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Steve Nash reveals Nets’ biggest challenge as season heats up

ByJordanna Clark|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 16: Steve Nash Head Coach of the Brooklyn Nets shows emotion during the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 16, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michelle Farsi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 16: Steve Nash Head Coach of the Brooklyn Nets shows emotion during the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 16, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michelle Farsi/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets have a lot to do between now and the end of the year. If the 2021-22 regular season ended today, the Nets would travel to Toronto to take on the Raptors in the play-in tournament. However, if Brooklyn can crawl up to at least sixth place in the East over the next few weeks, the Nets will get to skip over the tournament.

Brooklyn’s final regular-season game is on Apr. 10 and the first round of the playoffs is set to begin on Apr. 16. Hopefully, the Nets will get to enjoy a few days off without having to worry about playing in the tournament, which begins on Apr. 12.

If you merely take a glance at Brooklyn’s roster, you’d assume that the Nets would have zero issues between now and April. Kevin Durant, Goran Dragic, and Ben Simmons are all expected to return to the court over the next few weeks. Even if Joe Harris doesn’t play again this year, Brooklyn’s still going to be in a decent spot.

However, that’s if the Nets can successfully mesh together between now and the postseason. Time isn’t on Brooklyn’s side and Steve Nash knows that.

Steve Nash believes cohesion is the Brooklyn Nets’ biggest challenge.

After the Nets’ practice on Wednesday, Nash spoke with the media. There are a lot of little pieces that need to come together for Brooklyn in the coming weeks and the coach addressed that.

Nash said (subscription required):

"“The challenge is forming the cohesion,” Nash said. “Whenever Kevin’s available, Ben’s available, Goran’s available, Joe potentially being available, trying to get that cohesion and building a team that’s ready for pressure moments and playing in a playoff scenario, and at the same time, trying to win the majority of our games here so we can climb out of the play-in and put ourselves in a position to move up the ladder a little bit before the playoffs start.”"

The Nets have 22 regular-season games left and there still isn’t a clear return date for Durant, Dragic, Simmons, or Harris.

Although trading an unhappy James Harden to Philadelphia benefitted Brooklyn, it also left the team at a disadvantage. The Nets have struggled to debut a full, healthy lineup all year. It began with Kyrie Irving sitting out due to his vaccination status and even though he made his debut on Jan. 5, he’s still in a part-time role (for now).

Brooklyn has a completely different roster than it did three weeks ago. Nash and the team are aware of the amount of work that needs to be done but right now the focus is on getting everyone healthy. The Nets can’t work on building chemistry on the court until they are at full strength.

Nash has his work cut out for him but the direction that Brooklyn’s headed in is more promising than it was a few weeks ago.

Will the Nets be able to overcome their challenges between now and April?