Picture by Peter Fenoaltea
And What Was That?
The season ending coup de grâce came unmercifully April 25 in a 116-112 loss to the Atlantic division Boston Celtics – damn them all – in an ignominious 4-0 sweep eliminating the Nets in the first round.
Seriously injured players. Problems if not outright chaos stemming from COVID restrictions. And, of course, the major roster turnover. And the grand finale, of course: The end was justified by the means.
Who’s to blame? What to Blame? Off with whose head(s)? Let me start here: Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were stymied, thwarted, and imprisoned by a ferocious Boston defense. During the 4-gamer first round, KD averaged an abysmal 38 percent from the field and 33 percent from three. He also averaged 5 turnovers a game – alone! A one-man killing machine shooting himself in the foot!
During the regular season KD averaged 30 points on 20 shot attempts, shooting 52 percent rom the field and 38 percent from three. He blew away anyone who dared to get in his way.
Yet, I mean this, Nets and their fans can still hold their heads up high – though not as high as we wanted – but high enough to see what lies ahead. Let me point out the positive takeaways. Did the Nets get swept? Yes, but they made every game extremely close when both of their top two aces were not playing like the imperial warriors that they are.
Bruce Brown, already a fan favorite, was fantastic this series. Beyond belief, he put up 23 points in game 2, and 26 in game 3 while shooting 43 percent from three. He gave the Nets energy and moments of grandeur during stretches when things seemed hopeless.
As long as Sean Marks makes sure to pay Bruce Brown, Nets fans should get ready to be delighted with his progression. Another positive: Ben Simmons – this might sound eerie because he did not play a single minute in the series, and, yet, was the center of drama after announcing he’d play in game 4.
And he subsequently did not even suit up. Why a positive, some may wonder? For that exact reason!
Ben TK. Picture courtesy Nets publicity
He did not play at all in this series and every game went down to the nail-bighting wire. A 6’10 point guard, elite defensively and can take the ball out of the hands of KD and Kyries and simultaneously do a Freddie Kruger nightmare on the best player on the opposing team. What a HUGE boon ready to storm from the wings for the Nets.
What Now?
Do I believe the Nets need to make changes? Of course, the bench needs work, needs a consistent defensive center who can shoot higher than 50 percent on free throws. Is Steve Nash the answer as the coach? May be. May not. He has had to deal with a lot of adversity but he still makes questionable in-game decisions.
I know that the Nets know that they have to use the summer to restore consistency and stoke chemistry that was sorely lacking during the season. So: No more vaccine drama, no more Harden whining about the team, all of the injured like Joe Harris, Seth Curry and Simmons refurbished and revived – and maybe JUST MAYBE the Brooklyn Nets can FINALLY have a new normal season since signing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
I know that the Nets know that they have to use the summer to restore consistency and stoke chemistry that was sorely lacking during the season. So: No more vaccine drama, no more Harden whining about the team, all of the injured like Joe Harris, Seth Curry and Simmons refurbished and revived – and maybe JUST MAYBE the Brooklyn Nets can FINALLY have a new normal season since signing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
I’m ready to bet my life on it. May be.
Ben Simmons will play point guard and center in a re-imagined Nets offense, says Steve Nash. Nash talks and we should listen.
Peter Fenoaltea can be reached at PETER.FENOALTEA11@myhunter.cuny.edu