Brooklyn Nets: Did LeBron James downplay Durant-Harden-Irving trio with Warriors comments?

The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers will engage in NBA Twitter’s de facto civil war on Thursday, as LeBron James will try to lead his Anthony Davis-less squad against a lineup that could have each of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving available. The last time LeBron faced a combination of talent like this was in his battles against the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors, who were a thorn in LeBron’s side with and without Durant, won three championships in four years at his expense. With Durant assembling another superteam in the East, they could be one of James’ main obstacles as he looks for championship ring No. 5.

With Harden having led a furious comeback win over the Phoenix Suns, the Nets proved that they can still give quality West teams a formidable challenge when the trio is broken up. With Durant and Irving both set to return from minor injuries that kept them out against Phoenix, James has his work cut out for him.

When the Lakers star was asked if he has ever seen a team that can match Brooklyn’s firepower on the offensive end, he quickly reminded everyone how lethal those Warriors teams were.

Can the Brooklyn Nets match up to those Warriors teams?

The Nets and Warriors both have the services of Durant, and they both have future Hall of Fame point guards in Irving and Steph Curry, respectively, that can shoot the lights out from deep. While James Harden might give the Nets an edge over Klay Thompson, the presence of Draymond Green could make this hypothetical matchup a very interesting best-of-seven.

James knows firsthand how lethal the Warriors are, and he seems to see a bit of that championship squad in these Nets, who are 5-2 when all three of their stars have played together. But he’s not ready to anoint them as the best he’s ever faced. James welcomed the challenge however, saying that he loves “going out there and being on the floor with some of the best to play this game.”

Unfortunately, Durant won’t be part of Thursday’s festivities.

Time will tell if Brooklyn will be able to replicate the success that Golden State had in the postseason, but they can be every bit as entertaining a watch. At the very least, we’ll get James, Harden and Irving on the floor in a couple days.