Nash Looks For Healthy Nets
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
When the Covid-19 basketball season began, all eyes were on the Brooklyn Nets with a roster that included Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. The organization shocked the landscape when they added superstar and perennial All Star James Harden. Injuries took a toll on the super three as they only played 8 games together. Still, the folks in Vegas had them favored to represent the East in the NBA Finals. Across the river in Manhattan, the New York Knicks were expected to continue to be an afterthought as they had not made the playoffs since 2013. First year head coach Tom Thibideau had a young roster he had to not only mold but make them believe in his system that preached defense first.
The boys who play at the World’s Most Famous Arena were the talk of the NBA town at the end of the regular season. When they defeated the Boston Celtics last Saturday, they not only clinched the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, they will host their first round series against the Atlanta Hawks, a team they swept (3-0) during the regular season.
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By finishing second in the East, Brooklyn will be waiting to see who comes out of the newly formed Play in Tournament from the 7th thru 10th seeds. Those games will be played between Boston, Washington, Indiana and Charlotte. Philadelphia and Milwaukee will be the teams that will be the Nets biggest obstacle looking to represent the East in the Finals.
“People really didn’t believe in us at the start of the season and coach always said, it’s about what we believe in the locker room,” said Julius Randle after their last game. Randle carried the team during the regular season and saw the emergence of RJ Barrett who played in all 72 regular season games. “We were able to turn the program around and we have a bunch of new pieces. That’s really what it is, how we worked hard and nobody really gave us a shot but we’re here,” said Barrett. Veteran guard Derrick Rose, coming off the bench, was an integral part of the success of the team.
It will be unchartered waters for the New York Knicks who ended the season winning their last 3 games and 16 of their last 20. “It’s felt like playoff intensity for a while honestly,” Randle said. “The last couple games when we were on the road trip, everybody is gearing up for the playoffs. Every game has really had that type of intensity or environment, and I think that’s prepared us.”
When the Nets host their first round playoff series, no team will have more pressure given the trio of Irving, Durant and Harden. First year head coach Steve Nash is hoping the injuries are behind them. “Big goal for us this year was to try and be as healthy as possible by the end of the year, and to keep everyone on the same page and excited about what we’re doing. So, mission accomplished there,” Nash said. “We have a week to prepare, and the level is going to go up and we got to rise to the occasion and be ready to go.”
When both team’s host their opening round series, the arena’s will allow 50% of fans that will be allowed to attend. “As we continue to monitor the metrics across the state, we are strategically reopening our economy and making it possible for more fans to attend sporting events in person,” said Governor Mario Cuomo.
It will be music the ears of the players of the home teams. Especially to the Knicks who have only heard boos and jeers for the last eight years.
