The question is all the same: Can the Nets survive a summer of discontent with the team’s biggest star (reportedly) begging owners to fire his GM and coach? Given that they played a total of 84 games last season, will the new “Big Three” stay fit, both physically and mentally? What about the three players who didn’t play at all last season? can be done without a depth of 5?
All of these questions will be asked on Monday’s Media Day, and the answers may not come back for weeks or even months. The national media has spoken of the Nets’ prospects in mostly skeptical terms. See ESPN RatingsTheir basic premise is that everything has gone wrong in the last 18 months, so why should you expect things to change? A valid point.
Local Media Offers Fans In Preview a bit Hope for more. Despite the big and bad story, the Nets have a lot going for them, starting with two prodigals who have returned after making peace with the organization. Ben Simmons, who hasn’t played in a year, has a terrible resume.’ They all have something to prove for themselves and the team. As Brian Lewis wrote in Saturday’s training preview, other teams have had worse situations and are still winning. “Sometimes talent wins”.
of Yankees won in 1977 world series After Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin had a physical altercation in the Boston dugout. lakers When the great Kobe Bryant asked for a trade, he won MVP that season and helped the team win titles over the next two years.
And when LeBron James tried to fire Heat coach Eric Spoelstra in 2010, his attempt was summarily rejected by team president Pat Riley.
Similarly, in his camp preview, Christian Winfield wrote that the Nets front office “stabilized the ship.”
Nets GM Sean Marks has been chasing Executive of the Year.
Following Kevin Durant’s summer trade request, Marks and team governor Joe Tsai stabilized the ship in the turbulence, facing explosive conditions that could explode a championship franchise.
KD and Kylie haven’t spoken publicly about things. Their recent comments, which have been spotted on social media, were mostly about other things, but Ben Simmons seemed to be speaking for the trio and team this week. Oldman and the Three Podcast by JJ Redick and Tommy Alter.
“I’m sick. I can’t wait. I’m so excited. I got a new number, a new jersey,” said Simmons, who switched from 25 to 10. I think we have a special team, and if it all comes together, we can be champions, and that’s the end goal.
“But yeah, I’m excited. It’s New York City. I’m playing with incredible players and a great coaching staff.”
The coaching staff, especially Steve Nash, took a hit. Nash’s performance last year was criticized by fans, and Durant (reportedly) asked Tsai to fire him. After two compliments in Aprilincluding a later press conference celtics Sweep. The Nets also did not renew the contracts of Adam Harrington and David Vantapool.Amar’e Stoudemire resigned, citing a “mutual agreement” between him and the organization. They acquired Igor his Kokoskov, who is one of the league’s most respected assistants and was promoted from within to fill the vacancy. (Simmons responded to another Reddick question that called the staff “unbelievable.”)
Nets Have Letting their fans down, a lot of the blame is shared. As Winfield points out.
Entering the fourth year of the 7-Eleven era, the Nets had just one win in the playoff series after the Celtics dusted off their broomsticks and knocked them out of the first round in disappointing fashion last season. There was not.
In the long run, it’s actually worse. The Nets will celebrate his 10th anniversary next month in Brooklyn. All they need to show for that is his two series wins with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in 2013 and another with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden in 2021. Before him, Mikhail Prokhorov spent a lot of money for limited benefits.
So when the Nets meet up at the HSS on Monday to ask questions and hit the court on Tuesday, fans have the right to remain skeptical, and probably for a while. .
As part of The Athletic’s league-wide training camp preview, Alex Schiffer succinctly said: stay tuned.
