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Kyrie doing what's best for Kyrie means Nets need to do what's best for them

 




Kyrie Irving wants his ultimate decision to take or not to take the vaccine to be up to him and him alone. The Nets point guard doesn't want to be influenced by any outside sources including the team, media or angry fans with pitchforks pressuring him to comply with NYC's local mandates and return to the club.

That being said, Irving is putting the Nets and their fans in a very difficult position by staying in a holding pattern and keeping hope alive, even just slightly, that he'd be back with the team this year.

Honestly, Irving and the Nets may have been better off if he determined during training camp that he was not going to get vaccinated at any point. This would have allowed Sean Marks plenty of lead time to plant seeds with other teams and find the most beneficial move to allow the Nets to get somewhere near full value in return for the mercurial star.

In fact, Irving's vacillating has made him a side story, which is exactly what he didn't want to be. Steve Nash and company have taken the right mindset by keeping a seat on the bandwagon open, while not stopping the season tour and refusing to constantly look in the rearview for Irving to appear.

Whatever issue Irving has with receiving the vaccine, he's made it clear it's personal to him and he'd like to handle it as such. While fans on each side of this argument will battle over the merits of Irving's decision, the reality is nothing has changed since July regarding his status.

While a recent report from Bally Sports indicated Irving may be waiting for and open to a plant-based vaccine, it's hard to get inside the thinking of a man who doesn't always seem to know what he wants himself.

The only thing left to do for the Nets is take back control of the situation and not impose any type of ultimatum, but a deadline to make a decision. If Irving hasn't been vaccinated by New Year's Day, Marks and crew should let it be known to Irving only that they will not only field offers for him, but proactively make calls.

Is this in a way forcing Irving's hand? Absolutely. However, it's in no way coercing him into a decision he doesn't want to make. Brooklyn simply shouldn't be held hostage anymore, especially in a season with championship aspirations and a few missing pieces on the roster it will need to desperately fill to make those dreams a reality.


No offense Bill Parcells, but the Nets are not what their record says they are



 NFL legendary coach Bill Parcells has a treasure chest of famous quotes to his credit, but one of his all-time best sayings doesn't apply to the 2021-2022 Brooklyn Nets.

Despite Brooklyn holding claim to the best record at 16-7 in the Eastern Conference and tied for third in the entire league, the Nets have failed every litmus test so far this year.

"You are what your record says you are," Bill Parcells once notoriously proclaimed.

 Unfortunately, it doesn't necessarily ring true for this Brooklyn club.



With an opening night loss to Milwaukee, coming up short against Charlotte, Miami, Golden State, Phoenix and Chicago twice, Brooklyn is feasting on bottom dwelling teams and coming up way short against the league's premier squads. 

Kevin Durant is shouldering the scoring load and James Harden is a reluctant scorer, while looking as though he's still not fully healthy after a hamstring rehab period that commanded his attention all summer. 

Harden looks a combination of gunshy, hobbled and not playing with the same fire and intensity as last season when carried the Nets to the No. 2 seed in the East with Durant and Kyrie Irving missing large chunks of the regular season.

The silver lining is Harden hasn't played near his capabilities and reinforcements with be on the way once Joe Harris returns healthy and Nic Claxton gets his conditioning right after his mystery illness. 

Brooklyn weathered an early season storm with Irving missing all 24 games so far by refusing to comply with local vaccine mandates, Durant dodging a potential serious shoulder injury and Harris hoping to return to the club at some point before the All-Star break following ankle surgery.

The Nets quality wins just aren't there this year, so while the record has Brooklyn sitting pretty atop of East's standings, there are more question marks, including Irving's future with the team, than answers for the first place club.





Nets fielding offers for Kyrie Irving, but it's time to start hunting for trade partners



Sean Marks and the Nets understand at this point, Kyrie Irving won't be walking through the doors at Barclays Center.

With cases rising throughout the country and particularly higher in the New York Metropolitan area, it's unlikely that City officials or newly elected Mayor Eric Adams are eager to lift the vaccine mandate anytime soon.


Joseph Tsai, Steve Nash and Marks made an organization-wide decision not to allow Irving to be a part-time player with the team. It's also unlikely Brooklyn's brain trust backtracks any from that conclusion.

