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New York media lauds Knicks, Nets just an afterthought locally

If you listen to sports talk radio or peruse a local newspaper or website in the New York market, you'd think the New York Knicks were the favorites to win the Larry O'Brien trophy. Instead, that distinction goes to the Brooklyn Nets. As local media outlets fawn over the Knicks' first playoff appearance since 2013, Tom Thibodeau will never have to buy a meal again in the Big Apple after the job he's done with the previously happless franchise. Steve Nash earns little respect for inheriting a loaded squad, while remarkably Sean Marks has not been listed as the favorite for NBA executive of the year. The Nets are a long, long way from reaching the popularity of the Knicks, and that's no more evident than by the fact their historic season has been overshadowed by the Renaissance taking place at MSG. The trio of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden will not live down anything short of winning a title this season as detractors are wishing and praying for the other shoe to drop. As both franchises prepare for the start of the 2021 playoffs, the Knicks are a cute feel good story to local media in New York, but as far as the national media landscape, the Nets will draw the most fan interest and intrigue in the weeks to follow.

James Harden, Kevin Durant marvel at Kyrie Irving's 50-40-90 feat on Twitter

Social media shoutouts do a mind and body right and both Kevin Durant and James Harden weren't shy in letting the world know just how special Kyrie Irving's achievement of a 50-40-90 season statline exactly is. In 74 games played over two seasons with the Nets, Irving is also the franchise leader in points per game at 27.0.
While Durant was the talk of the town during last year's free agency frenzy and Harden during this year's trade deadline, Irving has compiled a historic season with regard to not only the franchise, but the league overall. Meanwhile, Brooklyn will be resting up and await the winner of Tuesday night's play-in game between the Celtics and Wizards.

Kyrie Irving becomes first Net to join 50-40-90 club

Only eight players in NBA history have ever shot at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line in a single season, and Kyrie Irving's 2020-2021 campaign was good enough to join that elite company. Brooklyn's point guard-turned shooting guard, has quietly enjoyed a historic year in only his second season with the franchise.
Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden have been rewriting all the Nets record books, but the stat that Nets fans young and old care about most is postseason success. Brooklyn will await the winner of the Boston versus Washington seventh versus eighth seed matchup as part of the NBA's play-in tournament. Again, the Nets superstars are stuffing the statsheet, but the real measure of this group's success will lie in whether it can deliver the franchise's first NBA championship.

Nets set new single season NBA franchise record for winning percentage in 123-109 win over Cavs

The last time The Nets boasted a winning percentage over .600, Jason Kidd was running point and the team would clinch its first of back-to-back NBA finals appearances. At a record of 50-32 back in 2001-2002, that .634 winning percentage held up for nearly 20 seasons.
Now, with their big three only playing eight games as a complete unit, and Steve Nash using 38 different starting lineups, the Nets clinched a 48-24 record and .666 winning percentage for the season. The NBA regular season was shortened from 82 games to 72 games and the Nets still reached unprecedented heights by climbing to 24 games over .500 for the first time in their NBA franchise history.
In their ABA days, led by Julius Erving, the Nets went 55-29 in both the 1973-1974 season and 1975-1976 season and in both those campaigns they won the ABA finals. In 1974-1975, the Nets went a franchise-best 58-26, but fell short in the first round of the playoffs to the Spirits of St. Louis

Nets' highlight reel fastbreak finished by thunderous Kevin Durant slam dunk

The Nets have A
ll-Star caliber talent throughout their lineup and on Sunday against Cleveland, they made a fastbreak highlight that rivaled anything fans have seen in the All-Star game over the past few decades. It takes quite a bit to get a two-time champion and two-time NBA finals MVP giddy, but after the monster slammer, Durant was juiced upon finding the beautiful feed off the backboard from Mike James. There will be plenty more big playoff moments ahead, but the second quarter run out started by Blake Griffin's behind the back pass will be in the running for highlight of the year in the NBA.

Nets rule James Harden out to rest hamstring in regular season finale against Cavs

If the Brooklyn Nets hope to clinch the No. 2 seed in the East, they'll have to do so without James Harden. The Nets star guard won't play in the second half of back to back games as Sean Marks, Steve Nash and company play the long game and leave no healing injuries to chance. Brooklyn still has a chance to hold down the two spot, but the Bucks would need to lose to the Bulls to assure the Nets stay at No. 2
Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant will lead the charge for Brooklyn and they'll need to be on point to carry the team into the playoffs riding a five game win streak.

James Harden can shatter Nets' franchise record for triple-doubles in a season set by this legendary PG

In just 36 games played, James Harden has collected 12 triple-doubles and another on Sunday against Cleveland in the regular season finale would set a new Nets all-time single season franchise record. Jason Kidd notched 12 triple-doubles during the 2006-2007 campaign and then accomplished the same feat the following season. Kidd played in a different era with the Nets Big three alongside Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson, but the NBA's emphasis was still on post play and hard nosed defense at that time. During his two franchise record-setting seasons Kidd play in 80 games each compared to Harden's only 36 games played this year. Kidd never had the caliber of supporting cast that Harden holds claim to, but then again Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant have only played alongside him in eight total contests. With the most prolific collection of talent the Nets have ever had, Harden has been an absolute game-changer and a triple-double Sunday would be another accolade added to his storied, yet underappreciated NBA career.

NBA's leader in 3-point percentage, Nets' Joe Harris out until the playoffs

The Brooklyn Nets are overloaded with lethal perimeter shooters, but not a single player on the team nor the entire league is as accurate as Joe Harris. Nets head coach Steve Nash revealed that Harris will be sidelined with a gluteal strain until the playoffs start. The Nets are overloaded with lethal perimeter shooters, but not a single player on the team nor in the entire league is as accurate as Joe Harris.
Harris is shooting a scorching hot 47.5 percent from beyond the arc. One of the few remaining players from the Kenny Atkinson era in Brooklyn, Harris has garnered recognition and praise from teammates both current and former for his selfless attitude and sound fundamental play. If Brooklyn hopes to come out on top in the NBA playoffs, Harris will need to be front and center.

Kevin Durant goes 2-for-11 in first half against Bulls, Nets in front 61-51

Two-thirds of the Nets big three gave the Bulls all they could handle in the first half with Kyrie Irving dropping 20 points, and James Harden 3 points on just three field goal attempts to go along with 5 assists and 4 rebounds, but Kevin Durant could not buy a basket going 2-for-11 in the first 24 minutes of action from the field.
The Nets talent is so overwhelmingly good that they are equipped to overcome an off game from one of their three stars. Durant had open looks throughout the first two quarters of play, so his struggles are more attributed to his own shooting woes than an issue with the continuity of the offense as a whole. Brooklyn's offense did sputter in the early moments of Saturday's matinee as it went down 12-0 to start the game. The Nets need to win this game to maintain a slight edge over Milwaukee record wise for the No. 2 seed in the East.

Nets' big three expected to play Saturday versus Bulls

For only the eighth time third year, the Nets will see Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden take the court together. Brooklyn's head coach expressed optimism that the long awaited day will finally arrive this weekend.
With only two games left in the regular season, the Nets won't simply use the games as a tune-up, but rather to stave up Milwaukee, who is hot in their tail chasing the two seed. Brooklyn hopes of leapfrogging Philadelphia for the top spot in the east were dashed with the Sixers win over Orlando on Friday night. Brooklyn's three superstars are undoubtedly the most prolific scoring punch an NBA team has showcased possibly ever, but they've been unable to stay healthy at the same time. For the Nets top players to be back healthy in time for the playoffs will make fans body and with something on the line in the final two contests, things are about to be very compelling in Brooklyn.
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