The Nets‘ plan to build a championship team around three stars was derailed by injuries, writes Malika Andrews of ESPN. Brooklyn pulled off a bold trade in January to acquire James Harden from Houston and combine him with 2019 free agent additions Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but Brooklyn’s Big Three were rarely all healthy at the same time. With the season on the line against Milwaukee Saturday night, Irving was out with a sprained ankle and Harden was limited by a strained hamstring.
“I still thought we could win it,” coach Steve Nash said. “And clearly, I think we proved tonight that we could. Game could have gone either way. You always know there’s a chance. Anything can happen. I think we just faced one too many obstacles this year. Because our guys gave everything they had.”
Harden, who hurt the hamstring in the opening minute of Game 1 and didn’t return until Game 5, revealed that he had been playing with a Grade 2 strain that limited his mobility. He missed nearly a month during the regular season with an injury to the same hamstring.
“Me, personally, like, it’s frustrating,” said Harden, who played all 53 minutes Saturday. “Just being durable and being myself for the last so many postseasons and dealing with this particular hamstring, I’m frustrated. We did everything we could towards the end. Just frustrated, but give the Bucks credit. They fought until the end, had a hell of a series. We just came up short.”
There’s more from Brooklyn:
- Bruce Brown, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, expressed interest in returning to Brooklyn next season, Andrews adds. Unrestricted free agents Jeff Green and Blake Griffin both said they need time to recover before thinking about the future, but they enjoy playing for the Nets. “I’m still happy with my decision,” Griffin, who signed with Brooklyn after reaching a buyout with the Pistons, told Marc Berman of The New York Post. “This was obviously a tough loss, and not where we’re expected to be. But injuries are part of the game, things happen. Being without James for four games and then having him on one leg … (it’s) a messed up situation.”
- Durant, Harden and Irving will all be eligible to sign extensions of up to four years during the offseason, notes Bobby Marks of ESPN. Brooklyn will have to determine how much money it wants to commit to the trio, and each player will have to decide whether to take the security now or seek more money when they can opt out in 2022.
- Spencer Dinwiddie has until Monday to make a decision on his $12.3MM player option for next season, Marks adds. Dinwiddie has indicated that he will turn down the option and pursue free agency, and Marks believes he’ll get at least that much on the open market. The veteran guard played just three games this season because of a partially torn ACL, but his rehab has gone well and he talked about possibly playing if the Nets had reached the NBA Finals.
Funny to think the nets lost because KD’s feet are so big. If his feet were a couple inch shorter his feet are not on the 3pt line. No whining about injuries almost every team this year had some injuries that cost them a championship.
Yup. Unfortunately, the Nets season will be summed up with three words: “what could’ve been”. Everyone who watched this series understands that the Bucks are very fortunate to advance. I just hope the Nets fully retool and take the League by storm next season and win 74 games along with the title
Playing KD the entire game was a big mistake. His last shot was online to go in but tired legs made it come up short.
But if KD doesn’t play the entire game, they lose by 10.
Nailed it Rct
KD has hit plenty of threes this season with the same feet. He just didn’t get back far enough – its not a matter of what size shoe he wears. That said, they had their chances and the game was an instant classic. Good for basketball!
I think Bud’s job was saved last night, barring any flat-out collapse going forward. Teams will probably start making their hires this week because of that.
The dangers of building a team around three Stars… injury to any of them. Kyrie – nagging small injuries, then the big ankle roll. KD – that hamstring, which helped Harden carve out his role. Don’t forget Covid protocols… Harden didn’t come into the Houston Rockets’ camp physically ready to dominate and we paid for it when we traded away our depth.
Now Sean Marks will regroup with our Big-3, probably figure out a trade for Joe Harris and a trade for DeAndre Jordan, a sign-and-trade for Spencer Dinwiddie perhaps, and consolidate the players that collected dust this Playoffs for a new contributor. Jeff Green, Bruce Brown, and Blake Griffin will get new contracts with us.
