The Brooklyn Nets have yet to experience the level of success they were hoping to achieve when they made the big signing of NBA superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Their tenure together has been marred by drama and playoff shortcomings, but this season, things look different. However, things did get off to a tumultuous start.
Head coach Steve Nash and the team mutually agreed to part ways and then the organization embarked on the pursuit of suspended Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka. They eventually gave up that pursuit, naming acting head coach Jacque Vaughn their head coach.
Moving over a seat on the bench has reinvigorated the team, as the Nets have played excellently since he took over. They have gone 21-7, including a recent 10-game winning streak that Vaughn credits a rise in confidence as being a driving force behind.
“It is belief and that’s a huge part of the NBA,” Vaughn said. “Is the confidence and belief, no matter what situation you can come out on the other side.”
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Nash said that he didn’t believe the players were responding to him anymore, which was a big part of why he decided to step down. That is not an issue that Vaughn, who has gotten the players to respond to him.
“When you follow the game plan and it works, you start believing more and more,” Durant said. “I felt like we didn’t have an identity to start the season, and then we started to figure it out these last few weeks, this last month or so
“We walk into every game believing ‘All right, if we stick to this template, this structure that we have, we’ll be fine regardless of what goes on in the game’… just knowing what we want to do every time we step on the floor keeps our mind at ease, and we’ll have that belief in whatever Jacque tells us.”
It was never a question of talent with the Nets, who have a strong roster with stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the way. Ben Simmons is also rounding into form, providing the team with a nice trio to build their supporting cast around.
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Irving has been the player causing the most tension on the team as he has struggled to stay on the court, mostly because of things he brings upon himself. After missing time because of COVID-19 regulations and opting to not get vaccinated, Irving was suspended this season because of anti-Semetic material he shared on his social media.
Since returning to the court, he has performed very well. He is giving a lot of credit to Vaughn, who he believes has them better prepared and holding each other accountable on the court.
“These little details that we’re just aware of game to game, I just think that we’re doing a great job of talking and communicating when we come to the bench,” Irving said, “Jacque holding us accountable; him coming in as a head coach and really putting his own DNA on it. And us just following the game plan.”
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The Nets are now second in the Eastern Conference with a record of 23-12, only two games behind the Boston Celtics. They came into the season with high expectations and thus far are living up to them as Brooklyn looks to be one of the true contenders in the NBA for the championship this season.
As long as Vaughn can keep them on track and they can remain drama free, this team is going to be making a deep run in the postseason.
