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It has been a tough year for Brooklyn Nets fans. The team has started strong, but the situation took a sharp turn for the worse. Kevin Durant got hurt, James Harden asked for a trade and got it in the end, while Kyrie Irving was shut down for a large part of the season and now only plays only away games. There is a ton of uncertainty around the team but that does not mean that the Nets are still out of the picture. They still have KD, they still have Irving, and their team stepped up in some moments where they were needed. Here are three reasons why Kevin Durant and the Nets should be East favorites despite a tumultuous season.
Brooklyn Nets as East favorites
Return of Ben Simmons
In actuality, the thing that drags the 36-33 Nets down the most is their defense. According to Basketball Reference, the Nets are the 20th team in the league in terms of defensive rating. That is actually an improvement over most of the season when they were among the worst teams in the league. One instant boost for that defense should be the inclusion of Ben Simmons. The last report directly from head coach Steve Nash that he is ‘hopeful' that the Aussie forward plays this year does not give a lot of optimism to Nets fans, but he should be there by the postseason. With Simmons headlining their defense, the Nets should get better – instantly.
A lot of people forget or disregard what the Nets got in this deal in Ben Simmons. It is the easiest thing in the world to simply criticize the forward but now is as good as time as any to highlight what he brings. The primary reason why Simmons is considered a superstar is his defense. He got two All-Defensive team honors and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2021, right behind Rudy Gobert.
He is not a center, but he can anchor that defense, take some pressure off of Durant, and really impact the Nets where they need it most. Obviously, his court vision and athleticism will help offensively, but defense will be his calling card in Brooklyn. He should be there come playoffs, so the East will need to understand they are facing a better Nets team with Simmons there.
Kyrie Irving, even just in away games
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Now, this might seem counterintuitive. Irving is now eligible to only play away games, so he is more of a minus for the Nets than a plus. However, that is only one way of looking at it. First of all, even if he does only play three or four games in a series, Irving is a wizard. Just ask the Orlando Magic, who just saw Irving put up 60 points in just 35 minutes of action. Secondly, the away games are usually an issue for teams, unless the series is very one-sided. With Kyrie available, that should be enough to ease off the pressure on the other guys, primarily Kevin Durant.
Additionally, we have to consider the fact that the vaccine mandates in New York are easing off. Mayor Eric Adams lifted some mandates for some events and businesses around two weeks ago, causing one of the most bizarre situations in the NBA, where Irving was able to be in the arena for the Nets versus Knicks game but was not allowed to play. If the situation with COVID-19 improves further and discontent with the mandates rises, there is every chance that it is fully lifted and Irving can play at home once again. However, even if it is just away from the Barclays Center, Irving will still help the team in a multitude of ways.
Kevin Durant is the best player on the globe
The old saying about basketball states that as long as you have the best player on your roster, you have a fighting chance. LeBron James showed that in the 2016 NBA Finals and almost in the 2015 NBA Finals, and Kevin Durant has a chance to show it this year. His Nets have been through a lot and the reason why he was signed, along with Kyrie Irving of course, is to bring a title to Brooklyn. While not a perfect one, Durant has a chance to completely ball out, show everyone that he can do it and that he is truly the best player on the globe. With the playoffs just a couple of weeks away, and with Durant just coming off of an injury, he seems to be ramping it up.
Since he came back from injury, he had two fantastic games. Durant tried to get the Nets over the thriving Celtics with 37 points, but then he scored 53 points just a few games afterward against the Knicks, putting the team on his back. Of course, he does not always score as well as in these two games, but for good reason. He scored 14 versus the Hornets and 19 against the Magic, but it was Irving's time to dominate in those games. Durant, this season specifically, is showing a ton of maturity, leadership, and when he is on the court, he is showing that his offensive game is completely unstoppable. We can only wonder what could have been if Harden and Irving remained healthy last season versus the Bucks, but this season, even without Harden, the Nets have the one player that gives them strength – Kevin Durant.
