Over the past few months, the Brooklyn Nets have been the epitome of an up-and-down team. After starting the season as one of the worst teams in the East, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving led the Nets to 11 straight wins and the 2nd seed in the conference.
But since KD went down with an MCL injury, the Nets have been reeling. Before last night’s matchup against the Utah Jazz, they were 0-4 in this stretch without Durant.
Thanks to 48 points and 11 rebounds from Kyrie Irving, they were finally able to stop the bleeding and pick up a much-needed win. Sitting at the podium after the buzzer, he spoke candidly about his team and how he feels about their position going forward.
“Every night I try to put myself in that place, in that zone,” Irving said. “Specifically in the fourth quarter when it’s winning time. But I just think the way we started off the game really made a difference tonight. And the way we finished, I felt like we grew as a squad… there was a few possessions where we just got a good shot attempt up. And that carried us through the night. I’m proud of the guys. Obviously, it’s one win, but when you’re on a bit of a losing streak, you know, everything can feel exacerbated, everything could feel like it’s pressure. But, I feel like we’re rising to the challenge and tonight we proved that on the road.”
Kyrie Irving: "I'm proud of the guys. Obviously, it's one win, but when you're on a bit of a losing streak, you know, everything can feel exacerbated, everything could feel like it's pressure. But, I feel like we're rising to the challenge and tonight we proved that on the road." pic.twitter.com/hMVqyxJpd1
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) January 21, 2023
Irving and the Nets have been among the biggest stories in the East all season long. On paper, they have enough talent to win the NBA Championship, but the reliability of their core guys (specifically Kyrie and Ben Simmons) continues to be a question mark for many at the season’s halfway mark.
Does Kyrie Have A Future With The Nets?
Kyrie has put his team through hell over the past few seasons, but he has been on his best behavior lately, which is probably why the Nets were able to start winning games again.
Now, it’s being reported that Kyrie could actually return to Brooklyn by signing a short-term deal in free agency this summer.
“I think Kyrie ends up with a short extension with the Nets,” one NBA executive predicted while speaking with HoopsHype. “A sign-and-trade for Kyrie this summer would be tough given the length needed and assets to make it happen from another team. I think there’s an incentive for an extension on a one-plus-one or two-year deal. If I’m Brooklyn, I’m not going past two years. I don’t know if Kyrie would accept that. The Lakers will go into the summer with cap space and can offer two years, $60 million, where he could rejoin LeBron James and play with Anthony Davis.”
It remains to be seen how the Nets will hold up in the postseason, but until the moment arrives there will be plenty of doubters for the Nets.
Now at 1-4 without KD, Kyrie has shown he can win as the number one guy but the Nets will need Durant at his best if they want any hope of besting the Celtics, Bucks, or 76ers in a best-of-7 series.
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