The Brooklyn Nets are set to face an uphill battle to kick off their postseason campaign as they take on the defending champion Toronto Raptors in the first round. Nets swingman Caris LeVert will need to carry much of the load for a depleted Brooklyn side, and the 25-year-old recently shared how teammate Kyrie Irving has been talking him up from outside the Disney World bubble.
According to LeVert, Irving has been very supportive with his encouragement:
“I talked to Ky [on Friday] morning, talked about the games and playoffs coming up and giving me encouragement,’’ LeVert said on a Zoom call Saturday, via Marc Berman of the New York Post. “He’s watching all the games. He’s been in this position before, fighting for something.’’
Irving is still recovering from a season-ending shoulder injury he sustained earlier in the campaign. There were some whispers that he could make it back in time for his team following the season's four-month hiatus, but this obviously never came to fruition. Nonetheless, Irving has continued to find ways to send his support to his teammates who continue to soldier on.
Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn also weighed in on the matter and how Irving's call will affect LeVert:
“It’s huge Caris got a call from Ky — that’s a great thing this isn’t an individual sport,’’ Vaughn said. “Just because we don’t have the group with us, doesn’t mean they can’t be part of it. Caris appreciated that.’’
LeVert and the rest of the Nets could use all the moral support they can get right now. They are the overwhelming underdogs in the series against a full-strength Raptors side, and they will have to play at their absolute best if they want to give themselves a chance against the defending champs. To their credit, Brooklyn has performed much better in the bubble than expected, with LeVert leading the way.
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