Can the Brooklyn Nets make it all work?
It’s championship or bust for the Brooklyn Nets
After the acquisition of former MVP James Harden, the Brooklyn Nets have been on a roll and have been playing great as expected. Despite not really having time to practice with his new team and develop chemistry, Harden has been able to fit right in as the Nets won their first two games with him in the lineup.
Harden put a triple-double in his debut with the team posting 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists as he appeared to be in mid-season form. In Harden’s second game with the Nets, they faced off in what would be a marquee matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks and reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo as they were the favorites to win the East before the Harden trade but are still expected to compete for one of the top seeds in the conference.
Against the Bucks, Harden scored 34 points to go along with six rebounds and 12 assists in what was a close 125-123 victory against a team that will surely become a heated rival as the season progresses.
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Now, with Harden on board, everybody wants to know is whether Kyrie Irving is all in with this team? In the eight games Irving has appeared in so far this season, he has averaged 28.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.8 assists which are indeed all-star caliber numbers and among the best at his position. Irving agreed to sign with the Nets in 2019 along with Kevin Durant and form a formidable 1-2 punch and try to transcend the Nets to a championship level team. Irving took an extended leave of absence from the team citing personal reasons missing 7 games in the process.
He returned to the lineup in the Nets matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers in which would be the first time Irving and Harden shared the floor as members of the Nets. Irving had an admirable performance scoring 37 points with two rebounds and three assists albeit in a losing effort as the Nets lost a double-overtime thriller.
It seems like the entire world is watching to see whether Irving and Harden will be able to co-exist as both are ball-dominant players. This is where both of these great players have to decide to come together and show maturity and make the necessary sacrifices to reach the goal of winning an NBA title.
That’s all that should matter especially after these players have already accomplished so much and have received all the accolades any player could ever dream of having. What better way to top that off with winning a brand new shiny championship ring and becoming the first team to ever raise a banner in the Barclays Center?
This Nets team should look at how the Big 3 from the Miami Heat’s glory days made it work for them when they had LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Even though each of those players made sacrifices, they still were able to put up their numbers, make all-star and All-NBA teams as they were still able to accomplish their ultimate goal of raising the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the season, not once but twice.
What made that Heat team special was that they all realized what they had in James as the best player on the planet, and while they all still made significant contributions during their title runs, they all knew that James had to be the one to carry them to the promised land. This has to be the case for Durant also as he has proven what he can do and has the statistics and rings to back it up.
In crunch time, it’s without any doubt that Durant will be Steve Nash’s first option to take a clutch shot, and rightfully so as Durant has been successful at this time and time again. Irving and Harden must accept the fact that Durant is the leader and best player on the team (and possibly the NBA) and not let this golden opportunity in front of them go to waste.
On most nights, they will more than likely outscore opponents due to having that immense offensive firepower. They all must understand their roles within the team’s structure and play their part as to not self-destruct by trying to overplay their role by doing too much. They have a very talented team and can truly become one of the most dangerous in the league once they get their chemistry issues solved and improve on the defensive end.
These three stars have extensive playoff experience, three titles, two MVP awards, and too many all-star selections to count between each other. This trio of players can score from any level of the floor, whether it’s in the paint, from mid-range, or behind the arc. All three players are also adept at getting to the foul line and getting opposing teams in foul trouble.
For their careers, Durant averages 7.7, Irving 3.1, and Harden with 8.8 free throw attempts per game. The other key players on the Nets roster, in particular Joe Harris, Bruce Brown, and Landry Shamet should benefit from better spacing due to being on the floor with this talented trio. This should create mismatches and open looks for these role players and whatever else they provide will be an added plus for the team.
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As long as Irving and Harden make the commitment and can avoid the petty antics and just focus on what they have to do to collaborate and capture a title is all that should matter. It will be interesting to see how this narrative plays out as the season progresses as all eyes will be on the Nets as they are expected to win and win big.