Brooklyn Nets
The 2019-20 Brooklyn Nets and (more specifically) Kyrie Irving have one goal.
Don’t fuck up.
We repeat: Do. Not. Fuck. Up.
After a season from hell in Boston, and after the way he forced his way out from Cleveland (LeBron’s shadow) before that, Kyrie now has the infamous label of Bad Locker Room Presence. His antics have been a distraction of the worst variety.
Kyrie is a conundrum in and of himself. It’s part of what makes him so good on the court. He and KD make the perfect couple, but Kyrie has gotta fly solo for their first season in Brooklyn while KD recovers from his torn Achilles suffered in Game 5 of The Finals. On the court, when he’s dialed in, Kyrie is a maestro with the basketball to the highest degree.
We believe that head coach Kenny Atkinson is the man fit for the tall task of getting Kyrie to just show up and play basketball, and to make it through the media without causing scene after scene.
The real story here is how GM Sean Marks turned this sad state of affairs franchise from laughing stock to contender seemingly overnight. When Marks was hired in February of 2016, the Nets were still recovering from Danny Ainge’s HEIST of Billy King.
The 2018-19 Brooklyn Nets Vegas Over/Under was set at just 29.5 wins which was 1.5 more their win total the previous year. The Nets went on to win 42 games (!!) while becoming a very fun young surprise team that delighted our league pass fancy on the reg. The same team that Vegas projected to finish 12th in the East ended up making the playoffs and then signed two of the hottest free agents in the league.
It is amazing what a smart general manager can do in such a short amount of time.
That said, the Kyrie and KD signings are in no way a sure thing. Especially with KD’s injury and not to mention Kyrie’s injury history and current facial fracture. This is more of a gamble than you might think, but one that you absolutely have to roll the dice on 10 times out of 10.
We are not going to lie, though, we already miss the 2018-19 Nets. D’Angelo Russell (quasi All-Star), Ed Davis, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, DeMarre Carroll, Shabazz Napier and Jared Dudley are all gone.
Caris LeVert is still here and signed an extension, which is also a little risky with his previous injuries.
Other returning Nets include:
Jarett Allen, who will have to share the Center position with DeAndre Jordan, because DJ is friends with KD and Kyrie. DeAndre looked pretty washed in Dallas and NY last year, but he didn’t exactly have much of an incentive.
Reliable AF Spencer Dinwiddie.
Three-point specialist Joe Harris.
Rodions Kurucs, possible Latvian power dunker!?
Acquired via trade back in July, Taurean Prince has been the talk of the Nets’ preseason so far.
Newly signed free agents Wilson Chandler and Garrett Temple are the fresh face vets Kyrie needs on this team.
Kyrie chose Brooklyn and now he has everything everything he wants. (Except maybe a face that’s not broken.)
It’s up to him to make it happen.
League Pass Notes
Uncle Drew dribbling a basketball is art. Magnificent limitless art.
DeAndre Jordan, power dunker of the past. Kurucs for real had some hammers last year in his rookie season.
Barclays is a marvel. The announcers are stellar. And we are enthralled by the new gray court!
The Final Question / The Final Take
Will Kyrie fuck it up?
Even if he does, maybe KD will eventually save him. UNDER 44.5 wins.