Brooklyn Nets: How Fast Can They Get On Same Page?
There is only one word to sum up what the Brooklyn Nets need for the 2020-21 NBA season–trust. Armed with a new superstar and coach, the Nets will need more than talent to challenge teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Clippers for the NBA Championship. But it can be done.
Talent alone will not win a title. For the years that the Lakers won with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, although they may have not liked each other, Phil Jackson made sure that trust was still there on the court. The same goes for the current Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They were veteran teams who understood their roles. This is what the Nets must invest in.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have championships rings but this is a bit different than their times in Cleveland and the Bay Area. They are now the main guys and are expected to win. But can they do it together and with a cast of characters not used to winning in the playoffs?
Irving had LeBron who was coming off success with the Miami Heat. Durant joined Golden State who already placed their flag in the NBA record books. But here in Brooklyn, they’re the main dogs and will be looked upon as leaders. The talent is there but is the trust?
Related: Brooklyn Nets: Brooklyn Nets: Does It All Fall On Irving And Durant?
Last season, the Nets thought they had Irving for a full season. Although COVID-19 would shorten the year, Irving, dealing with injuries would only play in 20 games. Even with limited action from both their new centerpieces, the Nets still managed to make the playoffs. But here we are gearing up for a new campaign and the Nets are being mentioned as one of the teams to beat, not only in the Eastern Conference but the entire NBA.
It all starts with trust.
Irving and Durant trust each other, it’s their teammates they may not rust. While DeAndre Jordan has been around the league, he hasn’t won a thing as a member of a Clippers’ team that featured Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The talent was there but the championship and playoff success was not. Even with the Nets reaching the playoffs the last two seasons, they have not done anything that screams titles contenders. So, in what alternate reality should Durant and Irving trust these guys?
The Nets’ roster is a far cry from what Irving had in Cleveland and what Durant had in Golden State and with the Thunder. Jarrett Allen is no Kevin Love and Spencer Dinwiddie is no Stephen Curry. What happens when the game is on the line and Durant or Irving must put their faith in Caris LeVert or Joe Harris pulling the trigger on a heroic three or strong drive to the basket?
This is where trust must be built. It will be tough in first few games but eventually, Durant and Irving will realize the Nets have surrounded them with quality players. But then again, LeVert is an up-and-coming star and Dinwiddie should have been an All-Star last season with averages of 20.6 points and 6.8 assists.
So, in reality, I guess the bigger question is, can the Nets who’ve been here before, really trust the new guys?
Allen is doing his best in the post. Harris is becoming a well-known marksman from deep while shooting .424 percent from beyond the arc. Dinwiddie (pre-injury) is excellent with penetration and many analysts are questioning whether the Nets need to add a so-called third star with LeVert on the roster?
But the elephant in the room is can they all trust their new coach Steve Nash? This is his first season in the big seat and Nash will have his hands full in Brooklyn. If they get off to a rough start, the media wolves will be out. While Nash has dealt with critics before, it was his play that would determine if and when the criticism stopped. Now, a coach, it’s not solely up to him.
He has a solid team, two superstars, a city starving for a championship, and a Hall of Fame resume as a player. But can he coach and can he coach with such high expectations following him and his team? This is where Nash must trust and players and his players must trust Nash.
It won’t be easy. It will be a bring. The Nets can play defense. They can rebound. They have quite possibly the best offensive player in the NBA, the best ball handler, great perimeter player, and their second unit is sold all across the board. They are tough. But can they trust one another to get to the ultimate goal?
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
