Subscribe
Follow Us
The Brooklyn Nets are already first in the Eastern Conference at 23-9, and they're now getting much much healthier.
The team recently had 10, count them, 10 players in health-and-safety protocols. But their top guns James Harden and Kevin Durant are back, and momentum is building toward Kyrie Irving finally making his 2021-22 debut.
Harden is fresh off his stint in health and safety protocols. The three-time scoring champion eviscerated the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day, and then the LA Clippers in the following game. It was the first time this season The Beard had back-to-back 30 point games. He recently talked about his renewed focus on health and diet while he was away from the game.
James Harden. And-1.
(via @BrooklynNets)pic.twitter.com/B9bjp0rSa9
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) December 28, 2021
With Durant now back from his stint in health and safety protocols, and eventually Irving's return past the New Year, the Nets are getting a seismic boost to a rotation that has already been good enough to lead the Eastern Conference.
But what about the topic of Irving's vaccination status? Is there any update there? Might the seven-time All-Star get vaccinated and become a full-time player? Here's what GM Sean Marks had to say about that subject back when the team first announced they were reintegrating Irving.
“I have not talked to Kyrie about vaccination status,” he said back on Dec. 18th. “I don’t think that’s being appropriate right now. I mean the times I’ve gone to see him these are about forming bonds and forming friendships. And having conversations about family sometimes basketball and so forth like Steve [Nash has] mentioned in the past.”
Ahead of the team's divisional showdown versus Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers, Nash revealed the latest on that front remains unchanged.
Article Continues Below
"No, not since we had those conversations in the preseason, and since then we have not."
-Steve Nash on if they've discussed Kyrie Irving's vaccination status since he returned to Nets practice.
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) December 30, 2021
Back in October, the team elected not to have Irving return because it would shake up their “continuity.” But with so many injuries and positive COVID tests, the idea of continuity flew out the window. That reality and the huge playing-time burden heaped on their stars caused them to reassess.
So since they changed their minds, how do the Nets handle that tricky issue of continuity? Will it be a seamless blend or will their initial concerns come up to cause problems?
“Yeah I may be a little naive,” admitted Nash, “but I think you just keep it really simple. Kyrie plays on the road, and we figure out how he rejoins the group, finds his rhythm and his place in the team. And when we come home we're back to normal the way we've been all year so just try to keep it really simple, don't overanalyze it or complicate it.”
Nash is certainly not unfamiliar with playing short-handed. He only had his Big Three of Durant, Harden and Irving available for eight regular season games last season. KD and Irving have only appeared in 36 total games together since the duo signed in Brooklyn back in the summer of 2019. Kyrie is currently eligible to appear in 22 of Brooklyn's remaining road games.
“Try to enjoy it,” continued Nash. “Try to put him in a position to succeed and to enjoy what he's doing and then the positives of having him back can be high and that can also have an effect hopefully on us when he's not in the lineup and guys are not having as much of a burden in every single game.”
Nash alludes to the fact that Durant and Harden, both among minutes leaders in the entire league, can now play a little bit less hard with Kyrie picking up his share of the scoring burden on road trips. It's safe to assume for now the team hasn't brought up the subject of Irving's vaccination status because it knows a dude who was apparently willing to miss the entire season probably hasn't had some major change of heart that he's decided to keep to himself.
The Nets know the deal. For now, they're probably just thrilled to have Irving whenever he's available.
