‘There has to be a DNA, a toughness here’
Kyrie Irving wanted you to believe that without Kevin Durant, a 30-point-per-game scorer heralded as one of the most versatile players in NBA history, the Nets weren’t going to struggle. That their 11-game losing streak last season when Durant missed a month and a half due to injury was just that — last season— and that this season is different.
The Nets’ 0-4 start in games Durant has missed with an MCL sprain in his right knee says otherwise. Durant is just as bad for the Nets this season. They were unable to overcome a 24-point deficit against the Phoenix Suns with Chris Paul and Devin Booker, and suffered a disappointing 117-112 defeat on Thursday night.
“We’re no different than any other team in the league, figuring it out when guys are in and out of the lineup,” Irving said after shaking off an ice-cold shooting start to catch fire in the fourth quarter. “But our confidence can’t waver, so it’s just gotta carry us forward.”
The numbers speak for themselves.
Since then, the Nets have lost every game. Durant sustained his injury On Jan. 8, they will face the Miami Heat. They have the NBA’s worst offensive rating through Durant’s absence. They have scored 30 more points per 100 possessions during this stretch than the league-leading Sacramento Kings. They have ranked top 10 in turnovers, bottom 10 in win-loss margin and are one of just three teams to lose each of their last four games.
History isn’t on Brooklyn’s side, either: The Nets will play in the second game of a road back-to-back against a scrappy Utah Jazz team on Friday. Judging by Brooklyn’s struggles against a shorthanded Suns team, it’s fair to assume the Nets will have trouble with a Jazz team boasting the NBA’s third-most potent offense (117.8 points per game) and riding four wins in their last five games.
The schedule doesn’t let up, and Durant is projected to sit until at least early February. In their next 19 games, the Nets have 17 potential playoff opponents. The margin for error is close to zero for a team that hasn’t yet figured out the best way to play on both ends of the floor with Durant out of the lineup.
“There has to be a DNA, a toughness here, and we’re still developing that,” said Irving. “And so it looks all good when we’re healthy, but now I think everybody can pinpoint little things that we’re not doing and quote on quote — no disrespect to you [the media] — but everybody keeps saying we’re struggling, but it’s the game of basketball. Shots are gonna go in and out night to night, but again, our confidence can’t waver and we can’t overthink the process.”
Irving is now the No. Durant is expected to miss one month because of injury.
Irving finished with 30 points but almost all of them came during Brooklyn’s ferocious, but failed, fourth quarter rally. Irving scored or assisted 23 points in the last period. However, he shot just 3-of-16 in the first three quarters. The night ended at 11-of 27 from the field. He also had seven rebounds and seven assists.
As the focal point of the Nets’ offense, Irving has yet to log an efficient shooting night in Durant’s absence. He is now 27-of-71, or 38%, away from the field. In his three previous games, Irving has been 6-of-26 (23%), from downtown. One game was missed due to right calf tightness.
“We’re capable of putting points on the board. We’ve just gotta do it a lot earlier, and for me, I’ve just gotta settle in and get out of my head when I’m not making shots and just control the game in other facets,” Irving said. “We’re the Brooklyn Nets. We know what comes with everybody following us, wins and losses, and critiquing us, but I think the focus is really on how we prepare and just doing the little things again.”
Firepower elsewhere on the roster is inconsistent.
Ben Simmons logged a triple-double in the loss to Oklahoma City but was ejected in the third quarter of Thursday’s loss to the Suns with consecutive technical fouls chirping at an official who called his fifth personal foul. Simmons finished with seven points, including six assists, five rebounds and three-of-four shooting. He only played 18 minutes.
JacqueVaughn, the Nets’ head coach, played TJ Warren for only eight minutes. Cam Thomas and Seth Curry scored 31 points each off the bench. Starting center Nic Clavixton had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocked shots.
“He picked up his third foul. Took him out the game,” Vaughn said of Warren. “Just rhythm wise, and then by then we’re down, and we had to find a group that was going to continue to play fast, try to get some stops and try to find something to get the tide going in our direction.”
The Nets had nothing, however, for Suns’ stars Mikal Bridges (28 points, nine assists) and DeAndre Ayton (24 points, 14 rebounds). Brooklyn did not turn the ball over 12 times, but three were on consecutive fourth quarter possessions, which halted a run that ended in the final minutes.
The struggles have mounted with Durant out — and the Nets have already begun falling down the Eastern Conference standings.