Kyrie Irving is back with the Nets, but he won’t be traveling with the team for tomorrow’s preseason game at Philadelphia, and coach Steve Nash seems resigned to the fact that Irving is going to start missing home games unless he gets vaccinated, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
“I think we recognize he’s not playing home games,” said Nash. “We’re going to have to for sure play without him this year; so it just depends on when, where and how much.”
However, Nash also noted that things can change quickly in this unprecedented situation, per Lewis.
“Right now we assume he’s not going to be available for home games,” Nash said. “Anything can change. Who’s to say, the city’s ordinance could change? Anything could change.”
“Right now we’re just trying to remain flexible, open-minded and figure it out as we go, because information is coming in by the half-day here, whether it’s Paul [Millsap’s health and safety protocol] situation, Kyrie’s situation or the laws. We found out Friday he could come in the building, so things are shifting. No one’s been through this before, and we’re just trying to figure it out as we go.”
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Tyrese Maxey and Shake Milton of the Sixers appear locked in a battle over the starting point guard spot with Ben Simmons still away from the team, writes Derek Bodner of The Athletic. The players have taken turns starting the team’s first two preseason games, with mixed results for both. However, Bodner thinks Maxey has much higher upside and should be given the opportunity to start, given Milton’s physical limitations.
- In the same article, Bodner notes that second-year guard Isaiah Joe has been outstanding thus far in the preseason and is making a strong case for a spot in the Sixers‘ rotation. Joe is averaging 16.5 PPG while shooting 7-12 (58.3%) from three, and he’s also shown growth as a shot-creator and defender. Coach Doc Rivers has taken notice, per Bodner. “He’s starting to put the ball on the floor. That’s something he couldn’t do (last year),” Rivers said. “He made plays tonight getting into the paint there’s no way he could have done that last year. Good for him because he’s putting all the work in.”
- The Raptors have been impressed with free agent acquisition Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk thus far, writes Doug Smith of the Toronto Star.
- Khem Birch is out of health and safety protocols and could be available for the Raptors tomorrow against Houston, tweets Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports.
Last year draft was solid for sixers. Maxey, Reed, Joe. All could see increased minutes this year.
Sixers always seem to have options. Winners if not champions
#LetKyriePlay
#Kyrietire
Let me fix that for you – – #LetKryiePlayWithHimself
Yea it’s crazy how they try to force this vaccine. And if you don’t get it everyone has something to say and you get boxed out of everything. It’s like people can’t think for themselves anymore. Everything is so political.
Kyrie, head of the COVIDiots…
Isaiah Joe could put the ball on the floor last year. This clown is trying to pretend like he knows who he is to cover for himself, but this is getting ridiculous. This is the same guy that didnt know who Montrezl Harrell was after his team traded for him…Get rid of Doc Rivers. Literally, the comment he made the other day about Joe should get him fired on its own
They ain’t getting rid of Doc. They just got him in there. They aren’t gonna just fire him. They obviously like him or they wouldn’t have hired him. Sixers we’re the #1 seed in the East soon as they got Doc Rivers.
Ben to Sacramento ….. get it done.
Maxey, Ben, and their agent to Sacramento. Bye bye
Haliburton, Buddy, Bagley, #1 pick to Sixers. There can never be chemistry with players who think of themselves first. It’s a team game. These players will thrive in a conference race. Ben will thrive at the 3 or 4 with Fox. What are they waiting for.
I think there are better deals, to be had…or there will be…I also don’t care for Bagley/Hield but Haliburton at least has me interested. I would prefer to throw Hield/Bagley to a 3rd team for another potential piece. Hield/Bagley really don’t move the needle at all for me.
Yeah I like Halliburton as a prospect and Hield helps, even though he’s a bit duplicative with Seth Curry. Bagley … who knows
I think I’d still hold out for Fox if I’m Philly. You need a guy who at least is a potential all star *right now*, with Embiid in his precarious prime. Not sure Halliburton is there quite yet. Plus, honestly, even if I’m Sacramento I think Fox makes more sense to give up if I’m building around Simmons.
Fox and Simmons are both ball dominant non-shooters. Doesn’t it make more sense to have shooters like Halliburton and Hield around one of them, then pairing them up?
This is just a smokescreen for load management
What is really going to be fun is if the Nets get to the playoffs. Kyrie is not popular now, but he would fall into Ben Simmons territory if he missed home playoff games because of his stubbornness.
I would be down with Simmons for Irving
Anything to get rid of Simmons
Better to be rid of Rivers!
The Nets really have to get rid of Irving now. The sooner the better.
May the Nets FO give KI a max extension? Is the next chapter … I would lol if the Nets buy him out
The best trade out there is a Fox for Simmons straight up swap. Ben Simmons would have his own team, surrounded by Hield, Haliburton, Davion Mitchell. I think Haliburton, Mitchell, and Buddy work way better around Simmons than Fox would. Philly gets their point guard, Simmons gets a team built around him and gets to play in California, for a team that has nowhere to go but up. If he helps the Kings make the playoffs, he’s a hero and his image recovers. I think this is the deal that ultimately gets done, but can never depend on Sacto to do the right thing.
Sacramento been saying for a while now that they aren’t trading Fox or Halliburton.
I wouldn’t mind either one starting. I’d rather see more minutes from Maxey though. But both of them can be very good. Milton does some things during the course of a game that are very impressive. They both can play ball.