The Nets lost for a second time in three games on Sunday, prompting reporters to press Kevin Durant on whether he believes the team has enough firepower to seriously contend without Kyrie Irving available, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN details.
“While we are playing in a game, I am not going to sit there and say … when we get down or it is a tight game, like ‘Damn, we don’t have enough,'” Durant said. “We are not going to be thinking about (that) during the game. We definitely want Kyrie Irving out here on the floor. And he is a huge part of what we do. But it is not happening right now. So we got to figure it out.
“… It’s three games in. Of course we have enough.”
With Irving on the shelf until he agrees to be vaccinated or New York City drops its vaccine mandate for indoor public venues, the Nets will have to make up his scoring elsewhere. The first step will be getting James Harden on track — the former MVP is averaging just 18.3 PPG on 38.8% shooting through three games, both well below his career marks.
Here’s more on the NBA’s two New York teams:
- Nets head coach Steve Nash said on Sunday that the plan is to have Durant play both games in back-to-back sets most of the time this season, tweets Youngmisuk. However, Durant may sit out the occasional game during back-to-back sets to keep him fresh.
- After signing a lucrative new three-year contract with the Knicks in the offseason, Nerlens Noel has yet to make his 2021/22 debut due to a knee injury. However, head coach Tom Thibodeau said today that Noel is “doing more” in practice and has a 50-50 shot at playing on Tuesday vs. Philadelphia, tweets Fred Katz of The Athletic.
- Thibodeau doesn’t expect Luka Samanic to play for the Knicks anytime soon, suggesting the former first-round pick will begin the season in the G League, as Marc Berman of The New York Post relays. “I think it’s for the Westchester team,” Thibodeau said of signing Samanic to a two-way contract. “We’re excited to have him. We’ll get a look at him once they get going.”
Thibs barely plays Toppin. He ain’t gonna play no 2 Way player.
Toppin might be in therapy rn after the way Mo Wagner dunked on him yesterday #savage
If Harded got to the line more than once a game he would score more.
They just changed the rules to disrupt the foul-drawing antics of many folks in the league. It was a big big BIG part of Harden’s game, and he and everyone else has to adapt.
But most of Harden’s fouls came on him driving to the basket. Not sure the new rule entirely effects his game. He just isn’t getting calls so far this season.
Yea refs are allowing alot more contact across the board so far this season
Perfect note xtraflamy!!
Idk that I will say most, but A GOOD BIT of the calls Harden gets are because Harden initiates the contact.
That was a really big focal point for the refs this off-season. The past few seasons, countless fans have complained, and more importantly several players and a few coaches have gone on the record about being sick and tired of offensive players being rewarded for drawing fouls by first initiating contact.
However, sometimes these “points of focus” for the refs slowly go away as the season continues on, and sometimes they stay consistent in the new way they’re going to officiate the game.
Typically, the league is all for scoring more points, but when Harden was in Houston between him and Chris Paul alot of their games were tough to watch because of all the complaining and “working” the refs. As a lead guard, your primary objective should NOT be to draw a foul 20-25 feet away from the basket…That’s just garbage tactics, and SHOULD be taken out of the game..
ALL in all, Harden is a good player, he will figure it out, and should come out better for it in the end.
I had Charlotte moneyline in that game with them being +8.5/9, so Charlotte just has a good matchup against them. I also think Charlotte is a really good team,and people are dismissing them for some reason…
The Nets have enough, and have a better chance to have a better defense this year, but Steve Nash is once again already showing that he is a terrible NBA head coach, that doesnt know how to run a rotation. He finally used Bruce Brown yesterday, after sitting him the same way he did a lot last year. They have multiple guys who should be playing instead of certain others as well. While they dont have as many defensive options at guard as they sat last year, they still have those options. They also should stop starting multiple bigs
#LetKyriePlay
For their careers, Kyrie (4.4) has averaged half as many foul shots per game as Harden (8.7). Is Kyrie more valuable than Harden under this years’ rule changes? I don’t know but looks like the Nets are gonna Kyrie to win the chip. Yikes!
Nets definitely miss Kyries offense. This team was suppose to be all about the big 3, right. Only good thing is other players getting mins here. So the bench should be more ready in second half. But this is starting to get critical. Nets not getting to East Finals. Without a full squad.
Knicks didn’t shoot well against Magic. After first game, they showed no respect. Too much one on one. Looking ahead to Sixers game imo. Knicks still learning. This was a winnable gm. Even if they shot poorly. You know I thought Wagner went too high after tournament play. He seemed not ready for NBA talent. But after watching these two games. I’ve been impressed. Definitely looks ready and has attitude. Will only get better.
That isn’t a good problem if the Knicks are still struggling playing too much iso ball. Thats what got them eliminated last season.
They have some growing talent, new pieces, and a good foundation from which to grow from though. I think they’ll he able to make some adjustments, and get some of their issues figured out, i.e. being too stagnant on offense.