NETS INSIDER

Nets Insider's Rick Laughland alongside BackSportsPage's Randy Zellea are joined by Yahoo Sportsbook, NBATV and MLBTV betting analyst Ariel Epstein, to discuss the latest surrounding the Brooklyn Nets and what NBA bets will lead to the biggest payoff. Among the topics discussed, the future of James Harden and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, NBA prop bets to make and Rick's History of the Nets Book, set to hit bookstores this summer, via History Press.

NBA.com As per Adrian Wojnarowski, the Brooklyn Nets won't listen to any trade offers to James Harden ahead of the February 10 NBA Trade Deadline. Per the report, Harden has indicated that he remains dedicated to the organization but is admittedly frustrated with injuries and COVID-19 absences impacting the roster and team continuity. ESPN Sources: The Brooklyn Nets won’t listen to trade deadline overtures for James Harden, a resolve largely rooted in the All-NBA guard’s repeated insistences to ownership and management that he’s committed to the franchise: https://t.co/wveLmWVqHU — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 27, 2022 Free agency will be a whole new ball of wax has Harden did not sign an extension this summer and vowed to be invested in the Nets' long-term, but also wants the opportunity to test the market for the first time in his career.  Before Sean Marks and company turn their attention to free agency, the Nets have a title to chase. In actuality, the team...

 As far as Steve Nash is concerned, both he and James Harden are on the same page. Speaking with reporters prior to Tuesday's tipoff against Los Angeles, Nash went as far as to say Harden has not verbalized any of the frustrations cited in the Bleacher Report story and even questioned the validity of the report. Steve Nash responds to the rumors of James Harden's concerns with the Nets including with their rotations: "James and I speak all the time...I'm not sure the validity of these comments, to be honest with you" pic.twitter.com/1gFb8FcLEh — Nets Videos (@SNYNets) January 25, 2022 It's no surprise that the head coach is not giving any credence to the notion that his star player is unhappy with the crunch time rotations and open to a change of scenery with a part-time Kyrie Irving and injuries to Kevin Durant and Joe Harris starting to derail a potential championship season. The reality is, as Harden outlined, he's frustrated about a culmination ...

  James Harden acknowledged that things aren't going as planned this year in Brooklyn during a post game press conference following Tuesday night's loss to the Lakers at Barclays Center. With injuries to starters Kevin Durant, Joe Harris and floor leader Kyrie Irving eligible for only home games, Harden's been left with a makeshift supporting cast that has not only played limited court time together, but is comprised mostly of defensive oriented players. Harden recorded his ninth triple-double of the season on Tuesday with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assist, while Patty Mills with 15 and DeAndre Bembry with 12, were the only other players to reach double figures in scoring. "Of course I'm frustrated because we're not healthy. It's a lot of inconsistency for whatever reason - injuries, COVID, whatever you want to call it...I don't know reports. If you don't hear from me, then it's reports. I'm frustrated because I want to win" - James...

  NBA.com James Harden is growing increasingly frustrated in Brooklyn. That much is clear as per multiple media reports citing sources close to Harden. According to  Jake Fischer  of Bleacher Report, Harden is less than thrilled with Kyrie Irving's part-time playing status and Steve Nash's rotating carousel of lineups, particularly in the closing minutes of games and is open to a change of scenery away from Brooklyn. On the flipside, Nets' fans are watching Harden play an uninspired brand of basketball. The Beard has never been a hustle player, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, but the same passion, fervor and intensity he played with upon his trade to the Nets last season is absent from his play so far this year. Kyrie Irving on what led to his strong 4th quarter vs. San Antonio tonight: "James yelled at me - 'Kai, get the f-ing ball'" in the 3rd quarter...so I kind of took that personal and wanted to come out in the 4th quarter with an agg...

  Photo by Doug Bearak NBA trade rumors are going bonkers right now including a proposed trade between Brooklyn and Philly involving a James Harden for Ben Simmons swap among other moving parts. These are fun scenarios for the NBA trade machine, Twitter and water-cooler talk, but none of it is grounded in reality. The Nets are not looking to trade Harden, especially in exchange for a player who disappeared in last year's playoffs and has hid behind the stigma of a "mental health" problem to force his way out of Philadelphia. Yes, Simmons is six years younger than Harden, a more willing defender,  more athletic and with tons of upside, but he also brings lots of baggage, a mental block when it comes to perimeter shooting and won't reach anything near his potential until after Kevin Durant is past his prime. The Nets are a win-now club that needs Durant to take the next 4-6 weeks to heal from his MCL sprain and either Kyrie Irving to decide to comply with local vaccine ...

