YEAR TEN
Year Nine ended with the franchise's highest ever NBA winning percentage. Otherwise, the Long Island Nets sandwiched a franchise-best .690 win percentage in between two ABA championships.
There are several obvious reasons why I believe today the Nets are not defending NBA champions. I suspect James Harden's early-season conditioning at Houston caught up to him after seizing the point position in Brooklyn. I still believe Kyrie Irving (sprained ankle) was undercut during the conference semifinals by Giannis Antetokounmpo and because Kevin Durant has big feet.
That last part was said by Kevin Durant in jest, but the upcoming 2021-2022 season is no joking matter. As the doors swing open for Barclays Center's tenth NBA season, Sean Marks has a small window of opportunity. Kevin Durant recently signed a four-year extension. But James Harden had until Monday, October 18, 2021, to pick up the option on his contract and (for a known amount) extend his time on Flatbush Avenue through the 2023-2024 season. News of his decision is pending. Harden otherwise becomes a free agent at the end of this season, although he already expressed a desire to stay in Brooklyn.
Speaking of decisions, let me be clear: my opinion about Kyrie Irving doesn't matter. Whatever Sean Marks says and does is where I stand. In strict basketball terms, I'm only interested in uniformed players. I'll embrace his presence if and when he returns to the floor. Otherwise, ya can't begrudge people for their personal beliefs.
I'm more interested in who or how many it takes to fill the void. Sean Marks imported a lot of new faces. But my attention remains frustratingly fixated on one person in particular. Without going through the whole rigmarole, I'll pick up with last season's playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks:
- After just 0:43 seconds into Game One, the Nets lost James Harden. With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving still on the floor, Joe Harris stepped up with 19 points and a +6 in 34:18 minutes.
- James Harden is out in Game Two. With Durant and Kyrie on the floor, Joe Harris added 13 points and +25 in 30:20 minutes.
- Harden likewise misses Game Three. But Joe Harris scored just 3 points with a -11 in 36:38 minutes.
- After spending just 17:17 minutes on the floor, the Nets lose Kyrie Irving in Game Four to an ankle injury - out for the series. With Harden and Irving both out, Joe Harris scored 8 points with a -17 in 38:04 minutes.
- A compromised James Harden returns in Game Five and continues playing out the series. Joe Harris contributed a mere 5 points with a +3 in 37:02 minutes.
- In Game Six, Joe Harris scored 9 points with a -25 in 36:27 minutes.
- In the decisive Game Seven, Joe Harris scored ten points with a -1 in 46:55 minutes.
... and this is my problem. Over the final five games when the Nets needed Joe Harris to step up most, he averaged just 7 points and a -10 in 39:12 minutes. I'm not entertaining a particular shot he may have made or his celebrated shooting percentage from three. With James Harden or Kyrie Irving out of action, sometimes both at the same time, Joe Cool went ice cold. Now, 30-years old, entering his sixth season with the Nets, he is essentially faced with the same situation and circumstances ...
... except for the off-season and those vying for his playing time.
In July, Sean Marks, with the 27th overall selection in the 2021 draft, selected guard Cam Thomas out of LSU. Marks signed free agent Patty Mills and DeAndre' Bembry in August. Mills won a championship with the 2014 San Antonio Spurs and has averaged 10.0 points in 23.1 minutes, playing primarily off Gregg Popovich's bench for the last six seasons. Sean Marks also traded Landry Shamet to the Phoenix Suns for 26-year old point guard Jevon Carter and center Day'Ron Sharpe.
LaMarcus Aldridge played in just five games upon last season's acquisition. He last participated in a regular-season game on April 10 and soon after was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat forcing him into retirement. If the 36-year old is indeed feeling up to the task, he can be a tremendous asset on defense. LaMarcus played in three of four preseason games, and in the finale against Minnesota, scored 16 points in 24 minutes off the bench. He was 4/8 from the field and a perfect 8/8 from the line. Newcomers and fellow 36-year old Paul Millsap, James Johnson, and returnees Nicolas Claxton and Blake Griffin together should ably handle the four and five spots.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Bruce Brown. He, above and beyond every complimentary player discussed here, can perhaps best recover potential points lost in Kyrie Irving's absence. In his first season upon his acquisition from Detroit, Brown averaged 8.8 points in 22.3 minutes through 65 of Brooklyn's 72 games.
But that doesn't nearly tell the whole story. Brown scored 20-plus points three times with a season-high 29 points in February against Sacramento and scored double-digit points 24 other times. Bruce Brown finished the season very strong. Thirteen of 27 total double-digit performances came in his first 40 games, whereas 14 came in his last 25 regular-season games. Meanwhile, five of his six double-double efforts occurred in his last eleven regular-season games. Hopefully, there's more of that to come.
With Kevin Durant and James Harden leading the way, this team absolutely can bring an NBA championship to Flatbush.
So, here we go ... let's do this. Hopefully, year ten will be the best season of all.
Go, Brooklyn.
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