Detroit — only silence brooklyn nets after they are eliminated from the playoffs, or new york knicks It’s time before greater turmoil, or trade demand.
They’ve been sneaking around for the past few weeks, but now they’re stepping up their prominence in the Eastern Conference.But Kevin Durant Notice that his team is not getting attention.
“I understand that others don’t view our roster as a championship roster, but when we’re winning the way we win, we have to pay attention to that. Hmm,” Durant told Yahoo Sports. [Kyrie Irving] and ben [Simmons] didn’t play, we beat the team [nearly] 40 points. The other team said, “Wait a minute, what are you doing over there?”
“They take us for granted, especially me and Kai. You have to jump through the fire hula hoops to impress.”
Durant says New York culture is generally negative and in some ways expects it.
“Is ‘decoration’ the right word? We do it because it’s New York City,” Durant said. “Only the general media in New York City feeds the fans, and the fans are like negative s***. is.
“Once the drama starts, it’s a normal feeling. That’s the culture of New York for the last 50 years in sports. I feel like [NBA] Culture is starting to shift in that direction now, but it’s always been that way in New York. ”
Durant is a little heavy in New York, which he knew before picking the Nets in the summer of 2019. Irving has always been a lightning rod for criticism.
But Irving has been efficient since his return from suspension Followed by Promoting an anti-Semitic movie When comments afterDurant has played at MVP level all season.
Over the last 10 games, he’s been in a groove that matches some of his best work, averaging 32.7 points on 63% shooting, 44% from 3-point range, and adding 6.5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. did.
The Nets bounced back from the ashes of coaching changes and Irving-fueled controversy to climb to No. 4 in the East. celtics For them to prevent the NBA’s longest winning streak.
probably the coaching Steve Nash To Jack Vaughan I’ve simplified things. Perhaps it’s also a function of the schedule, mostly home games, and playing against less-than-stellar competition.
“We understand what we’re doing on both ends. It’s very simple,” Durant said when asked what worked. You know what you want to play on defense and what kind of offense you want to play, and that makes everyone more comfortable.
“Let’s just take it simple: we get up every day and we’re healthy most of the time. And we grind. So we’re open to whatever comes from there. I’m putting my right foot forward to become. We’re nowhere [we] I want to be, but I like the direction we’re going. ”
Durant scored 26 points in the third quarter on Sunday. This included a blistering run in which he scored 20 points in three minutes to pull the Nets an impressive distance from 17 down.One night he’s still a rival Giannis Antetokounmpo When Stephen Curry Anyone else as the best player in the game.
The Nets’ recent history of drama and underperformance means the bar is high, and he kind of understands that, but he’s aware of how everyone else is treated.
“I don’t see that standard on other teams,” Durant said. .
“We don’t get that benefit. But we had to go all the way. With other teams, they get some of that grace, but we still get it.” We understand that we have not. We have to work for it.”
There was drama in Boston ImeudokaChampion Warriors Had to endure championship fatigue draymond greenof quarrel When jordan poolIt feels like it’s been given proper scrutiny in context.
Irving’s drama, Simmons’ story, and the circumstances surrounding Nash seemed to continue through the summer and into the first half of the season.
“People don’t like us,” Durant said. “No, they don’t [like me]They don’t like us as a group. ”
Durant understands where it comes from. He’s not whining or complaining, he’s just pointing out things as he sees them as someone who’s been through this NBA ecosystem for nearly 15 years.
He knew that being with Irving would add an extra layer of complexity, saying, “Obviously I didn’t like him not being in the lineup last year,” Irving said in New York. I mentioned my ineligibility to play home games. he was not vaccinated.
Durant, however, said Irving was “trapped” and reiterated that he trusted him. It seemed a far cry from the summer Durant announced. trade demand he later Canceled.
“On the floor it’s amazing, hall of fame level. We’ll see how he scores and how he plays,” Durant said. “His choices, his personal life, the way he feels about s***, that’s what people have. [problem] When. But now that he’s playing and being here consistently, it’s no argument. ”
Irving has not taken a sabbatical and has not said anything outrageous recently.relationship with him nike is finished and short a bit jab upon Social mediaIrving is quiet.
For Durant, the game has been both his obsession and his refuge. Many of his complaints with the media were about basketball being minimized in favor of other controversies.
Unfortunately that’s not how everything works. Especially in the world of Twitter and other worlds where basketball players are paid heavily as they extend beyond the floor to personal brands.
You have to cross the line. There will always be friction.
“Once we step onto the floor, we can’t control all the stories and noise around us,” Durant said. I don’t feel there [Irving] Because we are trapped and trying to get better.
Perhaps he is accustomed to dysfunction, but he coolly denied it. At times, Durant is seen as a victim of Irving’s antics, an innocent bystander.
“I understand [attention], that’s part of the job,” Durant said. “It wasn’t a burden to me emotionally. S*** occurs. Everyone [has] I’ve had some s*** in the league.
I feel like he’s still building something out of Brooklyn, New York. And when asked if he felt the Nets needed more players on their roster to compete with Boston and Milwaukee, he didn’t flinch.
“I feel like I got a good roster. I feel like I’m working hard to play playoff-style basketball,” Durant said. Well, the short answer is, you can win basketball games, and if you keep adding to that every day, you’ll see what happens in the playoffs.”