  Photo by Doug Bearak When Kyrie Irving and James Harden take the court together sans Kevin Durant in the lineup, the dynamic backcourt has won nearly 82 percent of the games over the last two seasons.  You heard it right. A record of 18-4 to be exact. A superb mark for a lethal combination of playmaking, scoring prowess and ankle-breaking handles. Durant is not expected back until after the All-Star break at the absolute earliest, but it's far from panic time in Brooklyn.  Irving and Harden combined for 26 points in a fourth quarter barrage in San Antonio 117-102 win on Friday, marking the first time the Nets beat the Spurs back-to-back times on the road and the fifth consecutive win overall in a head-to-head matchup historically dominated by the Spurs. Kyrie Irving on what led to his strong 4th quarter vs. San Antonio tonight: "James yelled at me - 'Kai, get the f-ing ball'" in the 3rd quarter...so I kind of took that personal and wanted to come out in the 4t...

Photo by Doug Bearak  The Brooklyn Nets are more popular than the New York Knicks, at least that's what merchandise sales data via NBA Store and NBA.com indicates this season. Nets GM Sean Marks joined the club in 2016 and the team motto became, "If you build it, they will come." They, being Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. The trio is among the leading vote getters ahead of the 2022 NBA All-Star Game and undoubtedly the most talented combination playing for one team. The NBA's top-selling team merchandise list... based on https://t.co/I0ypSvyq5i sales from the first half of the 2021-22 season! pic.twitter.com/Hg14EqdBKV — NBA (@NBA) January 21, 2022 As for the Knicks, a team that came into to the season like a lion and went out like a lamb in last year's playoffs. Julius Randle, the NBA's Most Improved Player a season ago, scored just four points on Thursday in an embarrassing loss to New Orleans. RJ Barrett has shown flashes, but has also str...

  Photo by Doug Bearak It's common practice to downplay the importance of the NBA regular season nowadays. With load management prevalent across the league, teams just aren't chasing home court advantage in the same form and fashion they did even five years ago. For the Brooklyn Nets, fans are even suggesting an absurd tanking scenario where they would secure a lower playoff seed and allow an  unvaccinated Kyrie Irving to be eligible for more games. It's an unconventional theory, one that I'm sure Steve Nash and the rest of the locker room give absolutely no credence to.  So, with the Nets a half game back of the Bulls, who travel to Milwaukee Friday and half game behind the Heat, who play in Atlanta, the prospect of the Nets reclaiming first in the Eastern Conference with a win is a very real possibility. This may seem like a trivial pursuit to some, but building chemistry and confidence for the team without Kevin Durant to bail them out is going to be of the utmost im...

Despite the whirlwind of controversy surrounding Kyrie Irving's vaccination status, his commitment to basketball being questioned and his propensity for posting cryptic social media messages, the Net point guard's talent is undeniable.  Having practiced on just a handful of occasion with his fellow teammates so far this season, Irving hit the ground running in his season debut against Indiana on January 5 with 22 points, four assists and three steals on 52.9 percent shooting. Ineligible for Brooklyn's first 35 games of the regular season due to remaining unvaccinated, Irving picked up right where he left off in the 2021 NBA playoffs.  The guy is a complete freak of nature, a basketball savant and as gifted a player as the league can showcase. The wildest thing of all is that basketball is only part of Irving's story, who is passionate about social justice, honoring his Native American heritage and giving back to underprivileged communities both domestic and foreign.  ...

 Team sports are all about sacrifice. I'm the last one to tell anyone what to put in their body, period. When you're Novak Djokovic, of course you're letting down your fans and those expecting you to rewrite major tennis history at this year's Australian Open. But for Kyrie Irving, his decision to remain unvaccinated has far reaching consequences beyond an individual sport such as tennis. Djokovic's choice impacts his own legacy, while Irving's impacts not only that but his team's championship pursuit. Team sports are predicated on sacrifice including: minutes, money, recognition, family time and off the court pursuits. Nets Insider: Kevin Durant's injury doesn't mean his MVP stock w... https://t.co/1ti4XE0TJc #nets #bklynnets #nba — Nets Insider (@NetsInsider1) January 19, 2022 Players aiming to win a title often throw themselves  full bore into that cause for the betterment of the team and to inspire teammates. Irving is considered a team lea...

