It was an ugly night for the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. After suffering their second-straight loss, and dropping to 0-2 on the series, the Nets got some criticism from fans and analysts.
Kevin Durant, too, got some heat. After dropping 27 in the first 24 minutes, he went 0-9 for the final two quarters, ending the game at 23.5% shooting.
Among the critics, FOX Sports analyst Skip Bayless was the loudest. He went off on Durant in a series of tweets.
KEVIN DURANT HAS TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE. COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED AND OVERMATCHED BY A CELTS DEFENSE THAT'S TURNING HIM INTO A TURNOVER MACHINE. PULL YOUR HEAD OUT, MAN.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 21, 2022
Kevin Durant is just getting BULLIED and he has FOLDED. No mas. Make that The Softest Player on the Planet. So disappointing.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 21, 2022
KD: Boston MVP.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 21, 2022
KD and Kyrie on their way to joining LeGone in Cancun.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 21, 2022
Tonight he was Kevin Can't-Do-Rant.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 21, 2022
True, it wasn’t one of KD’s finest pieces of work. Last year, we saw him at his best during the Eastern Conference Semis, when he almost single-handedly led the Nets to a series victory over Milwaukee. What we are seeing now is something entirely different.
Either way, the Nets are going to need Durant and Kyrie Irving at their best if they want any hope of advancing.
“I think Kyrie Irving has to be spectacular in this series,” said Stephen A. Smith. “He was certainly spectacular last night… Boston is another level. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum is another level. That defense in Boston is another level, even without Robert Williams. It is going to take a spectacular, not good, because good aint going to be enough. Kyrie Irving has to be spectacular in this series to get it done. I fully expect Kevin Durant to be Kevin Durant.”
As a 2x Champion, KD knows more than most what it takes to win a title. Yet even he has no answer to the Celtics right now.
As the NBA’s best and toughest defensive team, the Cs are no doubt making life tough for the former NBA MVP. It could be why he went 0-9 in the second half.
But Durant is going to have to be better if his team wants to prevent going down another game this weekend. Judging from history, we have no reason to believe he’ll back down now.
