The situation in brooklyn nets far from ideal. This phrase, so repeated since 2019, has started a new chapter in recent days after the last transfer request Kyrie Irving. The point guard, who has this transfer season remaining, was unable to reach an extension with the franchise, calling it quits before the trade deadline. The 2016 champion then missed the game against the Washington Wizards for “right calf pain” according to the injury report. This is just the latest news Kyrie has been starring in since landing with the Nets, but it probably won’t be the last. A sum of controversies and failures that have put the team led by Jacques Vaughn in a very difficult context.
With Kevin Durant injured and Ben Simmons also out, he was Kyrie who stepped up as a captain, leading the New York team with Averaged 30.3 points and 6.9 assists. All was going well and in Brooklyn they were happy to have the star back for the occasion. However, the house of cards came crashing down within hours and all attention is once again on what is happening off the pitch.
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So far the Nets seem to know how to handle such moments like no other team. since they arrived Durant and Irving the team had to play many nights without both. In fact, as of the 2020-2021 season, Brooklyn’s balance without both is more than worthy: 11 wins and 16 losses (40.7%). To no one’s surprise, when both figures were there, the team performed better 47 wins and 27 losses (63.5%). Figures that are not extremely positive when one considers the investment made and the overhead that had to be added to both.
With that in mind and the Nets in a more than positive collective stage, sitting in fourth place in the East but in the battle for second place, it’s understandable that there’s some frustration with the latest controversy starring Kyrie Irving.
Without going any further, Zach Vaughn didn’t bite his tongue before starting the final game with the Wizards, where Brooklyn prevailed 125 to 123 without its stars.
“There’s a business side to it and a human side to it, I decided to ask him about the human side of these things, worry about him as a person and leave the sport to Sean Marks.”Vaughn posted when asked about Kyrie.
Immediately after, another reporter asked the coach whether or not Irving was letting the team down. “I’m not going to speculate on what the dressing room thinks. I think you have a responsibility as a professional player, as I do as a coach. I show up, I do my job every day, that’s what I signed up for and that’s my expectation for each of my 17 players.” he pondered.
👀 Jacque Vaughn and Kyrie Irving’s message on whether he’s let the team down
🗣️ “I think you have a responsibility as a player just like I do as a coach. I show up, I do my job every day. That’s why I signed.”pic.twitter.com/6sU54WHCl5
— Sportingnewses Spain 🇪🇸 (@sportingnewses) February 5, 2023
“I told the team not to make it weird”Vaughan replied. “We are here to play, to do our job. I told them the key on this team is to show up, do our job and go out and get a win every night. That’s what I’ll continue to focus on.”
Another night the Nets secondary took on the job and did their homework. With 44 points from Cam Thomas and 29 from Edmond Sumner, they left some Wizards behind in the Play-In battle. Further proof that the team has potential and just needs health and some stability to reach its full potential.
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