Though a brief dalliance with the No. 3 seed now appears to be behind the Brooklyn Nets as they march towards the playoffs, there are still a number of reasons for fans to be concerned.
Like, real reasons. Not just panicky Brooklynites wondering whether their team is perfect or only 97% perfect.
Much ink has been spilled in recent weeks about the Nets’ Big 3, which remains more theoretical in nature than dominant in practice. James Harden? When he’s played, he’s been a facilitating genius, taking his game to new heights alongside Kyrie Irving as the primary scorer (weird). He’ll be returning soon, which is great, considering his presence has been the most essential factor of all for the Nets’ success.
Kevin Durant? He’s been dressing fairly consistently since April 23. Is “since April 23” a long enough sample size to be determinative about his durability for the postseason? We hope so! Casting aspersions on Durant, though, feels unnecessary, too. Can he be relied upon to play all May and June? Well, what about his previous several weeks has indicated he’s not fully healed?
Kyrie Irving? Will he up and leave the team during the playoffs like he did months ago?!? No. Glad we got that out of the way.
We’ve heard too much about the Big 3’s readiness for the playoffs. The idea that they have to “gel” seems overblown, and any durability questions are true of any contender. If Nikola Jokic gets hurt from overuse, that would sink the Nuggets. If the Clippers lost Kawhi Leonard, their second unit would have trouble with higher expectations placed upon it.
Are there any reasons for the Brooklyn Nets to be worried about their playoff fate that go beyond the surface-level ask about whether Durant, Harden and Irving will appear in every game? We can think of a few concerns that probably aren’t getting enough credence.
These 3 non-James Harden things should worry Brooklyn Nets fans entering the NBA Playoffs.
3. Can Brooklyn Get Lulled to Sleep Again?
After months (years? decades?) of embarrassing displays, the Washington Wizards have somehow grown into a multi-faceted and impressive lower-seeded playoff team thanks to the combined efforts of Bradley Beal and…Russell Westbrook? He…he’s back? He’s working well alongside youngsters like Rui Hachimura and Daniel Gafford and spurring their development? What body-switch comedy is this?
Unfortunately, the Brooklyn Nets fell victim to the Wizards back in the day, before any of this seemed possible, in a loss fans and detractors still point to as solid evidence that the Nets can be had when they’re feeling too comfortable.
Every defensive metric possible has ticked up for Brooklyn since the January 31st loss, which took place 2.5 weeks post-Harden trade and was played without The Beard or any suitable interior defender. Still, though, that stink exists. It’s difficult to rationally convince fans you’re “over” a loss that featured a 48-point fourth quarter, a five-point lead blown with 12 seconds remaining, and back-to-back Beal and Westbrook triples after a lazy turnover under the basket on an inbounds pass.
There are losses, after all, and then there are losses.
Should Brooklyn be “scared” of any team that might emerge from the play-in tournament, on the verge of probably playing the Boston Celtics or Charlotte Hornets? No. The Celtics specifically lack size (and Jaylen Brown), and Charlotte’s luck seems to have run its course. There is a good chance, though, that things look so easy for the Nets in their first-round matchup that they begin to ease off the throttle a little bit. Perhaps even DeAndre Jordan deserves some run after all if things are this easy, right?
The Celtics and Hornets do not have an interior threat like the league’s higher-seeded teams. The Celtics and Hornets don’t have a pressure cooker like Lou Williams or Trae Young waiting in the wings. Do not let your guard down after a first-round super-sweep. Do not hand the ball to the hungry Wizards underneath the basket.