Three Reasons the Brooklyn Nets are Pretenders
The Brooklyn Nets have won nine straight games over the last month. Indeed, that must mean they are contenders, right?
Let’s step back for a moment and consider the recent history of this franchise and all the turbulence we’ve seen this season. The firing of their head coach, Steve Nash, because he lost the locker room, the suspension of Kyrie Irving, and the worst version of Ben Simmons than what everyone expected.
Without much ado, let’s dive into the three main reasons the Brooklyn Nets are not for real.
1. The Ben Simmons Conundrum
Some people are just happy to see Ben Simmons out there and playing on a consistent basis. The reality is nothing has changed about the way the young star approaches the game of basketball. He is still deathly afraid of two things: driving the basketball to get to the stripe and taking jump shots. His 34% bombing at the line in the 2021 playoffs is still something he never quite mentally recovered from.
I refuse to think the Brooklyn Nets parted with a future Hall of Famer in James Harden for the returning point forward to average a Draymond Green-esque output, but even Green takes the open threes. The major concern here is the career lows at the foul line for the Aussie, who is averaging a pedestrian 1.6 shot attempts from the stripe on a disgusting 46% clip.
In the playoffs, this level of hesitancy will render the former All-Star unplayable. Teams will not respect him on the offensive end and he will not make them pay for it. In a half-court offense, his game is very easy to pick apart.
2. Great talent, Better Egos
The Nets have one of the best rosters on paper with their talent 1-15. The issue is guys like Kevin Durant and Irving believe they are bigger than basketball. The forward has a God complex and often throws shade at the rest of his roster. Taking out his do-it-himself kit often in big moments. His counterpart, Uncle Drew himself, has no filter and his availability is really day-to-day depending on how he feels.
Kyrie has a knack for making outlandish comments and his treatment of media is unprofessional. The biggest question mark many have seen in the last few seasons is his passion for basketball is not what it used to be. This is a contract year for Mr. Irving, but other than Brooklyn, many teams would not touch this man with a 10-foot pole due to his combustible personality and unpredictable nature.
I am also willing to die on the hill that Irving and Durant do not have good chemistry together — it is very much your turn-my turn isolation basketball. This style is not conducive to winning at the highest level: a championship.
3. The Brooklyn Nets lack size and depth
The last point here tackles the lack of contributions from the supporting cast and the reality they are an incredibly small team.
The Nets rank just 23rd in bench scoring, meaning outside of their front five, the reinforcements have been generally weak in output. This may be subject to change with the returns of T.J. Warren, who is capable of 10-15 points in limited minutes, and Seth Curry, who is lights out from beyond the arc.
One of the other notes of concern is their depth at the five spot. Nic Claxton has been a revelation at the center position for Brooklyn posting averages of 11.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game on 73.8% shooting from the field. Beyond Claxton at this position though, neither Day’Ron Sharpe nor Markieff Morris are attractive options given their rawness and spotty production.
The best solution is for Brooklyn to get creative with their small-ball lineups showcasing Simmons or Durant at the five when Claxton heads to the bench. One of my biggest clamors is playing Claxton alongside Simmons — it’s an absolute no-no. They each struggle with the same weaknesses of outside shooting and poor efficiency at the line making that fit questionable. In the playoffs, when the game slows down, two of Brooklyn’s top talents may not be able to share the court.
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