With the new NBA season underway, there have been many familiar faces in new uniforms throughout the season so far. The newest blockbuster trade to shock the basketball world was the Brooklyn Nets acquiring super-star guard James Harden. The trade already has fans around the world predicting an NBA Finals appearance.
In the past two games that James Harden has played with the Nets, his performance has been undoubtedly no different than what basketball fans are used to seeing from him. He has averaged over 30 points per game and contributed a handful of assists to add on to the teams’ win streak thus far. Several sports analysts like Stephen A. Smith are projecting that the Nets are NBA title contenders, especially now that Harden and Kevin Durant have reunited after their past years in Oklahoma City.
However, with the absence of all-star guard Kyrie Irving, there have been some questionable remarks circulating about the Nets’ future, and whether or not their chemistry will be as cohesive once Irving returns to play.
Although Irving stated in a press conference that his absence was due to family obligations, those who consider themselves die hard Brooklyn Nets fans may have mixed feelings about Irving’s commitment to his teammates and the Nets franchise.
Irving went on to comment that the circumstances become different when you are looking at certain situations from a players’ perspective rather than an average fans point of view. Considering the state of pandemonium that the world is in right now, many individuals have had to refrain from certain routines and debrief which consequently disrupts the natural flow of their daily activities. It seems Irving has had to take time away from basketball to focus his attention more on his family and other aspects of his life so his concerns won’t negatively impact his performance on the court.
With their recent victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Nets have shown tremendous progress with the new acquisition of Harden and are optimistic that their performance will be even more electrifying when Irving returns to the starting lineup, as Harden warned “when Kyrie rejoins, it’s going to be scary hours”.
As the season continues, there are high expectations for the Nets and many believe they have a great chance of competing for an NBA title with or without Irving. An NBA finals between the Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers seems to be a fan favorite and one worthy of watching as well.
Isaiah Underwood is a senior studying creative writing at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Isaiah? Email him iu137516@ohio.edu.
