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KD's hurt ankle, Seven on COVID-19 list, Kyrie teases return, all hell breaking loose in Nets' World

While you were sleeping a whole lot has changed around the Brooklyn Nets. Kevin Durant has a tweaked ankle, James Harden is among seven players in COVID-19 protocol and Kyrie Irving tweeted out a video that hints at a return to the court. Despite dressing eligible players, Brooklyn escaped in overtime by Toronto 131-129 on Tuesday night. Durant led the way with 34 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists while Patty Mills added 30 points. It was arguably the most impressive win of the year for the Nets against a Raptors squad that was winners of four of its last five heading into the contest and with plenty of offensive and defensive firepower. Brooklyn survived one night with rookies Cam Thomas (4), David Duke Jr. (10) and Kessler Edwards (17) contributing in the scoring column and playing meaningful minutes. The attention now turns to how Steve Nash will handle a paper thin roster and when Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge and Bruce Brown will be eligible to return to action. In the immediacy, Nash has his hands full, but a potentially season altering development came when Irving posted yet another cryptic tweet, this time a video of him lacing up sneakers. Speculation has been mounting that Irving could return to the Nets with reports indicating there's increased optimism among Nets players and coaches that may be in the offing. Brooklyn has its hands full right now, but at least there is one encouraging sign coming out of Nets world.

Kevin Durant questionable against Toronto with ankle injury, five Nets out due to COVID-19 protocols

The Brooklyn Nets have announced that Kevin Durant has officially been added to tonight's injury report and is questionable to play against Toronto. Coming off a 51 point game against Detroit, it's not clear exactly when Durant suffered the injury, but it's significant enough to potentially impact his playing status. Along with Durant, Joe Harris remains out following ankle surgery, but five players have landed on the league's COVID list including DeAndre Bembry, LaMarcus Aldridge, James Johnson, Jevon Carter and Paul Millsap.

Brooklyn will be extremely shorthanded and is now dealing with a potential COVID-19 outbreak. The Chicago Bulls already had their next two games postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak, so if things continue in this direction the Nets could be going down a similar path.

KD closing gap in MVP race with Curry

Take Kevin Durant off the Nets or Steph Curry off the Warriors and both clubs would be fighting for their playoff lives. 

 With both players in the fold, Golden State is the best out West and Brooklyn the beast of the East, record-wise. Durant and Curry are truly irreplaceable and it's not a coincidence they're in the middle of a MVP race that is tightening with each passing day. 

 Durant made his latest case for MVP with a 51 point outing in Detroit without James Harden, Paul Millsap, Joe Harris and oh yeah, Kyrie Irving. The Nets franchise player is leading the NBA in scoring at 29.4, 2.4 points higher than Curry and The Greek Freak. Durant is shooting a remarkable 52.9 percent from the field to lead the league and is 9.7 percentage points higher than Curry. 

 The numbers don't lie and Brooklyn's point forward passes the eye test, Durant is more than deserving of the MVP award. His unprecedented efficiency, clutch shooting and effortless scoring is the stuff of legends, not to mention Steve Nash has to literally force him to the bench to rest.

 At the quarter pole, Curry is just a hair ahead of Durant, due in large part to his team's overwhelming success and ascension back atop the Western Conference. 

Things can change in a hurry and with news breaking that optimism is growing around Irving's return to the court in Brooklyn, the Nets are hoping to stack wins and make an even stronger case for Durant during this superb season.

Report: 'Nets players and coaches want Kyrie to join team ASAP'

 According to Shams Charania of the Athletic, there is renewed optimism about Kyrie Irving returning to the Nets this season.

Charania indicates there's been increased dialogue between Kevin Durant and Irving about his fit on the team and analyzing Nets' game.

It's unclear the exact scenario around Irving's potential return. There's been no clear indication that vaccine mandates for pubic venues in New York City will be lifted anytime soon. 

Back in September, the Nets' brass of Joe Tsai, Sean Marks and Steve Nash refused to allow Kyrie to be a part-time player and practice with the team, while playing only in road games where the vaccine mandate doesn't apply.

The recent report could mean one of three things, either the Nets are softening their stance regarding Irving being a part-time player, Irving has agreed to get the vaccine or there has been a change to New York City's vaccine mandate.

