In big games, the Nets are really missing Kyrie Irving
If last night did not prove that the Brooklyn Nets needed Kyrie Irving, I do not know what will! Look, I have said numerous times that the Nets can win a title without Kyrie and I still fully believe this, but they really could have used him last night.
Kevin Durant and James Harden are terrific talents in their own right and they did not really have great nights against the Golden State Warriors, shooting 12-32 (37.5%) from the floor combined for 43 points, but this is a direct credit to how good the Warriors defense was.
Between Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, Gary Payton II, and others all taking turns guarding the Brooklyn Nets’ All-Stars, Kevin Durant and James Harden just did not have any answers on how to attack Golden State’s defense. More importantly, they did not have that third key talent to lean on for production.
Without Klay Thompson, you could say the same about the Golden State Warriors in terms of not having that “other” key scoring talent next to Curry, but the reason they have been so good to begin the 2021-22 season is that they have so many secondary talents that can give them a chunk of scoring each night.
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Last night alone, Andrew Wiggins (19), Jordan Poole (17), and Draymond Green (11) scored in double-figures, and their bench combined for a total of 29 points. The Warriors have been able to produce on offense in many different ways, primarily because of how good their defense has been, but the Brooklyn Nets just do not seem to have this same kind of reliable scoring depth.
Brooklyn was held to 76 points through three quarters in this game and neither Kevin Durant nor James Harden played in the fourth quarter of this game! Without Joe Harris, this team really struggled to spread the ball on the perimeter and right now, they just do not have anyone that can be that third reliable scorer this team so desperately needs.
If Kyrie Irving was out there for the Nets, the Golden State Warriors would not have been able to play their triangle-and-two defense and Brooklyn’s offense would have widened up tremendously. Not having that other All-Star playmaker and facilitator next to James Harden and Kevin Durant is forcing bench guys on this Nets team to step into roles they are not familiar with.
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Brooklyn is still a really strong team and at 10-5, we will most definitely see them in the playoffs contending for a title this year, but the five teams they lost to were not just coincidental losses. Milwaukee, Miami, Chicago, and Golden State are all legit championship contenders and the Charlotte Hornets are one of the best scoring teams in the league who could absolutely be in the playoffs this year.
In big games, the Brooklyn Nets just do not have the firepower right now to overcome teams like the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and Golden State Warriors, which is why it is looking more and more like the Nets need Kyrie Irving.
