How Far Can The Nets Go This Season?

Aug 24

There’s no denying that a trio of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons makes the team a top title favorite. With news of Kevin Durant rescinding his trade request, the Brooklyn Nets can shift their focus on their initial goal; winning a championship.

When together, the duo of Durant and Irving almost always put on a show, and now they add one of the league’s best defensive players in Ben Simmons. Simmons’ lack of a proper jump shot has been a problem in the past, but Brooklyn’s depth includes quality shooters such as Joe Harris, Seth Curry, and Patty Mills. Not to mention, Durant and Irving are both scoring machines.

After being amongst the top title favorites for the last two seasons, Brooklyn ended both in disappointment, including getting swept by the Boston Celtics in round one of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.

The 2022 season for the Nets seemed like it was bound for disaster from the start. Irving wouldn’t be eligible to play until late into the season, and for some time, he was only allowed to play on the road due to the New York City COVID-19 Vaccine mandate.

Team chemistry was evidently not where it should have been because of this, and for a while, much of the attention on the Nets has been negative.

Kyrie Irving sidelined for a home game in 2022 due to the New York City COVID vaccine mandate at the time (Associated Press)

Looking at the rest of the Eastern Conference, the road to the Finals can be any team’s road. The Boston Celtics are coming fresh off an NBA Finals berth, and adding Malcolm Brogdon without giving up much only strengthens their team.

Both the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks took Boston to seven games. Given situations like Khris Middleton’s second-round absence or Miami falling just short of defeating Boston, the East’s top teams all seem neck and neck.

Then there’s a team like the Philadelphia 76ers, who still have one of the best big men in recent memory in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, who is only 21. In addition, James Harden is getting in better shape.

The landscape of the Eastern Conference makes it hard to choose a clear favorite. In Brooklyn’s case, they have three superstar players. It’s just a matter of whether the three will be on the court together consistently to develop the chemistry they were missing last season.

Simmons last played in the 2021 NBA Playoffs after a second-round upset loss to Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks with the Philadelphia 76ers. Irving has also had several unexplained absences from the team.

Despite all this, Brooklyn can head in a positive direction now that Durant is committed this season. If the team can have their superstar core together consistently, Brooklyn is capable of beating anybody in the postseason, despite recent disappointing playoff runs.