The most likely scenario is for Irving to play elsewhere this year and for the Nets to not only field offers, but to proactively reach out for the best deals in exchange for the superstar point guard.

One option for Marks is sending a combination of Irving and picks or young assets to Houston for shooting guard Eric Gordon, who played with Harden and would immediately take the scoring onus off him.

Gordon is not a superstar the caliber of Irving, but he'd be a good fit for the scoring needy Nets and allow Harden to facilitate to the supporting cast.

Irving and the Nets are at a standstill, but now is the time for the team to start looking for options to replace him as the third scoring option with the countdown starting until February's trade deadline.

Warriors show Nets what a true championship team looks like

 The Brooklyn Nets got a wake-up call on Tuesday night in their 117-99 loss to the Golden State Warriors.





Steph Curry's 37 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists  outdueled Kevin Durant's 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, while James Harden led the Nets in scoring with 24.

Curry and company blew the doors off Brooklyn by outscoring them 35-18 in the third quarter and made the fourth quarter a mere formality.

The Nets sorely missed the scoring punch that Kyrie Irving would have brought to this marquee regular season matchup, but are coming to grips with the fact they'll have a long way to go before calling themselves true contenders.

The Nets are winless against the NBA's most formidable clubs, including Milwaukee, Chicago, Miami, and now Golden State.




Steve Nash understands that Kyrie Irving won't be walking through the doors at Barclays Center anytime soon, so if the Nets are looking for answers, they can't wait for outside help, but merely get their own house in order.

Curry pulled ahead of Durant in the early MVP race and the Warriors left Brooklyn in the dust in what many anticipated could be an NBA Finals preview.



Nets climb league rankings by refusing to wait for Irving to walk through the doors



Kevin Durant has been otherworldly and James Harden has created scoring plays for others, but the play of Brooklyn's new additions has as much to do with the team's current three game winning streak as anything.

LaMarcus Aldridge is automatic from the mid-range, Patty Mills is finding his long range touch as the former Spurs duo in impressing in early season action. The Nets roster is littered with All-Stars, but these are no one trick ponies. Mills brings defense on the perimeter along with Jevon Carter, while Aldridge and Paul Millsap hold down the paint and clean the glass.

Even without Kyrie Irving, the Nets are actually a more well rounded team than last year, even though defense and rebounding are continuously areas where they can and need to improve in.

As for Harden, he has not been his attack dog self as he spent the majority of the off-season rehabbing his hamstring with little live game action or practice under his belt to this point.

Harden can no longer benefit from touch fouls on the perimeter that he once turned into trips at the line with flailing shooting motions and rip moves. Nonetheless, Harden's lack of free throws attempts and scarcity of points in the paint are more a product of a player looking to regain his pre injury explosiveness and get into game shape than the impact the new rules have on his mindset.

The Nets are showing once again they're a force to be reckoned with whether Irving is in the picture or not.

Nets facing reality that they're simply not title contenders without Kyrie Irving



 Amidst a 2-3 start to the season, the Nets have suffered double digit losses to Milwaukee, Charlotte and Miami that have been downright ugly.

Brooklyn can't hold its collective breath hoping Kyrie Irving walks through the doors at Barclays Center anytime soon, but the Nets championship hopes hinge on that exact scenario.

There's no sense in overreacting to merely five games in a 82 game season, but Brooklyn hasn't shown the makings of a team fit to finish atop the Eastern Conference. 

In fact, James Harden is still navigating his way in the new age of NBA officiating. Harden is accustomed to being rewarded with trips to the free throw line by initiating contact with defenders by way of unnatural shooting motion or unorthodox drives to the basket.

Kevin Durant has been Kevin Durant, but if last year's playoff showed anything, even the world's best player can't carry the weight of a franchise on his shoulders alone.

Irving has made the best decision for himself and for his family, but as for his Nets family and adoring fans, the point guard is leaving the team hanging.

The Nets can't count on Irving changing his stance on the vaccine, but anything short of him returning to the club via a change in mandates or change of heart and mind will leave Brooklyn searching for answers in his absence.