No sleep ’til Brooklyn
Why didn’t Nash play Jordan？
A better question is why would Nash play Jordan. Everyone goes small in the playoffs, duh. That is classic Beastie Boys there, but at least Brooklyn/Long Island’s other team won yesterday.
So. Milwakke have Lopez, 76ers Embid, Phoenix also a true center over 7 ft and NBA MVP is the joker another 7 ft and Brooklyn play small ball with a rookie coach please the Nets cold finish like the Rockets is still play small ball.
The main obstacle wasnt injuries. It was Steve Nash…All season. Obviously the narrative will be what it was, but the only reason they were even as far as they were is Kevin Durant was godlike this year, on both sides of the ball, which is insane coming off the achilles injury. He was on an island alone defensively for a lot of this season as well, and he even played minutes at the 5, which was even more impressive.
Exactly. Nash was a dumb
What did Nash do wrong? I thought he did a great job this season. Got the most out of a roster that didn’t play together consistently.
I thought Nash did a pretty dam good job myself. But even if he didn’t – there’s no way his coaching was more of a problem than losing Kyrie and Harden.
The team was built around 3 guys and 2 of them were either out of the lineup or playing on one leg.
It’s like saying the Lakers lost to the Suns because Frank Vogel.
Took years to play Bruce Brown, refused to use his bench guards that actually defend, and can knock down shots. Stopped using multiple guys who were extremely important for them earlier in the season, all of whom could have ultimately helped in this series. Just poor understanding of his own roster
Name names!
Trade that bum Joe Harris and get an actual consistent shooter. Everyone on the roster> Harris. Man even sign 40 yr old Kyle korver he’s better than bum Harris
So why would another team want to trade players or picks for a bum and have to pay him big bucks too?
Who exactly would be more consistent then the league leader in three point percentage?
He wasn’t in the series, he was just plain awful, when it mattered, in the RS getting treys ain’t not important for a team like BRK, now was the time & he chocked big time, get rid of Harris for anything!
“He wasn’t in the series”….. That’s all folks, thats the rebuttal ; sell Now –
Good GM’s block out noise by casuals like Don, it’s not exactly easy as they are spawning like fruit-flies these days and tend to bark the loudest
As always you are right, I am just a casual that has been fanatically following the NBA for over 35 years!!!!!
Clearly we all can’t be always right like you, even you are as wrong as possible here, but hey it suits whatever narrative you like to create, right?
I mean if you think Harris was wonderful in the series, well maybe we just got ourselves our casual, right?
Have a nice day, Sir!
Had a bad series but save for Curry and Klay not sure you’ll find a better shooter on the market
A Finals with no LeBum or a Super team will be fun to watch!
Will it, though?
Yes, it increases the unpredictability. Y’know, the reason to actually watch grown men play a game.
Nets trios are talented and fun to watch, but they will continue to struggle with injuries going forward because they are getting older and simply dont train hard enough in the offseason.
“The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle”. We will load manage them, for sure. The main issue is Steve Nash building up the rotation players strong enough to trust them to contribute when it matters most. No bench player took a shot in Game 7 – zero! That’s crazy. And seeing how we relied upon the bench to get us the #2 seed, it’s concerning to see Mike D’Antoni ways cause this team’s demise.
Next season, we will dominate. Sucks we lost this way
Jeff Green and Shamet should have taken some shots, but Harden and Durant refused to come out of the game. Harden was a liability and should have taken less shots.
Haven’t we seen this movie before? Hmmm, a team built around 3 aging stars that fails to meet expectations after a blockbuster trade…when did that happen before? Don’t tell me, it’s on the tip of my tongue…
Nearly all “big 3” teams. 2 and 4 make for a more efficient use of stars.
When teaming up goes wrong.
Kyrie took too many games off this year for personal reasons, and hasnt played too many games in the last 3 seasons. As great as he is, Nets need to trade him for a younger motivated star.
Irving is such a hack. When things don’t go exactly his way, he starts pouting or goes down with an injury. Dude is a 29 year old who looks 40 and has the body brittleness of a 50 year old. Loved watching this team lose last night. Durant and his hairline can go onto his next team now.