photo by Doug Bearak Kevin Durant is the leader in the clubhouse to win the NBA's MVP award. Leading the league at 29.3 points per contest and shooting a blistering 52 percent from the field for a perimeter-oriented player is nothing short of extraordinary. So for critics suggesting that Durant, who will likely be sidelined 4-6 weeks with a sprained MCL in his left knee, could fall out of MVP contention just by the mere fact that he's missing games is utterly ridiculous. By the timeline that most are estimating, Durant could miss 20-30 games depending on his rehab. Is it fair to penalize a player for missing less than a quarter of a season when the body of work throughout this campaign and his entire career speaks for itself? Not to mention his biggest threat, Steph Curry, has seen his scoring take a precipitous fall after injuring his hand and despite his fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson returning to the team. Among the leading candidates for MVP, Durant's injury won...

One thing is clear, no outside pressure or influence is going to sway Kyrie Irving to change his vaccination stance. Even Kevin Durant's injured left knee and Joe Harris still working back from shoulder surgery won't sway Irving off his decision. 'I made my decision and I'm standing on it", Irving told beat reporters following the Nets loss in Cleveland. Here's Kyrie Irving's exchange with a reporter who followed up about his vaccination status: pic.twitter.com/dz9N5P5F7Q — Nets Videos (@SNYNets) January 17, 2022   The Nets reversed course on their preseason decision to preclude Irving from being a part-time player, but don't count on the Nets' point guard pivoting on his vaccination choice. Brooklyn's GM Sean Marks will need to be active ahead of the February trade deadline anticipating Irving will only be available for road games and Durant and Harris likely only with the team for the final 4-6 weeks of the regular season coming...

Nba.com  Finally, a positive update on the injury front for the Brooklyn Nets as Joe Harris has been cleared for light shooting and made the trip with the Nets to Cleveland on MLK day, according to head coach Steve Nash. Harris underwent ankle surgery on November 29 and was expected to miss 4-8 weeks. Brooklyn is right in the middle of that recovery timeframe and Nash indicated that Brooklyn's sharpshooter is making progress and starting on court work.  Steve Nash said Joe Harris is on the trip. He won’t play. Believes Harris just got cleared for light shooting. — Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) January 17, 2022 The Nets did not issue a single update on Harris' progress since late-November, so while he's not quite practicing with the team, this encouraging news will help ease the loss of Kevin Durant for the next 4-6 weeks. Nash has turned to a trio of rookies in Cam Thomas, Kessler Edwards and Day'Ron Sharpe to shoulder significant minutes with the team short...

photo by Doug Bearak It seems as though a greater force is preventing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden from taking the court together.   Brooklyn's Big 3 is 13-3 playing together and 59-35 when missing at least one head of the three-headed monster. Playing just 14.5 percent of 110 possible games is not something that GM Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash envisioned for the superstars.   Even before Harden's arrival, Durant missed the 2019-2020 campaign rehabbing his Achilles injury and Irving played in just 20 games before undergoing shoulder surgery. Don't mention to Nets fans the shuffling on and off the injury report for Harden and Durant last year, while Irving missed time due to personal reasons.  Harden re-aggravated his hamstring in Game 1 of the 2021 NBA playoff semifinal round against Milwaukee before returning for the final three games of the series seriously hampered by the setback.  Irving suffered a serious ankle injury in G...

  WikiCommons Kevin Durant is everything to the Brooklyn Nets. The gifted 7-footer is the heartbeat of the team and his health and well being should be a top priority. The Nets are notoriously tight-lipped discussing injuries with the media and need to remain ultra conservative with the timeline for his return to the court whether an MRI confirms a knee sprain or even a better prognosis. KD just walked out of the Barclays Center with a little bit of a limp — but sounded hopeful that the injury wasn’t too serious. Didn’t think it was as bad as when Zaza fell into him. Doesn’t know if he’ll travel to Cleveland yet — will wait to see what MRI says. — Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) January 16, 2022 Sans Kyrie Irving until this past week, Durant's minutes were getting out of control this season and even Steve Nash admitted that his workload needed to be curtailed and urged his star to take more rest days. With over three weeks until the All-Star break and a road heavy schedule wh...

  The Brooklyn Nets played arguably their best home game of the season, a place they're a middling 11-11, but the biggest storyline to emerge from Saturday's win over New Orleans is that Kevin Durant exited in the second quarter in what the team classified as a knee sprain. "Hopefully it's not bad at all" James Harden talks about Kevin Durant's injury and says he hasn't gotten to talk with him since the game ended: pic.twitter.com/tuRRQXAtPJ — Nets Videos (@SNYNets) January 16, 2022 After Bruce Brown crashed into Durant's knee, causing it to hyperextend, the Nets' power forward tried to shake off the injury before signaling to the bench and walking off the court with play still going on. Durant is scheduled for an MRI, and while it appears as though he's avoided a major injury, watching the franchise leave the game in that fashion and undergo further testing, is concern enough for Nets' fans. Brooklyn travels to Cleveland on MLK day, wit...