Sean Marks whiffed on promised contract extensions for Irving, Harden

 



Sean Marks rarely speaks out of pocket, but this summer when he expected both Kyrie Irving and James Harden to accept contract extension offers before training camp, it had Nets fans giddy.

Brooklyn went to and from San Diego for training camp without so much as a deal. Harden said all the right things regarding his future with the Nets, but instead of putting pen to paper, the shooting guard wants to focus on his team's championship goals and enjoy the ride this season.

Harden has never truly been a free agent and stands to net a lucrative deal even if he remains with the Nets as he intends.

As for Irving, he was a no show during Nets Media day due to failing to meet vaccine requirements. The floor general joined via Zoom to shed light on his unvaccinated status which at the time of this article remains unchanged.

Irving was originally allowed to play in the team's road games and Brooklyn found a loophole to allow him to practice with the club at HSS Training facility since it was considered a private facility. 

After Marks, Steve Nash and Joe Tsai met to discuss Irving's situation, it was determined they would not allow a part-time player on the roster. Thus, Irving remains away from the team with reports that a trade or retirement could potentially be looming despite him rebuffing these claims.

Marks had several things out of control develop after he issued an encouraging declaration that the Nets big three would be signed, sealed and delivered by training camp.  The GM usually carefully measures his words regarding player contracts, injuries, and roster decisions, but Marks got caught counting his chicks before they hatched in this situation.


Nets need to prepare like Kyrie Irving won't be with team this season



Kyrie Irving's vaccination status has been the focus on fans and media, but the Brooklyn Nets can't let this situation distract the team.

It's easier said than done as now Irving has left his teammates to answer questions for him as to when and if he may rejoin the team on a full-time basis.

Irving is no stranger to disappearing as he took a personal leave of absence, that was not excused by the team last season and has shown no signs he'll comply with local regulations in New York requiring anyone entering a public venue to prove they're vaccinated.

At the end of the day, it's Irving's decision to make, but the Nets have championship aspirations. Whether it's with him or without him, Brooklyn has unfinished business and getting caught up in the hoopla surrounding Irving is going to detract from the terrific roster Sean Marks has assembled and the likely prospect the Nets will be the title favorites.

As other cities impose similar regulations to New York City and Canada issuing strict orders for unvaccinated players from out of town, Irving may pay a steep price and will miss significant time if he continues down this course.

NBA GM's vote this team as most likely to win NBA Finals

 



The Brooklyn Nets are the odds on favorites to win the 2022 NBA Finals, according to a recent survey of the league's general managers.

It shouldn't come as an overall shock with the overwhelming amount of talent showcased on Brooklyn's roster.



Kyrie Irving's availability and the team staying healthy appear to be the two major concerns heading into the season.

Littered with veteran talent from top to bottom,  the Nets earned the respect of front office executives and they'll soon have an opportunity to prove they're worthy of this distinction.


Kyrie Irving's vaccine status will become more clear on Tuesday

 


The Brooklyn Nets completed their training camp trip to San Diego and will return to Brooklyn for practice on Tuesday. If Kyrie Irving is among the participants, which at this point appears unlikely, Nets fans would get the answer they were hoping for that the team's point guard indeed complies with local vaccine requirements in New York. 

The more likely scenario is that Irving will not participate with the rest of his teammates for the opening of home practices on Tuesday at HSS Center in Brooklyn. 

A recent ESPN report suggested that nearly 95 percent of all NBA players are vaccinated, but the outliers in big names Bradley Beal, Andrew Wiggins and Irving are still not part of that group. 

Brooklyn is two weeks away from opening night in Milwaukee, for which Irving would be eligible to play, but with limited practice time with his new teammates outside of Kevin Durant and James Harden. 

The Nets  quest for a title starts with the team that ousted them out of the playoffs last season as the Bucks will receive their championship rings on NBA's Opening Night, October 19th. 

Irving's vaccine status and lack of contract extensions for both him and Harden remain the talking point of the national media.  Instead, the main focus and storylines should center on the team trying to reach its a first NBA Finals in 19 years and capturing the franchise's first ever Larry O'Brien Trophy. 

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