Lol yeah good luck with a “younger motivated star” vs one of the top PGs in the league.
How far did Memphis go with a motivated Ja Morant? Or was he not movitaved enough? Dame seems pretty motivated, though I guess he isn’t that young.
So if Morant or Dillard were on the Nets with Durant and Harden they won’t be going finals. I could guarantee you though if Irving was in Portland or Memphis they probably wouldn’t have made it out of the first round.
…no.
With the Lakers and the Nets eliminated, all is well. It’s been a good year for those of us who prefer to see teams that actually build a team from the ground up succeed. Buying 3 Allstars is lame.
The Clippers are still alive though…
Although I’m a Lakers fan and get tired of hearing about how they try to buy teams when it’s obvious that stars gravitate towards LA, I’m glad to see some fresh squads remaining in the fight for the title. Bucks or Hawks out of the East and the Suns out of the West would make for an exciting matchup and a fresh faced champion
Sorry Clippers fans, I can’t support you being a fresh faced champion lol
What difference does it make how a team got where they are? Personally I just want to see good basketball, not get caught up in some bizarre false morality.
Durant and Kyrie were unrestricted free agents who picked the Nets as they could have picked any team to play for so no problem there. James Harden on the other hand forced his way out of Houston and broke his contract and that’s the only problem I have with the team.
You think this has been a good year for playoff basketball ???
Seriously, just seriously think about that for a second…… We just had the Western Conf finals kick off today with No Cp3 or KL as you post
It amazes me how many people care about their own {little} personal narratives more than the game itself these days .
Amen Lil MVC , amen
Happy that the least liked team is out. That being said with 3 train wrecks leading the way, is anyone shocked by this? Is anyone shocked that Flat Earth wasn’t playing when it mattered? Was anyone surprised that Durant was great but not great enough? What was surprising is that Harden played nearly every minute of game 7 and you didn’t realize he was even out there.
The only thing that doesn’t surprise anyone is your hate for the talented stars you are criticizing randomly for no good reason!
Harden has solidified himself as the biggest phony superstar in the sport. Time and time again he dissappears when it matters most.
You’re right, returning from a hamstring injury to try and contribute is really a disappearing act.
Mike Conley on the other hand is an All Star…
Harden was a legend in this series, man played hobbled & didn’t do too bad, playing over 46MPG while having an injured hammy!!!
That is what I call a real man, be you wouldn’t have moved one step in his place, right?
LMAO 7-29 in game 7 and that’s a legend? Congratulations to Harden on winning the El Don “real man” award. That’s more of those those than final appearances in the last 9 years.
I’m a Knick fan, and, like most in the City (even most of Brooklyn), I often have to remind myself that the Nets play here. But the Nets shouldn’t be cast as just a super team. Their Big 3 was largely notional (All Star teams got more run together). Considering the guys injured/traded from the start of the year, who was actually on the court for them this year (regular season and into the playoffs), how they got there, and how far the team got (1 inch from the ECF), I’m impressed with the organization, starting with the FO (Marks), but the HC (Nash) as well.
Having no faith in their bench and allowing someone injured to still play showed poor coaching decisions which led to the team being kicked the heck out of the playoffs. I guess the Nets need to sign more of Durant’s veteran friends to the team so that they can have a bench they can trust.
Playoff time is when you play your stars all the way if it is required, that was a great & ballsy move from Nash, credit where is due!
Steve Nash is a puppet coach who does what his players tell him to do!
Like it or not, Harden even on one leg draws defensive attention and allowed Durant to get some very easy looks. Playing him instead of whomever is behind him on the depth chart kept the Nets in the series and almost won it for them. I give Harden credit for giving it his best shot; Harden on one leg is still better than a lot of players in the league, he made some crazy shots, just not enough of them went in.
Well said Stevep-4!
Finally someone that knows hoops, unlike the majority in this site!
Harden has NO championships, Kyrie has one because he played with LeBron and Durant has two because he played with Golden State. The Nets are now OKC east!