“The League’s Going To Be On Notice” When Nets Turn The Corner

When Brooklyn acquired James Harden, the last thing anyone expected was for the Nets to be described as average.

That’s what their own star Kyrie Irving said about them after their 122 – 11 loss in Detroit on Tuesday. It was the Brooklyn Nets’ third straight defeat. 

The new combination of Harden, Durant and Irving had the Nets as the bookies’ favorites or second-favorites for the title. However, it hasn’t worked out that way so far on the back of poor defensive performances.

Brooklyn’s latest defeat prompted head coach Steve Nash to implore his players to ask themselves ‘what type of team they want to be’.

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Their form has been curious this year. Against the big teams, the Nets have played hard and come out on top at times. However, against teams with a record below .500, they are 7 – 11.

Since James Harden joined them in January, Brooklyn ranks last in the NBA for defensive efficiency. Kyrie Irving, who played with a sprained finger in Detroit, said they ought to be dominating games.

“I don’t think that we go out every single day of our lives and sacrifice the time in order to be average at anything,” Kyrie Irving said. 

“And we look very average. And we have the talent that the eye test presents that we should be dominating.”

In mitigation for Brooklyn, they have yet to get their Big 3 playing together consistently. Kevin Durant and James Harden combined promisingly at the start of Harden’s Brooklyn Career. Now that Irving is back, Kevin Durant is in Covid-19 enforced isolation.

Read: Steph Curry – Losing Isn’t What We’re About

Kyrie Irving hasn’t given up hope, though. He says it’s only a matter of time until Brooklyn finds its rhythm. 

“A lot of teams come out very comfortable against us,” Irving said. “And then that’s kind of the feel for the rest of the game is that we’re playing catchup, and that’s just not the way to play as a competitor just always down.”

“We just have to turn that corner. And we haven’t done it yet, but we will. And I’m telling you the league’s going to be on notice when that happens.”