Whatever the case may be, the report is a major development for the Nets' title chances this upcoming season. Brooklyn has the best record in the Eastern Conference, but has failed every litmus test against the NBA's elite teams. As this story is updated, further details will emerge, but this has to be an encouraging sign as virtually nothing has been reported about Irving's status changing since the start of the year.

Angry Nets Fans Remember, Without Kyrie there's no KD or Harden

 


Fans can be fickle and forgetful. Kyrie Irving is absorbing heat for his refusal to get vaccinated and comply with local mandates. The Nets don't want Irving as a part-time player and thus the standoff has reached its fifth month.

Fans and media clamoring for the Nets point guard to make the decision they want and what's best for their team, not the individual. 

At the end of the day, Irving has a personal choice, but he'll have to live with the consequences of his decision.

No NBA basketball unless there's a change to New York City vaccine requirements or he opts for some form of the vaccine.

Most fans and the public at large are outraged at Irving's decision amidst a health crisis with the pandemic simply much bigger than the game of basketball.

Most quickly forget that it was Irving who was the key driving force for bringing Kevin Durant to Brooklyn with him back in 2019 and forming a superstar duo that James Harden couldn't resist joining upon wiggling out of Houston.

The Brooklyn Nets as you see them today, are a culmination of Irving assuming the role as lead recruiter for his childhood team. 

So not matter how upset, annoyed or disenfranchised you are with the Nets franchise point guard, remember, there's no KD or Harden without Kyrie.


After 25 Games, Nets Still Searching For Team Identity

 


Who are the 2021-2022 Brooklyn Nets? Ask Steve Nash, Kevin Durant and James Harden and they'll all answer in a similar manner.

They're still trying to figure things out. Brooklyn's roster was built around three superstars and with Kyrie Irving still unvaccinated, he remains away from the team indefinitely.

Sean Marks has done a remarkable job of compiling assets to build the star-studded roster that you see in Brooklyn, but outside of Patty Mills, LaMarcus Aldridge, Bruce Brown and flashes of James Johnson, the Nets don't have any reliable players outside of Harden and Durant.

Last season, Brooklyn's big three played only 8 regular season games together, but its bench and role players held down the fort with stars shuffled in and out for a multitude of reasons.

That has been far from the case this year as Brooklyn has stood virtually no chance to win without Durant in the lineup and a diminished Harden who still doesn't look like himself.

Marks has received plenty of praise over the years for successfully building a championship contender, but the Nets don't pass the eye test despite being No. 1 in the East and look far more like pretenders.

The Nets' GM will need to navigate Irving's tricky vaccination situation sooner than later to determine whether he'll be part of the team's plans this year or a piece to bring in reinforcements for Durant and Harden.

NBA stats create their legacy based on what they do in the biggest games and in clutch moments and in the two months leading up to the trade deadline, Marks can either add to his legend or so things go South quickly depending on how the roster is handled from here on out.

Claxton's dust up with Doncic ignites Nets furious comeback win over Mavs

 


Down by 17 points in the third quarter, Steve Nash and the Nets could have easily packed it in and called off the dogs in the front end of a back to back Texas road trip. Instead, Brooklyn rallied to stun Luka Doncic and ex-Net player and coach Jason Kidd.

Behind a behind 24-13 fourth quarter and James Harden and Kevin Durant coming alive offensively late, Brooklyn finally secured a signature win against a quality opponent. 

Harden finished with 23 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, while Durant dumped in 24 and seven rebounds including clutch basket after clutch basket in the final minutes.

One of the momentum changing sequences came with 3:24 remaining in the third quarter when Nic Claxton was called for a kick ball violation while guarding Doncic. After the whistle, Claxton went chest to chest with the Slovenian Sensation and jawed at him before Doncic shoved him away to draw a technical foul. From that point on, the Nets went on to outscore Dallas 34-22.

A visibly frustrated Doncic tried to answer the Nets furious rally, but the left for dead Brooklyn offense got a much needed spark from Claxton's dust up.

The Nets have been searching for their identity throughout the first quarter of the regular season and with Harden looking like a shell of himself and the team failing to pass the litmus test against tougher opponents, Tuesday's win answered some of these questions, at least for the night.

Brooklyn takes on Houston on Wednesday looking to improve on their 17-7 record and pad it's lead for first place in the Eastern Conference.


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