renewed hope’ regarding Kyrie Irving’s imminent comeback.
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It’s unclear if Kyrie Irving will get the vaccination in the end. Regardless, the Nets seem to think he’ll play for them at some point this season.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, there is “renewed confidence” regarding Irving’s comeback. Much of this seems to be the result of his recent correspondences with KD, which Charania claims have grown.
Irving and Kevin Durant, his co-star and close friend, have increased contact in recent weeks regarding his fit on the team, breaking down games, and life in general, according to sources. Between the two superstars, there seems to be an enhanced degree of excitement.
–The Athletic’s Shams Charania
Even without Kyrie, Durant said in October that the Nets had the potential to win it all. Despite the fact that Brooklyn is winning despite James Harden’s sluggish start, KD is bearing a tremendous weight.
In his second season back from an Achilles rupture, the former league MVP is playing 36.5 minutes per game. He’s also at his third-highest use rate of his career right now.
Durant has shrugged off inquiries about his playing time. However, Irving’s return may relieve a lot of burden on both him and Harden.
Irving relieves the pressures of scoring and playmaking.
On May 30, 2021, Kyrie Irving reacts with teammate Kevin Durant at TD Garden during Game 4 of a first-round matchup against the Boston Celtics | Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images
Kevin Durant isn’t having any trouble adjusting to the increased playing time. His 51-point performance on Sunday boosted his scoring average to an NBA-best 29.4 points, and he’s the driving force behind Brooklyn’s impressive start.
Even still, the Nets would probably prefer if he didn’t blow up before the playoffs. Irving’s probable comeback is particularly significant in this sense.
Kyrie Irving is one of the best shot makers in the NBA. He can go after matchups off the dribble and finish through contact at the hoop, or he can pull up for shots from anywhere on the floor. Last season, he shown that he could be a danger off the ball, cutting the baseline and curling off screens.
The Nets would benefit from having another player capable of taking over the offensive reins instead of depending on Durant and Harden to show up on a regular basis. Irving’s ability to span the floor and draw additional defenders off the bounce might help clear up room for KD and The Beard.
Another aspect of this circumstance is that Kyrie’s return might provide the Nets with another body. That may seem straightforward, but it isn’t, particularly considering COVID’s current influence on the NBA.
Providing critical depth to the Nets
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Because of the influence of COVID-19, player availability seems to be becoming more important in the NBA.
Depth difficulties are being dealt with by a number of clubs. The Chicago Bulls currently have ten players out, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, as Alize Johnson underwent health and safety procedures on Monday. It’s becoming clear that the virus will play a role in the coming months once again.
It’s ironic, though, that a Kyrie Irving who opposes the vaccination might provide depth to the Nets and help them manage any roster concerns. According to The Athletic, there’s no way of knowing if Irving will receive the shot, but the team’s stronger views about his return implies there could be a solution in the works, or that recent discussions with Durant are affecting Kyrie in some manner.
Regardless, the Nets’ conviction that Irving will play at some point is a boost to Brooklyn’s championship prospects, particularly given what his presence on the court and in terms of roster building can do for Durant and the rest of the squad.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
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