Kevin Durant put in yet another magnificent performance when he dropped an incredibly efficient 55 points against the Atlanta Hawks. However, the Brooklyn Nets still fell to a 115-122 loss despite KD’s heroics. That loss dropped Brooklyn to the 10th seed in the East, mathematically eliminated from getting an automatic playoff spot.
Durant’s performance should be appreciated by most, as seeing players perform like this in their 15th NBA season should be applauded. However, the larger narratives around the Nets and KD still caused people to admonish the game for being a stat-sheet stuffing game due to the loss.
NBA analyst Nick Wright is known to take a lot of shots at Durant, especially by comparing LeBron James with Durant, saying Durant will always be #2 behind James. He doubled down on that statement after the Nets’ loss with a fiery tweet directed at KD.
Even on the night KD gets his career high, he comes in… second place.
Tough times.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) April 3, 2022
The way Wright talks about Durant is extremely comparable to how Skip Bayless talks about LeBron James. It is clear that certain TV analysts have certain agendas against players because of the debates and conversations they are trying to drive. But just like how Bayless finds a way to criticize LeBron’s performance regardless of them being good or bad, Wright is doing the same with Durant.
The performance will sting for the Nets, who now have to fight their way through the play-in tournament to get a spot in the playoffs. Despite that, the Nets have extremely strong bookers’ odds to win the NBA Finals based on the strength of their two offensive weapons alone, even though it couldn’t lead them to a win against Atlanta.
Hopefully, the Nets can have Ben Simmons back in time for the Playoffs as they need his defensive ability to help lock players down in the post-season. Defense wins championships, and it doesn’t look like the Nets can be headed to a title with their current state.