NBA.com   The Houston Rockets have overcome a disastrous start to the season but are still heading nowhere fast. Stephen Silas' group jumped out of the gate with a 1-16 start and currently sit at an improved mark of 12-31 yet are not even within an earshot of a playoff spot.  The Rockets will be sellers ahead of the February trade deadline and the Nets, despite holding claim to the NBA's most efficient offense in league history last season, are struggling to produce points against elite teams.  No timetable has been given for Joe Harris' return from ankle surgery and Kyrie Irving's part-time status is helping fill the scoring void, but not entirely.  Enter Eric Gordon, who is in the final year of a four-year, $75.6 million deal he signed in 2019. At 33, Gordon is still chasing an NBA title. Gordon was James Harden's running mate in Houston for several title pushes that fell short, but he remained loyal to the organization through the rebuild.  Gordon was less th...

                 Photo by Doug Berak The Brooklyn Nets are 13-3 when Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving take the floor together and 59-35 when at least one superstar is sidelined.  The reality may be sinking in that a combination of age, overusage and injury might prevent fans from seeing the ultimate version of the Big 3 that many anticipated. Whether it's hamstring strains, COVID-19 protocols, compliance with local vaccine mandates, missing time for personal reasons and a multitude of other issues, the Nets are, in fact, hardly ever whole. In the tiny sample size as a complete unit, Brooklyn has shown glimpses of being a dynastic group and deserving of the title as the odds-on favorite to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy.  As the Nets found out in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, championships are not won on paper. Steve Nash has been dealt a hand of three Aces, but when he's unable to play his best cards, the Nets' bench and ...

This global pandemic is no joke matter. The COVID-19 Omnicron variant is spreading like wildfire across all corners on the globe. Now with unvaccinated Kyrie Irving back on the court for Nets' road games after the team reversed course on its preseason decision to preclude him from being a part-time player, the attention has turned to the point guard's eligibility to play in home games. James Harden, clearly being facetious with the media, who has harping on this issue, joked he would take matters into his own hands. Is James Harden still holding out hope that Kyrie Irving can play at Barclays Center? "I'm gonna give him the shot" pic.twitter.com/1tupopQFpT — Nets Videos (@SNYNets) January 13, 2022 With a report from the New York Daily News suggesting that New York City's local vaccine mandate has a loophole where the Nets' could allow Irving to play by paying a nominal fine. The first violation amounts to a warning followed by $1,000, $2,000 and...

Brooklyn plays Portland Monday night with and Kyrie Irving listed in the starting lineup. Irving will be able to play in 13 of the Nets next 18 games as they approach the All-Star break. This stretch will represent one of the most important in the team's championship pursuit as Irving will need to develop a rapport with new teammates and build his stamina after missing the beginning of the season. Brooklyn had lost five straight homes games before squeaking by the Spurs in overtime on Sunday at Barclays. With a NBA-best 14-3 road record, it's expected Irving added to the lineup will only improve that sterling mark. Milwaukee and Miami are both 2.5 games back of Brooklyn and the Nets trail top seeded Chicago, who they play at the United Center on Wednesday night, by 1.5 games. The Nets can either leapfrog Chicago ahead of the All-Star break or sink back into the pack over the next 18 contests. Irving is a difference-maker and glue guy in the locker room despite his icy rel...

Losers of three straight games, the Brooklyn Nets are showing signs of a team exhaling and waiting for their third star to return to the court. Call it a midseason slump, but the absence of bench production, outside of a furious fourth quarter rally against Memphis on Monday night, point to the Nets taking their eyes off the ball. Brooklyn has dropped behind Chicago at the top of the East while Milwaukee is closing ground fast. Yes, Kyrie Irving will pay when the Nets take on the Pacers in Indiana on Wednesday, but the team can't simply continue playing lackluster fourth quarter basketball and expect star power to carry it through difficult times. Once Irving ramps up and with roughly just 18 road games he's eligible for playing in the rest of the way, the playoffs will be here before we know it. The Nets have built some bad habits over this three game skid and while their talent is undeniable, Steve Nash will need to correct the team's untimely mistakes and lack of c...