The Nets have pulled out of their 0-4 tailspin since Kevin Durant‘s injury, thanks to another huge performance from Kyrie Irving, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn won its second straight road game Sunday night, rallying past the Warriors behind Irving’s 38 points and nine assists. He said he doesn’t mind carrying the scoring load with Durant sidelined, but he believes it’s important to get everyone involved.
“It doesn’t matter who has the ball in their hands as long as they’re being aggressive [and] it’s the best shot for our team,” Irving said. “Objectively this team sport is to win basketball games, not identify one person to carry everybody every single night … it’s just a team attitude, team atmosphere and living with the results.”
Following an early-season suspension, Irving’s relationship with the Nets has improved significantly, to the point that there’s now a belief that an offseason extension might be in play. In a separate story, Lewis notes that Irving has become more comfortable in a leadership role and the rest of the team is benefiting.
“That’s what he does,” Royce O’Neale said after Irving scored 48 points Friday at Utah. “Right now he’s leading us, and we follow his lead. We’re trusting him, he’s trusting us. So to see him go off like that is always special. You could just tell he had it going.”
There’s more on the Nets:
- Opponents are resorting to a hacking strategy with center Nic Claxton, but he’s not intimidated by it, Lewis adds in another piece. Claxton is shooting just 47.1% from the foul line this season and was 6-for-15 against Golden State. “I definitely take it as a challenge,” Claxton said. “I don’t care. If teams are fouling me, it’s almost a sign of respect. They can’t stop us, our team defensively and I just got to go up and knock the shots down. I’m going to take on that challenge every single time.”
- The Nets had to figure out a new offensive strategy without Durant, and they’ve been more effective with Irving as the primary ball-handler rather than Ben Simmons, Lewis observes.
- O’Neale was grateful to get a warm reception Friday in his first game back in Utah since being traded to Brooklyn over the summer, according to Lewis. “It’s a great feeling, all the love they showed,” O’Neale said. “I was here for five years, had a lot of great memories here and to feel that welcome back meant a lot.”
There’s that Kyrie appreciation I was looking for the other day. Better late than never I guess. Let’s please don’t forget about this guy tho… link to m.youtube.com
Am I wrong to feel like Ben Simmons would be leagues better as a Center? He’s got the height, wingspan and athleticism, he’s a strong, switchable defender all over the floor, he screens really effectively, and his scoring comes almost entirely in the restricted area. He’d also add another dimension to the Nets fast break attack because he is way faster than most bigs. I know Claxton is having a career year, but he looks like prime Andre Drummond with less rebounding ability. I don’t buy his defense being as good as it looks on paper, either.
You are correct simmons best role is point center.
Simmons wouldn’t hold up to banging down low with the big fellas on a regular basis
Simmons wouldn’t be able to withstand it physically for any long stretches of time, and he would probably end up in his “Sulking Ben” routine because he prefers the point role to underneath the basket.
Nope, he couldnt withstand the punishment at all. Operates best as a Point PF
Claxton has one of the worst shooting forms I’ve seen in a while at the free throw line. He just stands there flat footed. Hes better off trying underhanded like Rick Barry at this rate if hes gonna keep experimenting
Malcolm Gladwell did a podcast on underhanded free throws. I don’t remember exactly but it was something like with minimal practice almost anyone can get to 80%. If NBA centers could get over the sissy angle they would dominate
I always wonder how many more pts Shaq could have scored if he put his ego aside and tried underhand. I’m not even saying I could do it at a pickup game, let alone NBA, BUT it would have made a huge difference in his career
Ben Simmons won’t even dunk the ball and they will employ the same fouling strategy. He won’t score at the center position either. They are already taking him out of games in the fourth quarter.
It still boggles my mind how you can make it all the way to the NBA and can’t shoot a free throw. I’ll never understand.
It really is the strangest thing because on my Prep team everyone besides the Center had to shoot at least 70%, our guards were all between 78-88%, I was at 86% and our Centers were 73% and 68%….How can anybody play Basketball 24/7 and not shoot at least 30% from 3 and 65% from the line.
Ben at 40M posting 7pts 6 boards and 6 assists will be hilarious. Still can’t believe the Nets took that on.
Nets aren’t winning squat this year.
Round 2 exit.